I tried going to bed as ugly as possible to wake up more beautiful – my partner thought I was mad but this item worked

The Irish Sun

20-07-2025

THEY call it 'beauty sleep,' but let's be honest - just because I've clocked in a solid eight hours doesn't mean I wake up looking fresh-faced.
And some days more than others it certainly takes a bit of work on my puffy eyes and messy hair before I look presentable for the world.
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The rose of the 'morning shed' has taken over TikTok, racking up over 100million in views worldwide
Credit: TikTok/@eringett7
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The idea is that you go to bed after applying multiple beauty products - and 'shed' them off in the morning to have a 'glow up'
Credit: TikTok/@@victoriasamson
And sometimes there just isn't time for a miracle, if I'm rushing to work or I'm late out the house.
But could TikTokers have the ultimate clever solution to help my predicament?
One of the booming beauty trends that has over 100million views is the 'morning shed' - and it looks baffling from first glance.
The #morningshed trend is about maximising beauty sleep by applying multiple beauty products before bed, then "shedding" them in the morning to reveal a fresher, more flawless complexion.
More on beauty
TikTokers such as
While the nighttime get-up may look silly to some, I was willing to put it to the test to see if it could be the short cut I was craving for looking fresher, faster.
MY TEST
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I applied lip stain, a sleep-in face mask, heatless curlers and a very sexy chin strap
Credit: THE SUN
After ordering all my products online, I began my nighttime beauty prep with slightly damp hair and a set of heatless curlers, which cost just
I wrapped my hair around the soft band, hoping to wake up with effortless waves.
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Next
, I applied a
Then came the viral face mask that's been making the rounds on TikTok—part of the ever-growing Korean skincare craze.
Morning shed skincare routine and benefits explained
This
As a side-sleeper, I was skeptical it would stay put, but I gave it a try.
I followed that with a dab of castor
oil
on my lashes—meant to strengthen and promote growth over time. No overnight miracles expected there, but worth a shot.
Then came the slightly absurd-looking
I looked absolutely unhinged by this point—but I wasn't done.
Finally, I applied the £14.99
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My partner got the shock of his life as this 'beauty' showed up in the bedroom
Credit: THE SUN
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I was worried I wouldn't be able to sleep with all of this on my face and head
Credit: THE SUN
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Apparently I had nailed the King Baldwin from Kingdom of Heaven look, according to my partner
Credit: Other20th Century Fox
As I climbed into bed, my partner audibly gasped and joked that I looked like King Baldwin from Kingdom of Heaven.
I couldn't even argue, I did look terrifying.
Despite feeling ridiculous and unsure I'd manage to drift off at all, I actually slept through the night without any issues.
THE RESULT
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By morning, the chin strap had fallen off - but the face mask had gone clear and done its magic
Credit: THE SUN
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I was ready to 'shed' off all the products to see the transformation
Credit: THE SUN
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My hair had transformed overnight without needing heat
Credit: THE SUN
I woke up hoping I'd somehow transformed into a
Disney
princess overnight—but reality, as always, had other plans.
My chin strap had wandered off sometime during the night, and my lip stain had smudged across my face—probably thanks to the moisture from the sheet mask (which, miraculously, had stayed in place and left my skin feeling surprisingly fresh).
The mouth tape held firm too, and even better, it completely silenced my partner's snoring—thanks to the strip I'd 'generously' applied to him in solidarity.
I was honestly amazed, and safe to say, he'll be wearing one every night from now on.
The real triumph, though, was my hair.
It had curled perfectly overnight, leaving it bouncy and ready to go—no styling required.
I was least impressed with the lip stain, which had left my lips dry, so I gave them a boost with my
A quick swipe of mascara, and I was ready to head out the door, feeling put-together with barely any effort at all - in the morning at least.
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I plumped my lips in seconds with the Silk'n Lumilips LED Lip Mask
Credit: SUPPLIED
WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY?
But what should we really be doing for our skincare routine, and is the 'morning shed' too over the top?
Shubhi Grover, Head of Consumer and Beauty at
"While elaborate morning shed routines may look visually impressive on TikTok, much of the real skin and hair work actually happens overnight, when the body is in recovery mode.
'Your evening routine should be intentional and not overwhelming, as most of us make that mistake. 'A few high-quality, well-formulated products tailored to your skin or hair type can go further than a 12-step ritual you won't sustain.
'I recommend focusing on hydration, barrier repair, and scalp care at night, to wake up glowing without the excessive morning 'undoing.''
The dream nighttime beauty routine, according to experts
SHUBHI Grover, Head of Consumer and Beauty at Sapience Communications gave her absolute non-negotiables for nighttime...
A gentle double cleanse to remove SPF and pollutants - double cleanse is my holy grail
An ultra-hydrating serum with peptides or hyaluronic acid
A silk pillowcase to reduce friction - great for both skin and hair
And on my hair: a light scalp serum and a loose protective braid or silk bonnet
She added: 'I would say it's less faff, more science, and most importantly, consistency goes a long way."
CONCLUSION
While the full nighttime beauty routine was fun to try, I'll be honest—it's a bit too time-consuming to keep up with every single night.
That said, there are definitely a few
steps
I'll be sticking with.
The heatless curlers are an easy win—no heat damage, and I wake up with soft, bouncy waves.
The overnight face mask left my skin feeling fresh and hydrated, so that's staying in rotation too.
And as for the mouth tape? I might not wear it every night, but my partner definitely will—his snore-free sleep was the real MVP of the whole experiment.