Bedtime Affair

Hi...Penny here!

Boscia cleanser

I know it's been a long time but life has a way of interrupting the fun stuff. I’m hoping to be here more often so I’d love to hear from you. Let Penny know what you want to hear about. Today’s topic is bedtime bad habits.

Over the years I have had many a debate on whether or not we should remove our makeup before bedtime. Penny’s answer is always…absolutely! But I realized that so many of my friends who have the (bad) habit of sleeping in their makeup, were never convinced no matter how many times I told them that it was an unhealthy habit. Whenever I would say that sleeping in makeup can cause break outs…my smooth-faced fawns would point out how they never break out and have been sleeping in makeup for years. So it got me to thinking…I need some professional back up. LOL! ;-)

Neutrogena Wipes

NOTE: Also see previous post, Blank Face, September 17, 2011

Sleeping in your makeup does more than clog your pores and potentially cause acne. Here are a few excerpts from the pros, already featured on www.beautystat.com:

During the day, skin is also exposed to pollution, dirt and grime. So at night, “it’s not just make up you want to wash off”, says Dr. Charles Zugerman, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Northwestern University.

It has been said by the pros that our skin needs to 'breathe' when we go to sleep. Our body temperature rises as we sleep, hence opening the pores. “So when makeup is left on, it could seep deep down into the pores making them clogged and then breakout”, says Dr. Dennis Gross, Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon in New York City. He also says that once your collagen levels decline (due to the aging process), the pores do not snap back as easily once it has been enlarged. And leaving makeup can only lead to more inflammation that can generate free radicals and collagen breakdown. (read full story...)





Clinique remover

During nighttime, the skin needs oxygen to repair itself. And sleeping with your makeup on deprives it of this vital nutrient. “When makeup stays on too long, it also blocks the natural exfoliating process, which can leave your skin looking dull”, says Dr. Robins Ashinoff, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey.

Sleeping in mascara can also lead to eyelash loss. “Eyes are the most sensitive yet most neglected in terms of makeup removal” says Dr. Vesna Petronic Rosic, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Rosic advises that “mascara makes eyelashes firm and inflexible. So, if you rub your eyes when asleep, you can break them easily.”

Sleeping in eye makeup can also cause bacterial eye infections.



Bear Naked Wipes

The bottom line is Penny doesn’t care how you get the makeup off at bedtime, just get to cleansing! LOL! If you're too tired to remember when you get in at night, then keep makeup cleansing wipes on your night stand. :-)

In my experience, most mascaras, and waterproof eyeliners need an oil-based cleanser to completely remove them. The key is to have something gentle on the eyes and lashes, but strong enough to break up your eye makeup. Some people use Vaseline or Baby Oil to remove their make-up; that's fine as long as there are no adverse effects like clogged pores or break outs. You can also go au naturale and use combinations of oils like castor oil/coconut oil, or castor oil/olive oil used in the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM). (see http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/). It is important to cleanse if your makeup remover leaves any oily residue. And most important to moisturize after cleansing.

Some of the makeup removers in Penny’s arsenal have included:

• Boscia Makeup Breakup Cooling Cleansing Oil ($26, Sephora)
• Clinique Take the Day Off' for Lids, Lashes & Lips ($18, dept. store)
• Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes ($2.49-$8.99, CVS)
• Josie Maran’s Bear Naked Makeup Remover Wipes; for sensitive skin ($12, Sephora)

Boscia is my #1 bedtime cleanser since I wear makeup pretty much every day.  I like that it dissolves ALL of my makeup without heavy scrubbing, and that it never irritates my eyes or my sensitive skin. I also don't need to cleanse after removing my makeup as there is no oily residue. I use milder, gentler cleansers in the morning so that my skin isn't stripped of its natural moisture (i.e. Purity by Philosophy, or Cerave Moisturizing Cleanser).

Penny hopes to get some converts this time around. LOL! Hope this was helpful.

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Be blessed. Be beautiful.

Penny