As a skin-care enthusiast, you probably already know the benefits of a nightly routine. Cleansing, toning, hydrating and moisturizing aren’t just steps for great skin. Instead, they’re more like a beauty ritual, where products work with your natural sleep cycle to deliver stellar results. Night-time beauty rituals are nothing new, but a recent TikTok trend described as the “morning shed” is putting the process on full display. The basis of the morning shed trend involves layering on products, masks and oftentimes a jaw strap at night and “shedding” them in the morning to reveal toned and glowy skin.
Featured experts
- Nichelle Temple is an aesthetician and the founder of Inderma Studio
- Katherine Dorn is a makeup artist for LRN Beauty
What is the morning shed?
TikTok is beloved for its unfiltered content. Where other platforms often showcase videos and pictures that are less than real, TikTok has followed a different agenda. The morning shed trend is a great example of this, as the narrative is “the uglier you go to bed, the prettier you look in the morning.“ In this trend, creators peel back the layers of their overnight beauty routine and showcase the products used,” says Nichelle Temple, aesthetician and founder of Inderma Studio. She explains that along with products, creators also showcase accessories like eye masks, mouth tape, anti-wrinkle patches, silk hair bonnets and heatless curlers for a full reveal. Another key component you’ll notice in the videos is a jaw strap. According to Katherine Dorn, makeup artist for LRN Beauty, the jaw straps and velcro wraps are placed under the chin area to slim the face.
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The benefits and backlash of the morning shed
According to Temple, there are benefits to using beauty products while you sleep. “I see the potential since overnight masks can help lock in moisture, giving the skin a hydration boost. Wrinkle patches can prevent expressions one might make while dreaming or help to eliminate marks left on the face from the pillow,” she says. Dorn notes that wearing these things to bed can help jumpstart your morning skin-care routine, making the need to “shed” even more compelling.
With over 87.9 million posts on TikTok, the morning shed trend continues to be a viral sensation, with some of the allure coming from the backlash. Many dermatologists have taken to the platform to share their thoughts about the trend, further adding to the buzz. “In some ways, it promotes overconsumption and some potential safety issues,” says Temple. She explains that mouth tape, a popular item featured in the videos, can interfere with normal breathing, which may be dangerous.
Is the morning shed worth the trouble?
As a viewer, the final reveal of the morning shed videos is pretty alluring. But are the results really worth it? The bottom line: “Overnight beauty treatments are not new, but showcasing a shed involving every product has gained popularity,” says Temple. Of course, consistent use of products can help with particular issues. However, instead of shopping an influencer’s full link in their bio, she recommends integrating a product or two at a time. “A complex routine before bed may take some getting used to, which could be uncomfortable or disruptive to your sleep,” she says.
If you’ve been toying with the idea of doing your own morning shed, it’s best to remember that the concept is first and foremost a trend. They’re fun to try but not always necessary to do. “The best thing you can do for your skin is create a regimen that works for your skin and lifestyle. Thicker, more hydrating moisturizers are ideal at night because they have time to soak in and work overnight,” says Dorn.
