Can It Improve Skin Health and Sleep?

Sophie Momen, PhD, a consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, describes the trend as “quite excessive and time-consuming.”

She says it’s another example of intensive skin care regimens.

“Preparing to sleep with all these agents is very time-consuming and largely unnecessary,” Momen says. “Drenching the skin in heavy serums and products may block pores and lead to breakouts, while around the delicate eye area, it may cause the formation of milia,” she says.

Momen also notes that sleeping with active ingredients on the skin that are only designed for a short duration of time may lead to skin discoloration, irritation, and dry skin.

Additionally, she says most serums and creams will absorb after a certain amount of time and if their intended duration of use is 10 minutes, then it’s unlikely that there will be any additional benefits or absorption after this period of time.

That said, Momen believes one or two of the techniques could provide some benefit.

“For instance, the lips may benefit from an intense overnight hydration with a lip mask, and sleeping in silk turbans is also beneficial to reduce friction, frizziness, and hair breakage,” she explains.

Jeff Kahn, a sleep expert and CEO and Co-Founder of Rise Science, says performing certain activities or following specific routines while sleeping can have unique impacts on health due to the body’s natural restorative processes during sleep.

“When it comes to sleep masks specifically, most of the research we have on whether or not they improve sleep are in hospital settings,” he says. “What we know from these studies is that patients wearing sleep masks tend to report better sleep quality, suggesting that sleep masks can be an effective, noninvasive way to improve sleep in hospital settings,” he says.

The main benefit of wearing a sleep mask may be its ability to block out light.

“Research shows exposure to light during sleep can impair sleep quality as well as overall health, so wearing a sleep mask can help mitigate these effects by blocking out ambient light and supporting melatonin production,” Kahn explains.

Some proponents of the trend claim that mouthtaping or wearing a mouthguard also helps them sleep better. What does Kahn think?

He says a mouthguard might be useful if teeth grinding is disrupting your sleep.

“Teeth grinding is more likely to occur during sleep and can cause mini arousals during sleep you may not even be aware of,” he explains.

“This nocturnal grinding can lead to significant dental issues and is often accompanied by other sleep disturbances, making a mouthguard a key intervention.”

So mouthguards and eye masks may be useful if getting a better night’s sleep is your goal. But they may not be beneficial for everyone as some people may find wearing an excess of products uncomfortable.

Kahn notes that experiencing this kind of discomfort while you sleep can interfere with the natural progression of sleep stages and trigger the body’s stress response, increasing arousal and leading to frequent awakenings.

Additionally, he says adopting new routines to maximize sleep can be anxiety-inducing for some people. In turn, he says this can make it hard to get to sleep.

If you’re planning to add the Morning Shed trend to your routine, Kahn says it’s essential to try out anything that has the potential to be uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking during the daytime, either while you’re awake or during a short nap.

“This will help you acclimate to sensations or make adjustments without the pressure of needing a full night’s rest,” he explains.

As for your skin?

“Avoid thick layers of products if you have oily skin or are prone to blackheads, as this can lead to breakouts,” says Momen.

“For dry skin, using agents like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides overnight can provide hydration,” she adds.

Whatever your skin type, be sure to avoid anything that might cause irritation.

“I would avoid leaving acids on overnight that aren’t intended for overnight use. The same goes for layering active ingredients like retinol, as this may cause sensitivity,” Momen suggests.

If beauty is the goal, Kahn says getting enough restorative sleep is one of the most reliable techniques there is.

The Morning Shed is an elaborate bedtime beauty routine. It requires a lot of effort, and it does not guarantee that it will improve skin health or sleep quality.

In fact, it could disrupt your sleep, making you appear tired.

If you want to give it a go, it’s best to familiarise yourself with some of the products during the day to ensure they don’t cause irritation or discomfort.