It’s no good trying to deny one of the most therapeutic and expensive hobbies this generation has - it’s skincare. Whether it’s about trying different products or experimenting with different regimes - skincare is the ‘it’ thing right now. And what’s an ‘it’ thing unless it becomes a trend on social media platforms!



A new trend has been gaining popularity on TikTok, and claims to improve both the quality of your skin and your sleep - it’s the Morning Shed routine .





What’s the morning shed ?



The "morning shed" is a beauty trend popular on TikTok where people apply a layer of various skincare products , like face masks, mouth tape , chin straps, and hair accessories, before bed, then "shed" them off in the morning to reveal supposedly improved skin and hair, essentially showcasing the results of an elaborate nighttime skincare routine; the idea is to "go to sleep ugly to wake up pretty" by allowing the products to work overnight.



The trend, which gained traction on TikTok last summer, features content creators − typically young women − removing a variety of skincare products, like face masks, mouth tape, hair bonnets, and chin straps, to reveal glowing skin and flawless hair after a night's sleep. Creators "shed" these products off in the morning − hence the name.



The morning shed encourages people to apply products like skin care serums, face masks, moisturizing patches, mouthguards, and eye masks so they can wake up looking fresh and glowy.



Here are some key points of the morning shed.




Concept: Apply a variety of products, often including items like sheet masks, lip masks, heatless curlers, and even mouth tape, before bed to see noticeable results upon waking up.




"Shedding" part: In the morning, users film themselves removing all these products, revealing their supposedly refreshed and improved skin and hair.



So, is the Morning Shed worth the effort? Can layering yourself in products before bed really improve the quality of your skin and sleep?






Benefits of morning shed routine:



The "morning shed" is a skincare trend that involves using products overnight to improve the health of your skin and hair. It can help you achieve glowing skin and a more radiant complexion.




Benefits of the morning shed:



Enhanced skin renewal: By applying hydrating and repairing products before bed, your skin has more time to absorb them and work on cell turnover overnight, leading to a more radiant complexion in the morning.




Targeted treatments: The morning shed allows you to customize your nighttime routine with specific products like face masks, serums, eye patches, or lip treatments to address individual skin concerns.




Potential for better sleep quality: Some components of a morning shed routine, like mouth tape or chin straps, may help with breathing and sleep quality for certain individuals.




Self-care awareness: This trend can encourage people to prioritize their skincare routine and be more mindful of the products they use.





Although the viral skincare routine might pack some benefits, some critics argue that the trend can be excessive, potentially irritating the skin with too many products, and may not deliver lasting results beyond a temporary visual effect.



Beauty writer and critic Jessica DeFino told USA Today, that she finds the trend "really sad," feeling like it is a "real encroachment on the dream space, the relaxation space," and to be a continuation of societal beauty standards placed on women and gender non-conforming people.



As per her, "Not even when you're asleep can you forget about all the societal pressures and meeting a particular standard of beauty. Even during this time when you're not conscious, you have to take pains and precautions before you slip away into unconsciousness to make sure you're maximizing and optimizing that time so that you wake up as beautiful as possible."





What products are a part of a 'morning shed' routine?



Though a morning shed differs per person, there tend to be a few commonly used products: face masks, mouth tape, hair curlers and bonnets, eye masks, and chin straps.



Mouth tape is a skin-safe tape that is placed over the mouth to prevent mouth breathing during sleep. While it has not been proven to help a specific health issue, there are benefits of nose breathing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, breathing through the nose filters allergens and debris, unlike the mouth, and it makes the air one breathes more humid, keeping the throat moist.



However, mouth tape isn't for everyone. According to WebMD, People who are sick, have consumed alcohol, are obese, deal with heart or lung problems, or have sleep apnea should not use mouth tape.



The chin strap , a stretchy strap is placed over the entire head, fitting under and over the chin, around the ears, and over the top of the head, holding the jaw in place, that claims to prevent mouth breathing. Like mouth tape, chin straps have not been proven to aid any specific health conditions.



As per DeFino, she has never tried a morning shed and doesn't plan to either.



As for her nightly skincare routine, she washes her face with jojoba oil, which can soothe skin and unclog hair follicles, and manuka honey, an anti-inflammatory. DeFino revealed, "I leave it completely bare when I go to sleep.”







Why so?


As per DeFino, "When you're sleeping, your skin goes out of defense mode. When you're walking around all day, the skin is constantly bombarded with outside aggressors, whether that's sunlight, pollution, just all of the things around us. I'd even say our cosmetic chemicals are a part of that bombardment. When you go into bed, the skin enters into this regeneration mode. It takes time off from those defenses it's had throughout the day and it really starts to regenerate, repair."



According to DeFino, multi-step skincare routines are "nonsensical.” She said, "The application of all of these over-the-top necessary products is damaging our skin barrier . We can even see that reflected in the skin barrier boom in the skincare industry. We've all really damaged our faces and now the industry that has been responsible for this damage is swooping in and saying, 'No, just add a barrier repair cream.'"



According to the Cleveland Clinic, different aggressors can damage a person's skin barrier, including harsh chemicals, soaps, and strong exfoliates.