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Hygienic bedtime habits are important to get right any time of year. But there’s something about the festive season that has people focusing too much on the party and not enough on recovering properly once they’re at home!
With party season almost within reach, Mattress Next Day has highlighted five unhygienic bedtime habits you shouldn’t fall into. Even if you’ve had plenty of booze.
1. Falling asleep with eye makeup on can cause lasting damage
One of the more dangerous bedtime habits is going to sleep without properly removing festive glitter from your face. Glitter should never be applied to or around the eyes unless it’s specifically made for that purpose. But leave glitter anywhere on your face before you go to sleep and it could end up in your eyes.
According to Ceri Smith-Jaynes, optometrist and spokesperson from the Association of Optometrists said: “We all know how easy it is to let things slip during Christmas; whether it’s diets, work, or something else entirely. But eyecare is something that’s all too important to neglect, especially as we head into the new year. Late nights, increased drinking, and central heating can already leave eyes dry, itchy and red. So ensuring they don’t get any more irritated is paramount to protecting your eye health during the holiday season.
“Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to help reduce discomfort and irritation. Firstly, make sure you always remove any festive make-up from your eyes before going to bed. Studies show that one in three mascara products are bacterially contaminated within three months of use, representing a huge risk of eye infections.”
Advanced Skincare Specialist, Cydney Beasley also confirmed the importance of removing any make-up from your eyes before going to sleep. “If you leave strip eyelashes or eyeshadows with particles in you could also be risking an eye irritation or infection. Did you know mascara can block your glands on your eyelashes causing minor eye infections such as styes.”
2. Avoid sleeping in your party outfit as it can spread germs
Our previous study on Britain's bed habits found that 1 in 7 Brits have slept in clothes that they’ve worn outside. However, it’s important that you take the time to take off your party outfit before getting into bed.
Imagine all the germs that are being passed around the bar or club your festive party is being held in. And then how many of those germs must have made it onto your clothing as the night continues. Reports show that bacteria and germs can survive on your clothes for months unless they’re washed.
Germs from your night out can cause a build-up that results in rashes, acne anywhere on the body and irritation that lasts far beyond your morning shower. According to Deborah Lee of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, “when you sleep, the temperature in the bed increases, making this an ideal breeding ground for whatever is on your clothes. Sleeping in a clean pair of Pj’s is definitely recommend.”
3. Remember to remove contact lenses before bed to prevent possible eye infections
Those who wear contact lenses day to day are probably used to removing them before bed. So much so that it’s an automatic part of their routine. But cosmetic contact lenses are growing in popularity. So these kinds of wearers should also be aware of the problems that can arise from not removing them before bedtime.
Optometrist Ceri Smith-Jaynes said: “It’s critical you always remove your contact lenses before going to sleep – unless they’re specifically designed for overnight wear.
“If they’re not - you risk limiting the amount of oxygen getting to your corneas, increasing the chance of eye infections. When the eyes are closed overnight, in some cases, the lens can get stuck, resulting in a small but painful abrasion when removing it in the morning.
“However, it’s also important to remember that not all eye health issues have visible symptoms, which is why we recommend you visit your optometrist every two years, or more often if recommended.”
4. Remove your base makeup before bed to prevent acne, aging and more
Advanced Skincare Specialist, Cydney Beasley said: “As the Christmas Party seasons falls upon us, we might find ourselves wearing perhaps a little more makeup for that all-out Christmas glam look we wanted to recreate. And we might be wearing much more makeup than we might otherwise wear. So, there’s even more makeup product to remove than usual. Here’s why you should never go to sleep, however tempting it may be with your makeup on.
“It can make your pores become clogged which can cause skin breakouts and blemishes the next day. Depending on the products used, some might contain certain perfumes and oils which react with your skin type you could risk irritating your skin causing redness, inflammation, and patches of sensitivity.
"Cleansing is such an important step in most people’s beauty regimes. But for those who have acne prone skin or more temperamental skin, it is so important for these groups to always remove their makeup before bed as it can lead to their condition worsening. Makeup holds onto pollution, oils, dirt, and your dead skin cells. If left on overnight, it could lead to a build-up of environmental pollutants inside the skin.
“However, not only does it allow bacteria to breed whilst you sleep. But your overall complexion will appear dull, dry, and dehydrated. This is because leaving your makeup on changes the body’s natural processes and inhibits your body’s natural ability for the epidermal layer to shed/exfoliate and renew every night. Leaving all these dead skin cells on the surface overnight leads to dull skin.
“It also won’t be able to go through its natural process of renewal each evening in the same way or at the same speed. This can also lead to your skin looking older than it is as it can lead to a breakdown of collagen within the skin. And we all know when collagen is not being produced properly, you may begin to age faster in your face and lose the plumpness and firmness of the skin.”
5. Always brush your teeth before bed as sugary alcoholic drinks can cause tooth decay
The reason we brush our teeth before bed is to remove food remnants from our teeth and gums that. If left there, they could damage tooth enamel and lead to tooth decay. So, it's one of the most important bedtime habits.
The same goes for alcohol. If you leave remnants of sugary and alcoholic drinks in your mouth overnight, you could be speeding up that tooth decay process. Even if it’s just for one night. No matter what time you stumble in, try to make time for a quick brush to limit the damage.
For more advice, check out our advice centre featuring even more bedtime habits and tips such as how to get to sleep faster.
