Self-care can go from wellness to unnecessary overconsumption. The internet has long debated this issue, especially when it comes to the rise of meticulous skincare trends. You’ve probably heard of lengthy routines like the Korean 12-step skin care regimen, but people are currently curious about the new trend called the ‘morning shed’.
If you’ve never heard of the morning shed, don’t worry; I’ll give you a synopsis. The morning shed is all about product layering that is intended to be slept in so that you wake up with a glow-up after you remove—or shed—the layers of the routine. The steps of this routine vary but typically include things like heatless curls, mouth tape, chin straps, sheet masks, caster oil stomach wraps, under-eye masks, wrinkle patches, and more. Needless to say, if you participate in this trend, you’re gonna be going to bed looking a little crazy. But it’ll be worth it when you wake up, right? Well, opinions are mixed.
The Benefits
Let’s start off with the positives. Many people love the soothing, self-care aspect of the trend. Taking time to care for yourself by applying each step is a great way to unwind and boost your mental health.
Plus, the extensive routine is absolutely a time saver in the morning. Waking up with styled hair and glowing skin can reduce the length of a morning routine. This is great for anyone with a busy lifestyle, whether you have to get up for your 8:00 AM class or head to work.
Plus, items like mouth tape and chin straps can help improve breathing during sleep. The tape helps people breathe out of their nose rather than their mouth. This is beneficial for filtering out dust and allergens, boosting oxygen intake, reducing cavities, and better overall sleep quality. Breathing out of your mouth can have negative health consequences, such as worsened nasal congestion and chronic fatigue. Of course, if you have impaired nasal breathing, mouth tape could be unsafe, so I would steer clear of this aspect of the morning shed if that applies to you. The mouth tape should be safe otherwise, as many tapes have a slit in the center to allow for small breaths and yawns.
When it comes to hair benefits, silk bonnets are great for reducing friction on the hair to reduce breakage and split ends. The same goes for silk heatless curling rods.
Silk eye masks are also beneficial for minimizing pillow creases on the face while keeping you in total darkness, which many find helpful for sleep quality.
Sheet Masks are also great for people who have dry skin and want to wake up feeling extra hydrated. It’s a nice temporary fix so that you wake up with dewy skin.
In addition, silicone wrinkle patches are also supported by evidence to give good results. They temporarily plum the skin, effectively reducing the appearance of fine lines by trapping moisture. By creating a skin barrier, it prevents water from evaporating, leading to ultimate hydration.
The trend can also be more sustainable than other skincare routines. You can incorporate washable and reusable products to reduce usage of single use items.
The Drawbacks
As mentioned previously, mouth tape is not a good solution for those with airway issues like nasal congestion or sleep apnea. It’s suggested instead for those individuals to seek help from a doctor.
When it comes to sheet masks, make sure that you are using a mask that is safe to use for a prolonged amount of time and is okay for sensitive skin. While they are usually a nourishing aid to dry skin, irritation or chemical burns can occur if the mask isn’t suitable for overnight use.
Next, chin straps may not be as useful as the trend leads the audience to assume. So far, there isn’t sufficient enough evidence to prove that chin straps define the jawline, prevent snoring, or improve breathing.
For the castor oil wrap, please be advised that topical use of caster oil hasn’t been adequately studied. People use caster oil to de-bloat the stomach, reduce constipation, and as a detox. Irritation and other allergic reactions may occur from the caster oil when used undiluted on the skin. Starting with a test patch on a small area on the skin is a good way to see if you can tolerate overnight use.
What You’ll Need To Start The Shed
It’s time to start prepping your routine! There are a ton of products to mix and match for the morning shed, so you could choose a couple of things on this list or totally go all out for an intense shed.
1. Mouth Tape
This tool can help with oxygen intake and dental health, so if you struggle with breathing through your nose, mouth tape can help.
2. Chin Straps
Chin straps keep the mouth area closed. Many report that it reduces throat vibrations, which can minimize snoring, though it’s not guaranteed.
3. Under-Eye Masks
These masks can help brighten under-eyes, reduce fine lines, and help with puffiness. They usually contain helpful ingredients like Vitamin C for luminescent skin and hyaluronic acid for moisture retention. This eye patch set from Dieux is reusable!
4. Caster Oil Patches
The benefits of this step lack scientific evidence, but many users believe that it’s good for pain relief, digestion, inflammation, and relaxation. This reusable set of wraps is made from organic cotton.
5. Lip Masks
Lip Masks are perfect for getting rid of dry lips and really hydrating and moisturizing. Check out beneficial ingredients such as jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter for nourishing results. This lip mask from Laneige will have you waking up with enriched, soft lips.
6. Silk Sleeping Masks
By blocking out light, these masks can help improve sleep quality. They prevent eye irritation and wrinkles with the smooth, silk fabric. Plus, silk is less absorbent than other fabrics like cotton, so it won’t soak up moisture from the eye area. This silk mask from Quince is made from silk fibers with 18 kinds of nourishing amino acids.
7. Heatless Curls
There are numerous amounts of heatless curl techniques, from socks to rollers to buns. Whichever way works for you, this method can be great for non-damaging styling so that you can wake up with flawless hair. These silk hair rods from Kitsch are super easy to use.
8. Wrinkle Patches
These provide a temporary fix for wrinkle prevention by reducing movement and hydrating the skin. Many patches administer ingredients like retinol, Vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid so that you’ll wake up with glistening skin. These patches from Peace Out contain active ingredients with anti-aging properties.
9. Hair Oil
Overnight hair-oiling conditions the hair and locks in moisture. This is the perfect way to add softness, definition, and shine while you doze off. This Kérastase night serum is great for all hair types.
10. Silk Bonnets
Many users swear by the silk bonnet for hair health. The silk reduces friction and frizz from hair, so you won’t have to worry about waking up with a bed head anymore. Tangling is also reduced because hair can maintain its shape and definition under the silk barrier.
11. Face Masks
Repair skin cells with an overnight face mask to wake up feeling hydrated. In fact, cell mitosis — skin cell renewal — is at its peak between 11 pm and 12 am. Make sure that you choose a mask meant for prolonged use that works for your skin type. This overnight mask from Dr. Jart+ will have you waking up with radiant skin.
Worth It Or Worthless?
At the end of the day, as long as you do your research and make sure to consult a skin-care professional along with doing test patches for products, the morning shed is pretty harmless.
If you want long term results, then you need to practice consistency. So, if the whole idea of applying step after step at night on a regular basis isn’t for you, then the morning shed trend is probably something you can skip. But, if you like the idea of pampering yourself with an at-home spa session, and want low-maintenance mornings, I would absolutely give the trend a try.
Ultimately, all you really need in a skincare routine are a cleanser, SPF, moisturizer, and potentially an over-the-counter retinol product recommended by your dermatologist. That being said, treating yourself to a face mask, under-eye masks, and a lip treatment can definitely help you unwind after a long day. There’s also something incredibly satisfying about waking up and removing each step of the routine to unveil glowy skin and healthy hair.
