By Hazel Scott

First there was Pillow Face. Then Ozempic Face. And now everyone's talking about Cortisol Face. What’s it all about?  We dive into this hot TikTok trend to separate truth from myth, get down with the science and share some tips.

TikTok trending

When something like this trends, you might assume it’s a common condition that we should all know about. “Cortisol Face” is a term that’s being used to describe a face that looks puffy or swollen. Creators on TikTok claim it’s caused by raised cortisol levels, as our bodies produce more cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) when we become stressed. But there are many misconceptions floating around - and Cortisol Face is not actually an official diagnosis.

What is Cortisol? 

It’s the body’s main stress hormone, and is one of the good guys. It is regulated by the pituitary gland, produced by our adrenal glands, and has several benefits. For example, it:

• manages how the body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
• helps to keep inflammation down
• maintains blood pressure
• regulates blood sugar (glucose)
• controls the sleep/wake cycle
• boosts energy so we can handle stress and restores balance afterwards
• works with certain parts of our brain to control mood, motivation, and fear.

But the key is releasing and maintaining the right amount, as too much or too little can cause health problems. 

Recognizing the symptoms

Some of the symptoms people associate with Cortisol Face are also associated with a more serious condition called Cushing Syndrome, which occurs when the body overproduces cortisol. Both are linked to high levels of the hormone, but they have different causes and symptoms. Let’s see why this confusion may have arisen.

Cortisol Face: This is when your face can look puffy, bloated, or rounded around the jaw, sometimes with a swollen look under the eyes. It can be caused by too much cortisol but in itself is not a medically-recognised condition and is usually accepted as a temporary change in appearance.

Cushing Syndrome: This is a more serious condition that’s categorized as a hormonal disorder. Symptoms again include a rounded face, but there are often also longer-term health effects such as weight gain, a fatty hump between the neck and shoulders, and thinner skin, which bruises more easily. The condition can be caused by high levels of stress, but other contributing factors include long-term use of certain medications, alcoholism, malnutrition, and even tumors.

How can stress affect your face?

High levels of stress can cause water and sodium retention, which can sometimes be seen in facial tissue and make us look a little puffier than usual. But take a step back - perhaps that retention can be down to the fact that when we are stressed, we don’t eat healthily - we eat UPFs, drink too much coffee and push the wholefoods aside for a day or two. Not exactly a coincidence.

If our cortisol levels go up, our immune system becomes weaker, so we’re more susceptible to inflammation or even infections. Swelling and bloating may be more visible if we’re chronically stressed. But we are unlikely to experience Cortisol Face unless we’re under high levels of stress for a prolonged period of time. 

Tips for balancing cortisol and de-puffing the face:

• Let’s start with a good night’s sleep. Seven to eight hours of sleep each night really helps - not just with stress, but it gives our bodies the chance to repair and recharge. If you suffer from poor sleep, our calm (beauty) supplement can definitely help. It’s a melatonin-free liquid formula filled with potent concentrations of the highest quality, clinically trialed vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, including spermidine and taurine, and works at a cellular level to induce a calming effect, help with anxiety and promote a deep, restorative sleep. 
• What we eat is so important - they say it’s 80% of the battle! It’s always good to cut back on added sugars, salt and processed foods, and to make sure we include enough fiber (fruits and veggies, oats, barley seeds, pulses) as this helps regulate our gut bacteria, which in turn helps to regulate hormones. 
• Supplements can help. Magnesium helps to regulate cortisol levels, whilst vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin C can also help support the metabolism of cortisol.
• An obvious one, but reduce caffeine intake - a great tip is to switch that coffee for a matcha. People with chronic stress can experience adrenal fatigue, which occurs when cortisol levels are way off balance. They get extremely tired and what gets them through the day? Caffeine. But it’s a vicious circle because once the caffeine wears off, they’re exhausted again. Caffeine can raise cortisol levels and is a temporary fix - not really dealing with the root of the problem - the need to balance hormone levels.
• A Gua Sha facial massage can certainly help. Used in traditional Chinese medicine, this method helps with lymphatic drainage, puffiness and circulation while contouring the face and relieving muscle tension, and it removes dead skin cells along the way. We love Gua Sha so much that we launched our own Agent Nateur stainless steel gua sha facial sculpting and lifting tool! Made from 100% stainless steel, it’s easy to clean and disinfect (unlike more porous materials such as jade or stone). Combine it with our holi (oil) refining ageless face serum, which contains rice bran, rosehip oil and sandalwood oil, for perfect results.