It's been answered before, but some people really want to hear a different answer to the age-old question: Is not washing your face before bed every once in awhile is really that bad?

The answer is yes. It really is that bad.

A third of women sleep with their makeup on at least two nights a week. Dennis Gross M.D., founder of 900 5th Dermatology in New York City and creator of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, says it'll clog your pores and oil glands. “When the makeup becomes impacted in pores, it can make them appear larger.”

That's not it. It'll also stretch out your pores, and since your skin collagen levels decline as you age, your pores won't bounce back to their original size as easily. In addition, Gross says that skipping your nightly washing routine can also cause inflammation—which can generate free radicals and lead to collagen breakdown.

These factors, combined with larger pores, make your skin age faster. Gross says, “It’s best to break this habit sooner rather than later.”

If you're too tired to drag yourself to the sink to wash your face, keep some makeup removing wipes by your bed, to remove any makeup residue at least.


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