Is Cortisol Face Real?
It’s been a stressful week. Deadlines were due, your schedule was packed, and everyone was annoying you more than usual. At the end of the week you take a look in the mirror and notice your face is puffy. Similar to how you look after a major crying session or kind of like the morning after too many espresso martinis. Are you imagining things are is your face looking puffier?
You’re not imagining things.
Stress can physically change your face. The culprit? Cortisol.
"Cortisol face" is a term that you have probably heard scrolling through IG reels or Tik Tok. It’s a term used to describe the visible effects of chronic stress on your skin, jawline, and overall facial structure. But what exactly IS cortisol face, is it real, and if so what can you do about it? I will be blending both Western + Eastern medicine perspectives to discuss this. Let’s chat.
What is Cortisol & Why Does It Affect Your Face?
Cortisol is often called the "stress hormone" because your body releases it when you’re under stress. It’s produced by the adrenal glands (which sits on top of the kidneys which is the center of your life force energy) and is crucial for survival. Cortisol isn't a "bad" hormone; it can actually help us. It’s needed for moments when we need to stay alert and deal with urgent situations. However, too much of it creates long-term damage.
When cortisol levels stay high for too long, it can lead to the following things that can affect your appearance:
Water Retention & Puffy Face → Cortisol throws off sodium & potassium levels which can lead to fluid buildup in the face. From the TCM perspective, stress also weakens the spleen. The spleen is responsible for fluid metabolism so when that’s weakened it can’t transform fluid properly leading to dampness accumulating in the face.
Collagen Breakdown → Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, meaning it breaks down proteins in the body, including collagen. Too much cortisol can then trigger collagen degradation in the skin. This can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. From the TCM perspective, the kidneys store our life essence: jing. Jing which governs aging, elasticity, and longevity. Chronic stress (and increased cortisol) depletes this energy speeding up the visual signs of aging such as weakened skin, sagging, and loss of firmness.
Jawline & Cheek Swelling → Cortisol increases inflammation, which can cause a rounder, bloated look in the lower face. From the TCM perspective, stress causes stagnation in the lover which can lead to the inflammation and fluid retention in the lower face.
Dull Skin Due to Weakened Circulation → Stress slows down blood flow which can make your complexion look pale, tired, and lifeless.
Sugar & Cravings → Cortisol spikes insulin which can lead to cravings & cause fat storage in the face.
How to Reverse Cortisol Face & Restore a Sculpted Look
The key to reversing cortisol face then lies in lowering your cortisol levels and supporting your skin’s recovery.
Nervous System Regulation
Your nervous system controls cortisol release. If your body is in fight-or-flight mode 24/7, your face will show it. To help heal this, focus on breath work to calm the stress response, utilizing cold therapy to reduce inflammation, and moving your body daily so that the excess cortisol can be released.
There is so much more to learn about the nervous system and how to properly regulate it that goes deeper than cortisol face. Right now regulating the nervous system is of the upmost importance. It is so important that I am dedicating an entire lecture to it where I am teaching about the nervous system itself, how it’s being manipulated from external forces, and how to reclaim your power through regulating it. Learn more here.Stop Water Retention & Facial Bloating
High cortisol makes you retain water so to remedy this, reduce sodium and eat more potassium-rich foods (bananas, avocados, leafy greens). Drink lemon water & dandelion tea to flush excess fluids & detox the lymphatic system. You can also do some face massages and gua sha to clear stagnant lymphatic fluid to help reduce puffiness instantly.
Strengthen Skin & Prevent Cortisol Damage
Because cortisol can negatively affect your collagen, you’re going to want to focus on boosting collagen. You can implement it in your skincare through vitamin C and/or retinol or you can take collagen as a supplement.
So yes, cortisol face is real—but it’s reversible. The biggest takeaway from all of this should be that stress is truly at the root of almost all dis-ease in our life (including appearance) so reducing it should be your biggest priority. The best way to do this is to learn how to master your nervous system. Let’s talk more about this here.