Dermatologists React to TikTok's "Morning Shed" Trend

If you're on TikTok, you've probably heard of the app's "morning shed" trend. And even if you don't know the trend by name, chances are high that you probably know it by sight.

Have you seen people on the app putting on layers of face masks, eye patches, lip treatments, and heatless curlers before bed? The process that follows, in the morning, has been affectionately dubbed the "morning shed." It's all part of the larger high-maintenance to be low-maintenance trend that's taking over BeautyTok, but is it actually beneficial? As natural skeptics, we decided to find out by tapping a team of experts to get their opinions.

Keep scrolling to learn more about TikTok's morning shed trend, if it actually works, and whether experts approve.

Daniel Gould is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Beverly Hills. He specializes in both surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic services.

Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic, NYC.

Kunal Malik, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York City.

Essentially, although it has "morning" in the title, it's a process that actually starts at night. You begin by layering on copious amounts of skin-care products before bed — think hydrating serums followed by thick moisturizers and then occlusives, like Aquaphor or Vaseline.

On top of that, people typically put on eye patches, and then full sheet masks (like the viral overnight face mask) and sometimes even products like "jaw bras" to help tighten and lift. In addition to skin care, people do heatless waves with curling rods, socks, or scarves. And last but not least is mouth tape.

In the morning, they remove all the different products, "shedding" each one to reveal fresh skin and shiny hair.

As with many trends, this one is a mixed bag. "An overnight mask that's made with high-quality ingredients can help lock in moisture and prevent transepidermal water loss, which increases when we sleep," board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman says. "However, not everyone needs this in order to keep their skin healthy, and it's not a good idea for all skin types to keep a layer over their skin for an entire night." In fact, if you're acne-prone or have sensitive skin, Dr. Engelman warns that overnight masks can actually trap bacteria, which can lead to breakouts. So before you layer on the products, make sure to take that into consideration.

"In my opinion, the most powerful thing you can do overnight is use a good vitamin A-based cream — either retinol or Retin-A — as this has been proven to improve skin quality over time," board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Daniel Gould says.

What about face masks and sheet masks? "These can be beneficial when they contain evidence-based ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or peptides," dermatologist Kunal Malik says. "The skin's repair mechanisms are definitely more active at night, so nighttime moisturization is scientifically sound, and I approve."

One of the items we've been most curious about is chin straps, or "jaw bras." Unfortunately, sleeping in one won't have any long-lasting effects. "Evidence has shown that chin strapping or using a face girdle at night really does not change the shape of your face long-term," Dr. Gould says. "Physical devices or tools that 'change' the shape of your face are only temporary. They're not fighting gravity while you're asleep because you're horizontal instead of vertical, so the whole concept of using them is a little backward."

All in all? The morning shed trend might just be exactly what it's called: a trend. "Many of these trends oversimplify complex factors that affect facial appearance, like genetics, bone structure, and natural aging," Dr. Malik says. "Some of these 'solutions' could potentially cause skin irritation or disrupt natural sleep."

So what should you do instead? "I recommend skipping the extraneous steps and, instead, working with your dermatologist to create a good skin-care routine that works well for your particular skin type," Dr. Engelman says.

Renee Rodriguez (she/her) is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.