Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef are Australian beauty editors and the founders of Gloss Etc, a weekly newsletter dedicated to the best beauty reviews, news and tips. With 20 years of experience and a wealth of product knowledge, they’re here to answer beauty questions from Fashion Journal readers each fortnight.
Hi Sherine and Sarah. Lately, I’ve been waking up with such a puffy face in the morning, especially around my eyes. No eye creams seem to actually help. Is there anything I can do to de-puff? – Tonya
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Gloss Etc: Sherine has never had to deal with puffiness until very recently, but lately has noticed that if she’s had a particularly salty dinner, she’ll wake up with excess baggage. Not fun. Sarah, on the other hand is well-acquainted with the puff, being the mum of two young boys who are all-night ravers. Cute.
But, enough of our woes, let’s help fix yours. First, by clarifying exactly what’s happening when our faces puff up and out. Ready? Let’s do it.
Why is my face so puffy in the morning?
Puffiness usually happens when excess fluid accumulates and stagnates in the facial tissue. This could be down to a number of reasons, from allergies, alcohol and lack of sleep, to periods, slow lymphatic drainage, or the body’s inclination to retain fluid in response to dehydration or high sodium intake (see: Sherine’s face when she goes overboard on the soy sauce).
Then there’s the fact that our bodies naturally retain fluid overnight, and because sleep involves lying horizontally with the head basically on par with the heart, all that retained fluid can ‘pool’ in the face.
Oh, and there’s more. If you partake in one of the puffy triggers right before bedtime, you’ll probably find you’re positively parched and chug loads of water. This, in addition to your body scrambling to produce more fluid to metabolise and filter that salty dinner, is a recipe for a puffy face.
As for what to do about it? Here’s a few techniques and products we use to keep Puff the Bloaty Face Dragon at bay.
Light facial massage
Using your fingers, a gua sha or a jade roller, gently knead your skin to help shift stagnant fluid and move it along. Celebrity skin whisperer, Melanie Grant, has this handy step-by-step guide.
Cryotherapy
Colder temperatures have the effect of constricting the blood vessels, which may help reduce swelling. Two of our tried-and-tested faves: Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask (which Sherine reviewed here), and kit Cold Therapy Facial Treatment.
If you love a fun tool, these Skin Gym Cryo-Ice Massage Sticks, or Aceology Ice Globe Facial Massagers, or a Contour Cube, which does the trick. You know what else you can do? Pop the above mentioned jade roller in the fridge for a couple of hours and roll that over your face, or chill your sheet mask in the fridge before applying.
Caffeine
No, we’re not talking about chugging back an espresso in your pre-sleep routine. Like cryotherapy, caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, so it tightens blood vessels which helps to minimise swelling. It’s why lots of eye creams targeting ‘bags’ include this ingredient. Try Clinique All About Eyes Brightening Serum Concentrate, or Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Ice Stick, which pulls double duty because it has caffeine and it’s cooling.
Then there’s the usual, boring tips: Stay hydrated, limit your salt intake and stress (lol, good luck), and stay on top of any allergies. And if you’re a side or stomach-sleeper, tonight, try sleeping on your back with maybe an extra pillow to ensure your head is properly elevated.
Got a question for Gloss Etc? Email it to editorial@fashionjournal.com.au with the subject line: ‘Ask a beauty editor’.
For more on facial puffiness, try this.
This article Ask a beauty editor: How can I de-puff my face, fast? appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-04-08 13:04:00
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