Skipping Your PM Routine? What Sleeping With Makeup and SPF On Does To Your Skin

Makeup and sunscreen are used daily by many women. Some of them often feel too lazy or tired to remove them after a long and hectic day. As a result, they sleep with makeup and SPF on. Have you ever wondered whether keeping them overnight can harm your skin health or not? Today, this article will explain it to you.

To understand this, we reached out to Dr Ruben Bhasin Passi, Senior Consultant, Dermatology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon.

What Happens If You Sleep With SPF and Makeup On?

Let us straightaway get to the point: what happens if you skip your PM skincare routine or sleep without washing your face at night? Answering this, Dr Passi says, “After a long day, washing the face can feel like one more task before going to bed. It is tempting to skip it occasionally, particularly when someone is exhausted. But when the skin has been exposed to sunscreen, makeup, sweat, oil and environmental pollutants throughout the day, leaving everything on overnight may not be the best habit. We emphasise that nighttime cleansing is less about achieving perfectly ‘clean’ skin and more about removing substances that the skin no longer needs.”

So what happens when sunscreen and makeup are left on? The expert shares, “Sunscreen is designed to remain on the skin during exposure to the sun. At the end of the day, however, it should generally be removed as part of the cleansing routine. Makeup can mix with oil, sweat and environmental particles. Leaving these substances on the skin overnight may contribute to clogged pores and irritation, particularly in people who are acne-prone. Eye makeup can also be problematic when left on regularly, as it may irritate the delicate skin around the eyes.”

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Can Sleeping With Makeup Cause Acne?

Many people feel that leaving makeup overnight can lead to acne. Answering this, Dr Passi says, “No. One night of accidentally falling asleep with makeup does not mean someone will automatically develop acne. However, regularly sleeping without removing makeup and sunscreen can increase the likelihood of clogged pores and irritation in susceptible individuals.”

“Acne itself has multiple causes, including oil production, follicular changes, inflammation and hormonal influences. It is therefore inaccurate to say that makeup alone ‘causes’ acne,” she adds.

What about sunscreen? Shedding light on this, Dr Passi shares, “A common misconception is that sunscreen should never be washed off because it protects the skin. Sunscreen is meant to protect the skin while it is being exposed to ultraviolet radiation. At night, there is no benefit to keeping a day’s accumulated sunscreen, sweat and dirt on the face.”

A 2024 study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, states that many people use makeup and personal care products daily. This review warns about the hidden side effects of leaving synthetic, chemical-heavy cosmetics on your skin for long periods of time. 

The research discovered that prolonged exposure to common makeup ingredients, such as parabens and phthalates, can significantly raise your health risks. When makeup is kept on for extended durations, such as overnight, then your skin gets more time to absorb these toxic chemicals. This longer exposure time is directly associated with a higher chance of these substances harming your endocrine system and hormones. 

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With time, leaving these chemicals on the skin can also cause serious chronic diseases such as cancer, respiratory issues, and neurological disorders. The risk rises when you layer multiple products; as mixing different chemicals on the face can multiply the toxic effects. 

The study further adds that cosmetics that are marketed as ‘natural’ or ‘clean’ can sometimes contain hidden hazardous materials that shouldn't be left on the skin indefinitely. This is because many cosmetic companies skip rigorous safety testing to make profits; that’s what exposes consumers unknowingly to these prolonged chemical risks. Therefore, thoroughly washing your face to reduce the duration of exposure with these products is important for protecting not just your skin, but your overall long-term health. 

Tips To Clean Your Face The Right Way

On this note, Dr Passi shares some effective ways to cleanse your skin the right way:

• A gentle cleanser is generally enough for routine removal.
• People wearing long-wear or water-resistant makeup may need a suitable first cleansing step followed by gentle cleansing, depending on the products used and their skin type.
• Skipping cleansing regularly is not ideal, but aggressively washing the face several times to compensate can also damage the skin barrier.
• The goal is not to scrub away every trace of oil. A gentle cleanser, lukewarm water and minimal rubbing are generally preferable.
• People with dry or sensitive skin may need a particularly gentle approach.

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What Should a Nighttime Skincare Routine Look Like?

Dr Passi says that a basic routine can be surprisingly simple: remove makeup if worn, cleanse the face gently, apply moisturiser if required and use any dermatologist-recommended treatment.

The expert further explains, “There is no need for a complicated ten-step routine unless specific skin concerns require it. There’s another myth that needs correcting: sleeping with makeup once will ruin the skin is an exaggeration. Skin problems generally develop from repeated habits rather than a single missed wash.”

She continues, “At the same time, regularly going to bed with sunscreen, makeup, sweat and accumulated debris can make it harder for acne-prone or sensitive skin to remain comfortable.”

“For readers, the practical message is straightforward: nighttime cleansing should be consistent but gentle. The aim is to remove the day’s buildup without stripping the skin’s natural protective barrier,” concludes Dr Passi.

ALSO READ- Skin Purging or Just Acne? 6 Expert-Backed Ways to Spot the Difference

Conclusion

While occasionally skipping your nighttime face wash will not ruin your skin, regularly sleeping with makeup and sunscreen can clog pores and increase your exposure to toxic chemicals. This has the potential to not only harm your skin, but your overall health. Therefore, it is important to stick to a simple, gentle evening cleansing routine that is important for washing away the day's buildup and protecting your skin barrier.