Even on those days when you don’t wear makeup, you probably went outside at some point. “Environmental pollutants, dirt, and bacteria that accumulate on the skin during the daytime can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and loss of collagen and elastin, leading to premature aging,” Dr. Nazarian says.
If that’s not reason enough to wash your face before turning in, we don’t know what is. But that all seems much less urgent around 10 p.m., doesn’t it? “The major reasons that people don’t wash their face at night are lack of knowledge on how detrimental it is—most people don’t realize they’re accelerating aging—and pure exhaustion,” Dr. Nazarian explains. “Energy levels run low in the evening, and generally, after other priority bedtime routines are done, like brushing your teeth, many people are too tired [for] a skin-care routine.”
It’s totally understandable. The good news is, it’s totally avoidable too. “Rather than waiting until bedtime, shift it earlier—when you get home, change your clothes, wash your face, remove your makeup,” says Dr. Nazarian. “Your skin, and your sheets, will thank you.”
Don’t let cleansing wipes be your go-to, though. Swiping one over your face before bed can seem like a solid substitute for washing your face (and it sure feels good), but wipes can leave behind residue that can irritate, dry out, and potentially even age skin, says Dr. Nazarian. You really do need soap and water to “remove all of the dirt, bacteria, and makeup,” she says.
Brushing your teeth right before bed
Let’s be clear: The dermatologists we spoke with never said that you shouldn’t brush your teeth every morning and night; rather, you might just reconsider your timing slightly and not do it right before you jump under the covers or rush out the door.
“A lot of people get residual [toothpaste] on their face, and that can irritate the skin around the mouth and cause chapped lips,” says Dr. Downie. It’s partly because many toothpastes contain a foaming ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can potentially dry out skin. One study published in the journal Contact Dermatitis found that SLS can even cause contact dermatitis (a red, itchy rash) over time at concentrations as low as 0.025%, and toothpastes may contain SLS at about 1% or 2% concentrations, according to another study published in the Journal of Dentistry.
