Almost two years ago, I remember reading an article in the Daily Mail that actually took me by surprise. A survey showed that one in four women in the UK sleep with their make-up on, in order to stay looking perfect for a partner.
That reminded me of a story a friend once told me about her own father, who’d never seen her mother without her false eyelashes on – in over twenty years of marriage. Amazing. And a feat of considerable ingenuity.
To create the illusion of 24-hour beauty, women not only wear make-up at night but also lie to their partners and tell them they have removed it. The fact they wake up in the morning and their pillow case looks like the Turin Shroud might be a bit of a give away.
Dermatologists also warn about the ageing and germ-fuelled effects. Skin renews itself at night, and lingering layers of foundation (along with the day’s oil and pollution) prevent this. Collagen starts to break down, resulting in wrinkles, and clogged pores hold onto bacteria, producing spots, blackheads and dull, dry skin.
What’s more, sleeping in mascara can cause styes, conjunctivitis, and eyelashes to become brittle and break off easily. And a night of passion also means both of you get up looking like victims from CSI. With latent acne. Nothing says “I love you” more than giving your partner a skin complaint.
So, as much as I’m a fan of my war paint and its effect – and great nights out – I’ve found that the short-term gain is not worth the long-term pain. And all that extra washing of bed linen? Ooh, no thanks.
On the contrary, my night time regime usually starts with a relaxing hot shower and a thorough removal of my make-up with a quick squirt of face wash and a Mia brush – the waterproof and rechargeable face cleaner that seems to do everything it says it should.
First, the blurb. The Mia is the smallest product in Clarisonic’s skin cleansing system (and available in a number of colours, for the accessory conscious). The one-button, one-speed brush uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth the skin.
It’s claimed this gentle 60-second action removes more make-up, dirt and oil than manual cleansing, and helps prepare for a better skin care regime.
Moreover, it’s also supposed to leave the skin feeling smoother and healthier, tighten the appearance of visible pores, and help improve the appearance of skin tone and texture. It can also be used up to twice a day, for one minute each time.
All I can add is “yes” to all that. I emerge from the shower feeling fresher and cleaner than a mountain spring, with a complexion like a ripe peach – in just one minute! Who needs make-up?
Let nature work her healing magic overnight and your brand new mask will look even better in the morning.
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