Guess what happens if we skip our nightly cleanse
You've just crawled in, it's 4am and cleansing's the last thing on your bleary mind. Plus you're not wearing any makeup. So what's the big deal?
During the day, makeup, sweat, sebum, pollution, smoke and grime accumulate on our skin. If we don't remove these suffocating compounds, our skin can't regenerate or repair itself overnight. Pre-bedtime cleansing is essential if you don't want to wake up to:
1
Clogged pores
Makeup - foundation/powder/blusher etc.
- leaves a suffocating layer on our face. What happens if you don't remove makeup?
Your get clogged pores. They'll open up, ooze sebum and form spots. Your skin will be unable to oxygenate itself, leaving you with a dull complexion. Cleansing will keep your pores healthy and clean.
2
A parched epidermis
Makeup keeps us looking fabulous. But it also sucks water out of our skin. Its top layer, the stratum corneum, governs water retention and protects our skin's natural moisturising mechanism. Cleansing allows our skin to breathe and regulate its water levels so that it remains comfy and supple.
3
Spotty outbreaks
What causes acne?
An unhealthy mix of bacteria, grime and sebum. There's only one way to avoid it: a nightly cleanse so that your skin can breathe and repair any damage caused. If your skin is acne-prone, don't make matters worse by scrubbing it to death - opt for a gentle, perfume-free, non-comedogenic cleanser.
4
Irritated skin
Skin is generally hardy stuff, but it can still become super-sensitive. Wearing makeup all day (or all day and night) will greatly increase the risk of irritation. Flaky, red skin guaranteed!
5
Premature skin ageing
Makeup disguises imperfections and some signs of ageing, but becomes counter-productive if we don't take it off. If your face isn't clean there's no point in applying a night cream. And no night cream = worse wrinkles!
