Is 'Cortisol Face' a Thing, or Are You Just Tired? (or Had Too Much Rosé)

I'm pretty sure your morning puffiness isn't a medical emergency

Hello, Gorgeous!

TikTok's latest dubious wellness obsession has everyone diagnosing their morning puffiness as cortisol face. In other words, the newest wellness panic is that stress is literally reshaping our faces into puffy, bloated versions of ourselves.

Delightful. There’s a reason I avoid TikTok like the proverbial plague. I find it exhausting to wade through massive amounts of disinformation and sketchy trends. So before you worry about your reflection or add yet another expensive serum to your cart, here's a reality check.

The scientific reality

The idea behind cortisol face (medically known as moon face) is real. But your stress about meeting deadlines isn’t causing it. According to the Mayo Clinic, extreme medical conditions like Cushing's syndrome can cause cortisol levels to be astronomically high, thereby distorting someone’s appearance.

Cortisol is a stress response hormone, that part is true. And it isn’t all bad. Also according to the Mayo Clinic, cortisol increases blood sugar, enhances brain function, and helps repair tissues during stressful situations. What it doesn’t do is make you look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

The real culprits

So why does your face look puffy? I’m guessing you already figured it out.

• Last night's midnight snack. That sushi with extra soy sauce? Not your face’s best friend. High sodium is the most common cause of facial puffiness.

• Sleep quality. Poor sleep disrupts your body's fluid balance. Those under-eye bags aren't just aesthetic. In many cases they’re due to allergies, late night sobfests or your body crying out for better rest.

• Alcohol. That Tuesday night wine tasting might be showing up in your Wednesday face.

• Hormonal fluctuations. Ah, the joys of womanhood. Perimenopause, the full ‘pause, monthly cycles, medications, and seasonal allergies all contribute to facial swelling.

The bottom line

Your morning puffiness is probably not a crisis (though if you’re truly worried, please see a doctor about it). Daily facial puffiness is likely a sign you're human, and on occasion imbibe in the good stuff that might not be good for you.

Before you self diagnose with the latest trend, ask yourself: Did you sleep well? What did you eat last night? Are you hydrating properly?

Not everything needs a dramatic explanation or expensive solution. Sometimes we're just tired. Sometimes we just had too much rosé.

Have you fallen down the cortisol face rabbit hole? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋