These days, it seems like everyone is going to sleep with at least three wellness or beauty products on their faces. I’m talking about products like overnight heatless curls, mouth tapes, and, under eye-masks (just to name a few).
I first discovered this new phenomenon via the “Morning Shed” trend that’s been taking over TikTok. This trend showcases influencers who are “shedding” all of the beauty products that they’ve worn overnight. They’re claiming to sleep with anti-wrinkle patches, mouth tape, and all sorts of other sleep accessories.
One video of a morning shed, from creator Courtney Snell (@courtneysnell) has the caption, “the uglier you go to sleep the prettier you wake up.” This caption seems to be the prevailing ethos of the “Morning Shed” trend taking over TikTok — by going to bed “ugly,” you’ll be waking up “pretty.”
While watching these videos, I couldn’t help but wonder how effective the “Morning Shed” trend is. Are all of these products really necessary for your skin while you’re sleeping, or do they really not do much for the average person?
What Sorts of Products are Influencers Ditching in Their Morning Shed?
There’s no true formula for a “morning shed” but influencers seem to follow a couple of patterns. First, I noticed that most morning sheds involve some sort of mouth taping, which has been taking the internet by storm over the last several months. Other common products seem to include anti-wrinkle patches and accessories, eye masks, overnight sheet masks, and an overnight haircare or styling acessory.
So, Is a Morning Shed Really Worth It?
The answer is… probably not. Licensed dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina told Sleepopolis that “The best skincare and nighttime routine is simple because consistency wins out over all these trends!” According to Dr. Mina, a simple approach is best: “Wash your face with a gentle cleanser (this is a non-negotiable!) then apply a vitamin A cream and lock in moisture with a hydrating cream or lotion. For extra dry areas, apply petroleum based products as needed.” (1)
Which Morning Shed Products Should I Avoid?
There are many products that influencers shed each morning, but it seems like the most common ones are anti-wrinkle patches, overnight sheet masks, and mouth tape.
Mouth tape, specifically, seems to be sweeping TikTok with claims to give you a more chiseled jaw and put your snoring to an end. However, this trend is not all it’s cracked up to be — many doctors have warned against mouth taping as a practice. Dr. Mina told Sleepopolis that “The main issue is that some people have difficulty or simply cannot breathe through their nose when sleeping such as individuals with sleep apnea and mouth taping would be dangerous here.” (1)
As for anti-wrinkle patches, these products aren’t totally unsafe, but they also aren’t a silver bullet. Dr. Mina told Sleepopolis that these products are designed to hold moisture in the skin, but as we go throughout our days our skin naturally loses moisture, so the patches don’t really do all that much at the end of the day. (1)
The jury is still out on overnight sheet masks as well. While according to Dr. Mina, these provide “a nice boost of hydration” and can include hydrating ingredients like “hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides,” but there’s no solid evidence whether these masks are any better than simply applying creams and other products. (1)
Generally, Dr. Mina recommends that you should avoid any products with fragrances and essential oils. She also recommends avoiding layering too many active ingredients when you’re completing your skincare routine. (1)
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Sources
- Mina, Mary Alice. Personal Interview. July 10, 2024.
