Why just sleep at night, when you can use that time to wake up feeling more beautiful? This is what many women have highlighted by adopting the “Morning Shred” trend, popularized on TikTok and Instagram this summer. Although social media trends come and go at lightning speed, this one seems to persist.
What is this trend?
Imagine yourself in the evening, in front of your mirror, after washing your face, ready to go to bed. But before you go to bed, it’s time to start a beauty routine in more than ten steps: serum, cream, eye contour, patches, sheet mask, lip contour, curlers, anti-double chin bandage, strap on the mouth… Influencer Ashley West describes these steps in a TikTok video.
Viral videos show these young women, waking up in the morning, undoing, step by step, their routine from the day before, revealing a glowing face and perfectly brushed hair, as if they had just come from the hairdresser.
Under these videos, which have thousands of views, we can often read: “The uglier you go to sleep, the prettier you wake up”. A sentence that seems to sum up this trend perfectly.
A mask to sculpt the jawline?
Even though the end result makes it seem like all of these steps are essential to revealing one’s natural beauty when they wake up, health professionals have reservations. Indeed, the famous pink chin strap seen on the networks has, for example, not proven its scientific effectiveness.
Charlotte Barnett, journalist for the American media The Cutinterviewed a dermatology physician assistant, who explains that “chin straps put gentle pressure on the chin and neck, which can temporarily reduce swelling and give the illusion of a more defined jawline.” However, once removed, the skin returns to its original state. These chin straps have no effect on fat.”
For the skin, “it’s counterproductive”
Furthermore, applying so many products to the skin is not recommended by dermatologists. Doctor Jérémy Lupu explains that this trend does not make much sense. “It’s counterproductive because the skin renews itself at night, it needs to breathe.” The dermatologist also indicates that this routine promotes inflammation and can even cause cosmetic acne.
There is the quantity, but also the application time which is questionable. For Sophie Strobel, cosmetologist biologist for the Talika brand, products such as masks indicate an application time recommended and approved by toxicologists. Leaving a mask on overnight can actually irritate the skin. Nothing serious, but it’s not of much interest. “The plumping effect that we see in the videos is because it has a dressing effect. The mask helps keep hydration, keeps the face water, but it is temporary. A few hours later, there is no longer this effect,” she explains.
For Jérémy Lupu, the ideal evening routine consists of cleansing the skin with a suitable soap, purchased in a pharmacy, and a cream promoting cell renewal, such as a retinol product.
Mirror, mirror, who is the most beautiful?
Vogue describes this trend in an article as the “morbid desire to be perpetually sexy.” For journalist Charlotte Barnett, “Morning Shred” fuels the idea that a woman must be beautiful, presentable, as soon as she wakes up. “This little two-step routine, a gentle cleanser followed by a squalane-based moisturizer, is no longer enough. If you’re not going to sleep with a pink chin strap that makes you look like Hannibal Lecter Barbie, you’re slacking off,” she quips in her article.
Since the true effects of this trend are in question, it might be best to keep a simple routine, where one falls asleep “naturally” and wakes up “naturally.” The beneficial effects of sleep on the skin and health in general have been scientifically proven.
