Have you noticed that your face is puffy when you wake up or you have bags under your eyes, no matter how much sleep or self-care you get? From puffiness to bags to fine lines, these are actually the signs of “cortisol face.”
High cortisol levels, triggered by prolonged stress, can silently change your appearance, affecting everything from your skin's texture to facial fat distribution. You may think it’s just aging, but it can be your body’s response to long-term stress.
Face before and after releasing excess cortisol:
Cortisol face shares symptoms with other stress-related conditions like fatigue, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. When your body is constantly in survival mode, stress hormones flood your system, causing visible changes in your appearance. This can create a vicious cycle: you’re stressed, your cortisol levels spike, and the more your appearance changes, the more stressed you feel.
Here are 9 ways to know if high cortisol is giving you cortisol face:
**Puffiness Around the Eyes: High cortisol causes fluid retention, leading to swollen, puffy eyes. Even with enough sleep, this stress-induced puffiness can stick around.
**Acne and Skin Irritation: Stress hormones cause an increase in oil production, clogging pores and resulting in acne or other skin irritations. You may notice more breakouts when cortisol levels are elevated.
**Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Cortisol breaks down collagen, the protein that keeps your skin firm and elastic. As stress levels rise, your skin may lose elasticity, leading to premature lines and wrinkles.
**Jaw Tension and Clenching: Muscle armoring, or the unconscious tightening of facial muscles, often shows up in the jaw area due to high cortisol. This can lead to a more rigid, strained expression and even TMJ pain.
**Dry, Dull Skin: Cortisol disrupts your skin's natural ability to retain moisture, causing dryness and a dull complexion, no matter how much moisturizer you use.
**Dark Circles: High stress and poor sleep are a recipe for those dark, sunken circles under your eyes. Cortisol throws off your sleep cycles, and your face shows it.
**Redness and Inflammation: Stress can trigger inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea or worsen existing conditions like eczema. Your skin may become redder, more irritated, and harder to calm down.
**Sagging Cheeks: Cortisol face can lead to a redistribution of fat, causing cheeks to sag and creating jowls. This is especially common in those who’ve dealt with chronic stress for long periods.
**Thinner, Weaker Skin: With prolonged high cortisol, your skin may become thinner, more prone to bruising, and slower to heal. This is a direct result of stress hormones disrupting your skin’s repair processes.
When your stress levels are high, your body stays stuck in survival mode, constantly releasing cortisol. Over time, this impacts not just how you feel but how you look. Cortisol face is a sign that your body is out of balance and needs help regulating its stress response.
To reduce the effects of high cortisol and its impact on your face, you need to address the root of the issue—stress. By incorporating somatic exercises, you can lower cortisol levels, promote relaxation, and bring your body back into balance. Somatic exercises help release stored trauma from the body and balance hormones.
Do you want to get rid of your cortisol face?
Get rid of your cortisol face with the Release Stress & Stored Trauma (30 day course)