The Morning Shed: The Beauty Fad That Has Taken Over TikTok
The Morning Shed: The Beauty Fad That Has Taken Over TikTok
By Sophie Amen — May 14, 2025
TikTok’s beauty community has been buzzing over a recent morning ritual that helps people look their best after a long night of sleep. The “morning shed” involves a vast set of products and gadgets aimed to rid people of the puffiness, bloating, and stiffness often associated with waking up in the morning. While some see it as a transformative beauty routine, others can’t help but beg the question: Does it really work? And what implications does this create in the seamlessly endless strive for perfection?
Image from Dupe Photos
With this extensive morning routine, it seems as if the answer to perfection is more products. The topic has sparked an interesting conversation regarding overconsumption and large-scale consumerism. At first glance, it may seem as if the routine is a harmless self-care practice, however, the products it promotes and the standards it perpetuates speaks volumes about people’s reliance on material things for self-improvement.
Image from Dupe Photos
Gua sha tools, anti-wrinkle patches, eye masks, lip masks, mouth tape, jaw straps, overnight heatless hair tools, and protective bonnets are only a few of the products used in this intense routine. The emphasis on these tools could encourage overconsumption and the idea that there are always newer and better products to use.
Beyond this, there is close to no evidence that the routine even works. Studies haven't shown any significant long-term improvements in skin health or appearance directly linked to these practices. In many cases, using too many products or applying excessive pressure with certain tools can end up doing more harm than good, disrupting and irritating the skin barrier.
Image from Dupe Photos
Experts recommend a simple and consistent skincare routine instead. A basic cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen regimen with clinically-tested ingredients is proven to be more effective for maintaining healthy skin.
Besides the unproven effectiveness of the routine, the “morning shed” is mainly criticized for its adherence to the ceaseless cycle of achieving effortless beauty. With the influences of social media, every moment of our lives has been commodified. The trend reinforces the idea that natural morning puffiness is an imperfection or a problem to be fixed. The pressure to appear perfect even at the crack of dawn makes humans question if they are inadequate for simply looking human.
Image from Dupe Photos
While a solid and consistent nighttime routine is important, it’s clear that the “morning shed” is less about practicality and more about selling an ideal lifestyle. This commodification of wellness turns a harmless desire for self-care into a relentless pursuit of perfection, wherein completing this routine becomes equal to self-worth.
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