PEPTIDE FACE: THE UNEXPECTED SIDE OF WEIGHT LOSS, AND THE SKINCARE RESET YOU NEED

Skin expert Isabella Loneragan

As GLP-1 medications and therapies become more widely used, leading skincare expert Isabella Loneragan says Australians need to understand the often-overlooked impact rapid weight loss can have on facial skin health and appearance.

“Rapid weight loss can significantly affect facial volume, skin texture and the way facial skin behaves,” explains Isabella, a multi-award-winning skin and dermal therapist, product formulator, educator and founder of Skinformé Clinic.

“When the body undergoes considerable transformation, a tailored approach to skincare should evolve alongside it. 

“Skin that has experienced rapid change is likely to require greater focus on hydration, barrier support, collagen preservation and overall resilience.

"The products and treatments that once delivered results may no longer adequately address the skin’s evolving needs, which is why reassessing your approach is so important.

“The face is a complex structure where skin, fat, muscle and connective tissue work together, meaning changes beneath the surface can have a visible impact on how the skin looks, feels and functions. 

“As a practising facialist of more than two decades, I’m seeing more clients celebrate incredible transformations in their bodies, yet they feel disconnected from changes in their face and skin. 

“In fact, this shift has become so prevalent that many clinicians are now asking clients during initial consultations whether they’re taking prescribed (or non-prescribed!) weight loss medications because it provides important context when assessing facial volume, skin quality and treatment needs.

“As I’m increasingly recommending to my clients, skin health should be part of the transformation process. Helping the skin adapt, strengthen and maintain its resilience throughout the journey is essential for long-term results,” Isabella said.

Often referred to as ‘Ozempic Face’, Isabella says Australia is now seeing a growing conversation around the visible skin changes associated with rapid weight loss. 

While there is no official clinical term for these changes, she describes this emerging beauty conversation as ‘peptide face’, referring to the impact significant metabolic change can have on facial volume, skin texture and elasticity.

However, Isabella also warns that consumers should be mindful of the growing use of the word ‘peptide’ across beauty and wellness marketing.

“Peptides are an exciting area of science, but the term has become a major buzzword. Consumers need to understand that not every product or treatment marketed with the word ‘peptide’ is the same.

“There is an important difference between approved medical treatments prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals and unapproved products promoted online.

“When we talk about ‘peptide face’, we’re not referring to a single product or ingredient in the way we once did. We’re talking about the broader impact significant metabolic change can have on facial structure, skin quality and how the skin responds during transformation.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that facial fat behaves in the same way as fat elsewhere in the body. It doesn’t. 

"Facial fat is highly specialised and plays a critical role in supporting facial shape, softness and structure. 

"When facial volume reduces quickly, the skin doesn't always contract at the same rate. This can alter the appearance of the cheeks, temples, under-eye area and jawline, leaving skin looking looser or less supported.

"Unlike body fat, which can fluctuate and redistribute throughout life, facial volume loss can have a much more noticeable impact because it affects the underlying support structure of the face.

"People often assume that if they regain weight, their face will simply return to how it was before. In reality, facial volume and skin quality are much more complex than that. Collagen levels, elastin, genetics, age and overall skin health all influence how the face responds," says Isabella.

With the growing popularity of GLP-1 medications, Isabella says consumers should also be cautious about how and where they access these treatments.

“In complete agreement with broader expert warnings, I urge Australians to only use TGA-approved medications prescribed and monitored by qualified healthcare professionals.

“What we put into our bodies does show up in our skin. Rapid changes, whether through weight loss, nutrition or medication, can impact skin health, resilience and how the skin responds. 

“Taking a considered approach and ensuring these medications are used safely is just as important as the results people are hoping to achieve,” says Isabella.

When it comes to skincare changes for those on GLP-1 medications, Isabella says the focus should be on hydration, barrier support, collagen preservation and helping the skin adapt to rapid changes in facial volume and elasticity.

Isabella Loneragan’s five skincare reset tips for GLP-1 weight loss:

1. Rebuild the skin barrier before adding active ingredients: Rapid weight loss can place additional stress on the skin, so the first priority should be supporting the skin barrier. Focus on gentle cleansing, hydration and nourishing ingredients that help maintain skin resilience before introducing more intensive actives.

2. Prioritise hydration to support changing skin texture: Hydration is one of the foundations of healthy skin. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid can help replenish moisture levels and support a more plump, healthy-looking complexion as the skin adapts to changes in facial volume.

3. Support collagen preservation with evidence-based actives: As facial volume changes, supporting collagen and skin strength becomes increasingly important. Vitamin C, peptides and retinoids can play a role in a targeted skincare routine, when selected appropriately for the individual’s skin needs.

4. Use touch-led facial massage to support skin resilience: Add a few minutes of mindful facial massage into your routine using gentle lifting, sculpting and drainage-inspired techniques.

Slow upward movements across the cheeks, jawline and temples can help stimulate circulation, ease facial tension and encourage a deeper connection with the changes happening in the face. Beyond the physical benefits, touch-led massage creates an opportunity to reconnect with the skin as it evolves and support overall skin wellbeing.

5. Don’t wait until changes become advanced: If someone is noticing increased laxity, loss of firmness or changes in facial structure, early support is key. Professional treatments that focus on collagen stimulation, skin strengthening and improving skin quality can be more effective when introduced as part of a proactive approach rather than trying to reverse more advanced changes later.”

Isabella Loneragan is a multi-award-winning skin and dermal therapist, holding a Bachelor of Behavioural Health Science & Psychology, with a Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Dermal Science. With two decades of international experience in dermatology, plastic surgery, and award-winning cosmeceutical formulation, Isabella privately operates the Skinformé Clinic in Bowral and Sydney, NSW. She is renowned for her offering of bespoke intuitive facial treatments. Isabella is also the creator of Skinformé skincare and is Founder and CEO of the Skinformé Academy, a world-class facial and facial massage training institution.

You can find Isabella Loneragan online here (www.isabellaloneragan.com). Instagram: @IsabellaLoneragan