After years of practicing optometry I can tell you, without a doubt, that most people never remove their eye makeup at night! My slit lamp never lies, and that microscope can tell me whether or not you're taking it off...and what you're using to remove it. Here's why sleeping in your eye makeup is not only gross, but unhealthy as well!

Reason #1: It makes you look like a stoner

Beautiful eyes are white and bright. Old makeup causes inflammation of the eyelid and whites of the eyes, which makes your eyes appear red. Ew. Of course, there are other things that can cause red eyes, such as infections and dry eye, but you're only contributing to the problem by not removing your makeup at night.

Reason #2: You're creating wrinkles

The skin around your eyes is ten times thinner than the rest of the skin on your body. This means that it wrinkles and stretches more easily. Old makeup that you leave on overnight gets stuck, and you may have to tug to remove it. Just say NO to wrinkles!

Reason #3: Styes are super ugly

Old eye makeup loves bacteria. After just ONE night of sleeping in your eye makeup, you’ve created the perfect environment for a nasty eye infection. For those of you who've had a stye or hordeolum, you know you'll do anything to prevent future eruptions!

Reason #4: Most eye makeup is toxic

Many makeup brands contain phthalates, heavy metals, and formaldehyde. Sleeping with these not only causes premature aging, but it can be harmful to your hormones and precious brain cells! Not to mention the inflammation it can cause in and around your eyes...

Reason #5: Soap and water won't cut it

Waking up with raging red eyes is proof that your soap and water regimen didn't remove all of that makeup.  Try an oil-based eye makeup remover to get all that eyeliner out. Even better, follow up that remover with an eyelid and eyelash cleansing product to ensure you're killing all that bacteria. 

Reason #6: Demodex mites...enough said

Did you know that mites live and breed in our eyelash follicles? Yikes! These mites hang out there and feast on bacteria on our eyelids, causing eyelashes to fall out and eyes to become inflamed. Prevent this by killing the bacteria, therefore killing their food source. 

I hope these suggestions have been helpful (if not a little disturbing) for you. My goal was to scare you a little bit into removing your makeup at night and adopting an eyelid and eyelash cleansing routine. Your dry, irritated, red eyes will thank you. I promise. 

One Love,

Dr. Jenna Zigler

P.S. Want to know what I use to kill the bacteria on my eyelids and eyelashes, preventing blepharitis, red eyes, dryness, and irritation? Head on over here!

P.S.S.  Check this video out to see my nightly regimen for cleaning my face and eyelids to prevent and treat blepharitis and dry eyes.