Experts Warn Against TikTok Sleepmaxxing Trend Promising Youthful Skin

A new TikTok trend called Sleepmaxxing, which encourages users to enhance their sleep quality and appearance through elaborate nighttime routines, has gained millions of views. The trend involves using various products such as mouth tapes, chin straps, wrinkle patches, collagen masks, silk hair covers, and smartwatches to track sleep, culminating in morning videos showing the removal of these items to reveal a "new look." One popular subtrend, Morning Shed, features users documenting the removal of these accessories to showcase supposed skin improvements.

Dr. Mohammad Sah, a dermatologist with Maccabi Health Services in northern Israel, acknowledges that the trend promotes attention to sleep and skincare, which are beneficial for health and appearance. However, he cautions that many claims lack scientific support. For example, silicone wrinkle patches can temporarily smooth the skin during use but do not alter skin structure or prevent aging, which is primarily influenced by sun exposure, genetics, and lifestyle. Similarly, collagen masks may hydrate the skin and improve its look temporarily but do not increase collagen production.

Prolonged use of these products overnight may cause skin irritation, redness, allergic reactions, or clogged pores, especially for people with oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin, or conditions like rosacea and atopic dermatitis. Claims that chin straps or tapes can reshape the jawline or reduce puffiness are also unsupported by evidence, offering only temporary effects.

The most controversial element is the mouth tape used to encourage nasal breathing during sleep. Dr. Sah warns this practice can be dangerous for individuals with undiagnosed sleep apnea, nasal congestion, or snoring, potentially delaying diagnosis and causing discomfort or a choking sensation.

Experts emphasize that simple, research-backed habits such as maintaining consistent sleep schedules, sleeping in a dark, cool room, morning light exposure, and reducing screen time before bed are more effective for sleep quality. For skin health, a routine tailored to skin type, regular sunscreen use, and healthy lifestyle choices are far more beneficial than viral products promising overnight transformations. While Sleepmaxxing may make bedtime routines more visually appealing, it does not provide proven long-term benefits and may sometimes cause harm.