Leave TikTok’s ‘Morning Shed’ Trend Alone

From sunscreen denial to tanning nasal spray, I take great pride in debunking viral beauty trends—but today, I’m defending one. Because unlike the aforementioned fads, TikTok’s “morning shed” movement doesn’t deserve the amount of flak that it’s getting.

Don’t worry, the trend doesn’t require any actual shedding or peeling of skin. Instead, the “morning shed” refers to the removal of the skin, hair, and self-care products content creators slept in the night before.

It might not sound unique, but most morning sheds—and therefore, nighttime routines performed about eight hours before them—consist of fairly robust lineups. Think: overnight collagen wrap masks, wrinkle patches, undereye masks, lip masks, mouth tape, jaw straps, hair wrap, and heatless curlers—all worn at once and overnight. At first, I thought: There’s no way this many products are necessary or particularly useful. Why bother? Then I read the comments and became obsessed with the concept.

While some users were similarly skeptical of the routine’s efficacy—“And the crazy part is, none of it works,” one user wrote in response to a viral clip—some of the dubiousness felt undeserved. The detractors weren’t wondering whether or not morning sheds actually worked, but instead, just judging the content creators for doing all that before bed.

“Am I the only woman who just brushes her teeth and goes to bed?!?” one said in response to the video below, which has since amassed over 42,000 likes and hundreds of comments in agreement.

While there are obviously plenty of people with low-maintenance routines who don’t judge anyone for living differently, comparing oneself to other women in particular feels kind of gross. This “not-like-others-girls” rhetoric perpetuates the notion that women’s interests are inherently superficial and frivolous and trivial, and that as a woman, being “high-maintenance” is a bad thing while cool girls roll out of bed and head out the door.

Am I reading too much into it? Probably. But as a beauty editor, it’s a sensitive subject. I’m no stranger to the fact that many people think what I do for a living is silly or trivial while never batting an eye at those who cover sports or entertainment.

But to be completely honest, my first read on the morning shed trend was no better than those judgmental commenters. I decided to dig deeper into the trend and—like with most things written off as superficial—there was more to the morning shed trend than meets the eye.

How do I know? I called some viral morning shedders.

“I’m a busy mom, so the morning shed is a self-care thing for me,” says Dallas-based content creator Ashley West. “I have two kids, and the more skin care I add, the more time I have for me. It’s a ritualistic thing for me; it’s time that I have for myself.”

When it comes to the haters, West really couldn’t care less (though she does say some are “harsh”). “It is what it is. This is what I do to improve my mental health and my mood,” West says. “Like I said, it changes my entire perspective the next morning. I’m so glad that I did it the night before.”

It also actually saves West time the next morning, since her hair is already styled and her skin is prepped in advance. “When you are someone with a high-pace job or a mom or somebody who’s giving all their time to something else, taking that extra time at night makes all the difference,” she says.

Maureen Osei, an analyst living in Raleigh, North Carolina, feels the same way. “The ritual aspect is what drew me to the morning shed,” she says. “It creates a space for me to reflect without my phone or any distractions, and it really does make me feel good going to sleep.”

Osei has experienced physical health benefits too: “It may be hard to sleep in, but as someone with congestion issues, I find that the nose and mouth tapes and the chin strap have helped tremendously with breathing and airflow at night,” she adds.

Still, that hasn’t stopped TikTok skeptics from leaving harsh comments on Osei’s videos, accusing her and her skin-care routine of being excessive and not sustainable. “Overconsumption is killing my people,” reads one. “Consumerism final boss,” said another.

As for how Osei feels about it? “Overconsumption is a serious issue within our communities, especially on TikTok, but I would argue that the topic is something that requires self-reflection rather than calling out creators,” she says. “In terms of my consumption rate, I believe that if I use every product in my morning shed routine and see positive changes, who’s to say I’m wasting resources?” Touché.

Plus, while what goes into a morning shed may look like a lot, it’s not necessarily any less than what any other skin-care fanatic uses regularly. For some morning shedders, it’s actually more sustainable than topical treatments packaged in plastic.

Texas-based content creator Mayte Myers, for example, tries to use the “least single-use products possible.” "Everything in my shed is washable and reusable,” she says.

It’s also what she does to feel her best on her budget. “I can’t afford anything like filler or Botox at the moment, so I’m doing what I can to age gracefully,” she says. “But it all started in April; I got a red light therapy device because I didn’t want to feel self-conscious about a double chin in wedding pictures.” From there, the routine kept expanding.

Though for Myers, elaborate skin-care routines are comfortably familiar. “Growing up in Jalisco, Mexico, with all these gorgeous beauty rituals that you would see the matriarchs around you do was so inspiring and soothing at the same time,” she says.

As for what dermatologists have to say about the trend?

“There is limited data to support the use of many of the products featured in morning shed videos,” says Brendan Camp, MD, double-board-certified dermatologist at NYC’s MDCS Dermatology. “When trying to create an effective antiaging skin-care routine, stick with products with a large body of evidence to support their use.”

When the contents of a morning shed ritual are broken down however, some do have legitimate benefits. “Silicone wrinkle patches can temporarily plump skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Dr. Camp. “They do this by creating an occlusive barrier on the skin, which traps moisture and prevents its evaporation of water from the skin surface, causing the skin to plump.”

Similarly, undereye patches can help “de-puff the skin around the eyes, brighten skin, and limit the appearance of crepey skin and fine lines,” he adds. “They often include hyaluronic acid, which helps skin attract and retain moisture, to plump the thin skin that surrounds the eyes.”

Some people find the more extreme additions, like chin straps and mouth tape, to be useful too. “Chin straps are a way to nonsurgically tighten skin and provide more definition to the chin and jawline, and tape is worn overnight to prevent open-mouth breathing,” he says. (Though it’s worth noting that mouth taping can cause dry mouth and should not be used by those with sleep apnea.)

All of that being said, Dr. Camp says that using too many products on the skin can disrupt the skin barrier. So when considering a morning shed routine, be sure to consult your dermatologist or a skin-care professional, and add each product one at a time. Also be sure to conduct regular patch tests and not overload your skin.

“The most important part of a skin-care routine is consistency,” Dr. Camp concludes. “No product will provide durable results with one use.”

So as long as everyone’s being responsible with their skin care, the morning shed TL;DR is simply: Let women enjoy things!

Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.