Should I Be Taking Notes From This Alpha Male Morning Routine?

It’s been the 3:52 a.m. wake-up alarm heard around the world. Last Thursday, the X account “Tips For Men - Fashion | Essentials | Luxury” reposted a “Get Ready With Me” video originally made by the fitness influencer Ashton Hall. In most circumstances, this would be nothing more than harmless (if not forgettable) inspirational content you’d engage with for a few seconds before going about your day.

But right now, this man’s morning routine has gotten over 696 million impressions, caused countless debates about journaling habits, and inspired a few viral responses questioning whether or not Ashton was on an actual work call. (And if so, then what did he need 10,000 of, exactly?) It’s also resulted in a surge in Saratoga Water sales. But if this wildly involved wake-up routine somehow didn’t make it across your feed, please catch up below.

There’s been plenty of discourse surrounding this morning routine's structure, and it’s safe to say that some of the video’s most divisive scenes—beyond the unusual wake-up time, the four-minute-long dip in the pool, and the faceless woman serving him his breakfast— concern Ashton's approach to skincare. At 5:49 a.m. and 9:09 a.m., he dunks his face in a bowl of ice water. Then there's the unexpected moment at 8:45 a.m. when he takes a banana peel and rubs it all over his face. At first, I found these moves baffling—as did many other people.

But who am I to deny free skincare tips...even if the source is an alpha male fitness influencer whose content is in no way geared toward me, a young woman who has never touched protein powder in her life. Before whipping out my ice maker and refilling my banana stash though, I reached out to double-board pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist Karan Lal for his insight. While everyone’s skin is different and Ashton’s routine is “clearly working for him” (Dr. Lal’s words), here are the steps in Ashton’s routine actually worth considering—and which you'd be better off skipping.

The Ice Bath

“This is a very old-school teaching,” says Dr. Lal. Dunking your face in freezing-cold ice is bound to wake up the senses, but it’ll also leave your face feeling tighter. “You’re vasoconstricting the blood vessels in your face, so you’ll get a temporary reduction in redness when you’re doing this.” Dr. Lal says. Even so, he warns against spending too much time under the ice. “If you keep your face in ice for longer than a few seconds, you could induce cold panniculitis. You see this a lot with kids when they hold a popsicle on one side of their cheek for too long.”

According to Dr. Lal, you can enjoy the same benefits of an ice bath by using extra-cold water during the last two minutes of your shower. And that doesn’t run the risk of facial burns. “You’ll still get that tightening effect, it’ll help boost your cortisol levels, and it’ll reduce inflammation.”

Dr. Lal’s rating: 5/10

The Banana Peel

You’re better off composting your banana peels rather than rubbing them all over your face before the sun comes up. “This has no benefits,” Dr. Lal emphasizes.

“Some fruit peels, like oranges, have oils and acids that have a mild exfoliating effect, and those can still be irritating. If you go out in the sun, it can cause a phototoxic reaction,” Dr. Lal says. But what about bananas specifically? Dr. Lal says you shouldn’t rush to build them into your daily beauty routine. “If you’re eating ripe bananas, they’ll have high levels of things that reduce inflammation, but to my knowledge, rubbing the peel on your face does nothing.”

Dr. Lal’s rating: 0/10

The Saratoga Spring Water

Dr. Lal is a staunch advocate for hydrating. “Overall, for skin turgor and hydration, if you’re drinking eight glasses a day then your skin will be more plump.” Now, whether your brand of water is Saratoga Spring specifically? Less crucial. “Spring water typically has more minerals that may reduce irritation in the skin, but tap water is not necessarily bad for you,” Dr. Lal says. “If you’re really concerned, you can sub in distilled water.”

Dr. Lal’s rating (for daily hydration): 9/10

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