TikTok's “Morning Shed” trend may sound like gardening – but this new skincare routine has gone viral for entirely different reasons.
Luckily, this trend doesn't require actual peeling or exfoliating of the skin. “Morning peeling” refers to the removal of personal care products that content creators wore while sleeping the night before and then “taking off” them when they wake up, filming and broadcasting the process on TikTok.
Products include face masks, eye patches, lip serums, heatless curlers and even mouth bands – and they're fascinating to watch.
In many ways, it's genius: These creators wake up with glowing skin and a perfect hairstyle and have half an hour more time in bed, all because they spent hours twisting their hair around socks the night before.
Many justify the trend with “going to bed ugly to wake up pretty.” But as with many of these viral beauty routines, many have questioned whether it is Strictly speaking works – or whether it is simply excessive consumption.
When it comes to skin care, “it's generally not recommended to leave sheet masks on overnight,” says dermatologist and aesthetician Dr. Hasan Bena. “Sheet masks are designed to deliver a concentrated dose of active ingredients in a short period of time, so if you leave them on for too long, the mask can dry out and potentially strip moisture from your skin instead of hydrating it.”
To moisturize overnight, Bena recommends a leave-on mask or a rich moisturizer instead.
But what is perhaps most fascinating about “morning skinning” is the sheer Device People are implementing. It's not just a simple eye mask and lip balm – people are wrapping their faces in tape, gauze and fabric bands to achieve the perfect facial structure.
Nighttime is the time when your skin can recover, regenerate and revitalize. “Sleeping with bands or sheets on your skin prevents it from breathing and also restricts blood flow,” says plastic surgeon Amish Patel. “And of course, if you tie your face down with bands or tape, you can't turn back time. It's also uncomfortable and disrupts your precious sleep pattern.”
What's more, using too many products can actually negate their effectiveness, leading to blockages and breakouts. “The skin barrier has limits and an excess of active ingredients can cause irritation or sensitivity,” says Harley Street doctor Lesley Reynolds. “Incompatible ingredients can reduce effectiveness or cause side effects.”
“For example, mixing retinol with strong acids can cause dryness and irritation. It's important to understand how the ingredients interact.”
Sleeping with various aids and treatments can also impact the quality of your sleep. Some products, such as eye masks, can actually have a grounding effect, encouraging people to lie extra still rather than tossing and turning all night.
However, sticky eye patches, lip masks and tight scarves can be so uncomfortable that they keep you awake. “You have to be careful not to use the wrong amount of products,” says Dr Leah Totton, doctor and winner of BBC's The Apprentice. “You should seek advice from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about which active ingredients can be used with which.”
The best thing you can do for your skin is to get a good night's sleep, so stick with what feels best. And if that means taking off ten layers of skin before breakfast, so be it.
Get your Morning Shed Kit:
Florence by Mills Floating Under The Eyes Decongestant Gel Pads – 15 Pairs, Beauty Bay
Frownies forehead & between the eyes 144 wrinkle plasters
Patchology Beauty Sleep Restorative Night Hydrogel Mask
The invisible hydrocolloid patches from Inkey List, Beauty Bay
