She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times.
Generally, potentially irritating actives such as exfoliating acids and retinoids should be introduced slowly, based on tolerability. These processes can help the skin look smoother, plumper, or rehydrated. Still, they’re not necessarily a sign that the skin has been rejuvenated overnight. Skin is constantly repairing and renewing itself, and several of these processes exhibit circadian variation. A well-designed nighttime program can help this natural process, but the more products used, the faster and better the less! In anti-aging skin care, the best strategy is to select ingredients based on your skin’s needs. The function of ceramides is barrier function, and hyaluronic acid is mainly for hydration. Peptides may also offer benefits, depending on the peptide and formulation. The potential drawback of Morning Shed is that combining several active ingredients is believed to yield faster results. It is often better to have a simple routine with relatively few actives that is well tolerated than a complicated one with too many actives.
This “Morning Shed” has swept social media, as individuals stack several skincare and haircare items on their skin overnight and show off the results the following morning. “Retinoids are among the most well-established ingredients for improving the appearance of signs of photoaging, and niacinamide can help support the skin barrier and address pigmentation issues,” Dr Nirupama Parwanda, Dermatologist & Founder of Zolie Skin, tells Health Shots . “In fact, overuse or overloading with potentially irritating actives can lead to dryness, redness, burning, and irritation, but not necessarily to increased efficacy,” says the doctor. “For dry, barrier-defective skin, richer moisturizers may help, and people who tend to suffer from acne or folliculitis should use a lighter, non-comedogenic moisturizer,” explains the expert.
Perhaps most importantly, no universal skincare system will work for everyone. Appropriateness depends on the skin type, pre-existing conditions, age, climate, and personal concerns. Don’t follow a viral morning shed; make your own routine based on your skin’s needs, effective and suitable for you. It’s not how many products you use; it’s which products you use, how you use them, and how consistently you use them.
“Even so, it’s still necessary to protect skin from UV every day, as sun exposure is one of the biggest causes of premature skin aging and pigmentation,” says the dermatologist.
