The New “Morning Shed” Skin Routine
The viral trend of going to sleep in layer upon layer of skin care (occasionally looking as if you were about to be lowered into a sarcophagus) promises a fresh, well-rested look by morning. The “morning shed” refers to the process of peeling and scrubbing off the various layers you applied the night before.
While we love the concept—get your skin and hair in great shape so that you don’t have to spend time and effort in the morning—some TikTokers take it to an overcomplicated extreme. Here, we’ve outlined the evening layers that deliver real payoff in the a.m. Depending on your skin and your goals, pick the “shed” that works for you.
Note: To get the best results, we recommend waiting a few minutes between each layer.
GENTLE (BUT STEALTHILY POWERFUL) EXFOLIATION
The key: goop Beauty Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk
Results: Visibly refreshed skin and an all-day glow.
How to do it: Smooth over cleansed skin. Though Sleep Milk is already moisturizing, you can layer extra hydration on top if your skin craves it. Our peptide serum adds active treatment along with hydration; our face cream delivers even more moisture, as well as firming, smoothing ingredients. And Fix and Restore Balm is the richest, thickest option—it’s also made with additional soothing ingredients that help if your skin is ultradry and irritable. To brighten and moisturize at once, Vita-C eye cream layers easily over Sleep Milk, too.
THE SHORTEST, STRONGEST SHED FOR MAJOR EXFOLIATION
The key: goop Beauty 15% Glycolic Acid Overnight Glow Peel
Results: Noticeably more glowing, smoother, softer, beautifully textured skin (and the effect lasts all week).
How to do it: No matter what your skin type (except for sensitive, in which case, avoid this routine entirely), swipe a pad over clean skin and go to bed. That’s it—consider this the anti-shed shed.
360-DEGREE SKIN TREATMENT
The key: goop Beauty Youth-Boost Peptide Serum
Results: Improvements in laxity, wrinkles, brightness, and more.
How to do it: It starts with massaging in the peptide serum over just-cleansed skin—and it could end there, with near-miraculous results after a little over a month. The serum is moisturizing on its own, but it isn’t exfoliating, so it can be layered under or over other serums. You could layer a rich, occlusive moisturizer like Monastery Made’s Attar balm over it, or go lighter with a gel-cream like our water-cream. Alternately, to double down on active benefits, smooth on a retinol or AHA first, then go over it with the peptide serum.
GLASS SKIN
The key: goop Beauty 72-Hour Supercharged Hydrating Water-Cream
Results: Skin so moisturized that it’s practically reflective.
How to do it: This one really depends on your skin type, but the light, ultrahydrating gel-cream water-cream is the constant. For oily or problem skin, a routine for glass skin might finish with hydration but start with oil and bacteria control. The salicylic acid toner from Alpyn is excellent; follow it with a serum like Sleep Milk or Goldfaden’s sulfur mask, then finish with water-cream. For normal to dry skin, start with a peptide or retinol serum. Follow with face oil, then a layer of water-cream.
SKIN SLUGGING FOR ULTIMATE MOISTURIZING
The key: goop Beauty Fix and Restore Balm
Results: The plumpest, dewiest, most moisturized skin ever.
How to do it: If you’ve got oily skin, refer to the glass skin routine above—it should be all the slugging you need. (If you’re determined to try more, finish with a layer of balm.) For normal and dry skin, start with your favorite serum on bare skin. Follow with a layer of face oil, then one of cream. Last, smooth on the ultraocclusive, supremely moisturizing balm, which will seal in all the goodness and leave your skin in amazing shape by morning.
A SENSITIVE-SKIN SHED FOR CALMING AND MOISTURIZING
The key: Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum
Results: Brightening, firming, smoothing, soothing, and hydrating—without the ingredients that can irritate reactive skin.
How to do it: Start with this active serum infused with postbiotics and algae—you’ll get results without irritation. Layer on both the eye and face cream—all are formulated to powerfully boost skin without known irritants. Finish with the balm, which is made with potent skin-calming agents, along with a serious dose of moisture.
