“Did you know that going to bed with makeup on can age skin up to 7x faster?”

Ummm . . . what????? Ages our skin up to 7x faster? Yikes!

That quote is from dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD, who practices in Stony Brook, New York.

To help us understand why, Dr. Mariwalla explains that night is a time for skin renewal; however, when makeup lays over pores, trapping dead skin and bacteria, it blocks the skin from shedding normally and thus renewing. Plus, she says, skin-destroying free radicals can cling to makeup. “We know that these cause photoaging and can lead to the formation of wrinkles. By not allowing your skin to recover from oxidative stress that occurs during the day, you can wind up with prematurely aged skin.” Free radicals, she adds, also lead to collagen degradation.

While Dr. Mariwalla concedes that thick foundations and oil-based makeup are worse for the skin than lighter formulations, she says makeup, in general, occludes [meaning – blocks] the pores, which is the first step to trouble. Even if you don’t have full makeup on, Dr. Mariwalla says that mascara and eyeliner left on the lashes and lids can still lead to skin irritation.

OK, so that applies to people who wear makeup . . . what about people who don’t wear makeup?

“As we do more outdoor activities and spend more time commuting and are exposed to environmental pollutants, I would say there are a lot more things causing us to age during the day, not just makeup,” she says. “And remember that even if you wear no makeup, washing your face before bed is important just to rinse off the accumulation of oil and dirt that occurs naturally during the day.”

So, would you like to maintain your youthful-looking skin, or improve your aging skin? The most important action is to cleanse your face every night. And Nonie AHA! Skin Cleanser will not only effectively cleanse your face, but it is also an excellent makeup remover, including mascara and eyeliner!

Follow the Cleanser with our Skin Tonic and AHA! Brilliant, Protein, New Condition, or 10% Moisturizer for your skin type to enhance and protect your skin even more, and thereby slow down the aging process.