If you only have a few minutes to spruce yourself up, makeup can help you look better (and younger) in a matter of seconds.
However, forgetting to remove your cosmetics at the end of the day can have the opposite effect.
Beauty experts from Branded Makeup have issued a stark warning that sleeping in makeup can "age your skin twice as fast".
The specialists explained that falling asleep without removing it traps pollutants against the skin overnight, dramatically accelerating the ageing process.
The skin's natural renewal cycle, which occurs primarily during sleep hours, becomes severely compromised when blocked by makeup residue.
"Your skin attempts to regenerate during sleep, but makeup forms a barrier that traps dirt, oil, and environmental toxins against your face," the beauty gurus stated.
"This prevents the natural exfoliation process and leads to collagen breakdown at an accelerated rate."
Makeup that has been left on overnight continues to oxidise, creating free radicals that damage skin cells, similarly to UV exposure.
Sleeping in makeup can 'age your skin twice as fast', so make sure to remove it
GETTY IMAGESThe damage accumulates silently each night, and while many women notice immediate breakouts after sleeping in makeup, "far more concerning" long-term effects are often overlooked.
Research from the sleep disorders centre ward at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust confirms that skin cells regenerate fastest between 11pm and midnight. The first three hours of sleep prove particularly crucial for skin repair.
When makeup blocks this process, the most valuable window for regeneration is lost. Repeated exposure to trapped pollutants can age skin at double the natural rate.
Eye makeup presents particular risks when left on overnight, the experts warned, stating: "Mascara and eyeliner can flake into your eyes during sleep, causing irritation and potentially serious infections.
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'The skin attempts to regenerate during sleep'
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"Repeated irritation around the delicate eye area accelerates the formation of crow's feet and fine lines."
The experts emphasised that skin ages fastest around the eyes and mouth, where makeup tends to settle into fine lines.
"Lipstick left on overnight dries out the delicate lip area, while eye makeup can cause irritation that leads to rubbing and pulling," they cautioned.
These mechanical stresses, combined with chemical exposure, dramatically age these vulnerable areas.
L'Oréal Paris specialists also confirmed that makeup should be removed before bed, sharing three key reasons why.
Firstly, foundation can mix with dirt and oil accumulated throughout the day, leading to clogged pores and, inevitably, breakouts.
Secondly, "if you sleep in your makeup, day-old foundation, powder, and eye makeup can settle into your creases and fine lines, causing your skin to look on the dull side," the experts added.
Highlighting ageing concerns, they concluded: "It might even make you look older than you really are, which defeats the purpose of wearing makeup, doesn't it?"
In a similar vein, if your goal is a youthful complexion, you must allow your anti-ageing skin care to work its magic, which requires a clean canvas.
You may well have the best skin care products in the world, but if applied over makeup, they're totally useless.
So, for an age-defying visage, grab your micellar water, makeup removing towellettes, or cleansing oil - your skin will thank you.
In other makeup news, a professional MUA recently warned over-50s to dodge a "crazy" lip trend.