Your face shape plays an important role in nailing your perfect makeup look, as makeup for different face shapes varies with their features. Often, we copy the constantly changing makeup trends of different celebrities and supermodels without considering the different face shapes. As a result, something that looks gorgeous on a certain celebrity does not look half as impressive on us. Therefore, the first and foremost step in deciding on a makeup look is to find out your face shape.
So, if you have not already found out about your face shape and the tips and tricks particular to it, take a quick read through this article. Scroll down!
- Identify Your Face Shape: Use a measuring tape and measure the length and width of your face. Pay attention to the angles of your hairline and jawline.
- Hairstyle: For a round face shape, opt for a high ponytail; for a square face shape, opt for waves and curls. For a heart face shape, opt for chin-length bobs; for a long face shape, opt for a layered bob.
- Attire: For a round face shape, opt for v-neck tops and with blazers. For a square face shape, opt for A-line dresses; for a heart face shape, opt for flared pants. For a long face shape, opt for a boat-necked top with cropped pants.
- Jewelry: For a round face shape, opt for long earrings; for a square face shape, opt for hoop earrings; for a heart face shape, opt for teardrop earrings. For a long face shape, opt for chunky earrings.
Makeup For Different Face Shapes
Let’s have a deeper insight into the face shapes and correct makeup for face shapes which one needs to follow:
1. Makeup For Oval Shaped Faces
The most common face shape is that of the “Oval” shape. I, myself have that shape so am going to get to the topic right away! Well, Jessica Alba’s face is also sort of Oval Shaped as you can make out from the picture!
- The first objective is to make the face look more elongated, so as to minimize the oval effect of the face. For this, we have to concentrate on our blunt features, if you do have any. Most people with an oval face do not have a pointed and sharp nose. So after applying foundation, what you can do is take some bronzer and apply it between your thumb and first finger and then stretch your thumb and first finger along the length of your nose from top to bottom ( on the sides I mean). In this way, your nose will get the shadow effect on the sides, and the top will remain in foundation looking fairer and heightened. This is a makeup trick that a few makeup artists use for oval-shaped faces.
2. Next comes eyebrows. High arched brows can give a more oval shape. It is recommended that you go to a professional to get your eyebrows shaped as per your needs. This will also prevent you from over-plucking your brows.
3. While doing makeup for eyes or lips, concentrate on any one feature, either eyes or lips keeping the other simple. You can either go for bold eyes and a nude lipstick, or a bold lip color and simple eye makeup.
4. Use blush to make the face look elongated. Suck cheeks in and use blush on the contours (not onto the apples) of your cheeks. It’s a damn good technique that makes your face look sleek and stylish! I can BANK on this one. And one more thing, you can use a little blush on the sides of your chin, not in the absolute front. This enhances this effect! You can also add some highlighter to your upper cheeks and bronzer under your cheekbones to add a warm glow and definition to your cheeks.
2. Makeup For Oblong Shaped Faces
Who better than Milla Jovovich ( the Resident Evil Star) to refer to when talking about this face shape? Mainly since the new movie is all set to hit the theaters soon.
Well, I don’t have this face shape, but my friend does, and I’ve seen what she does, well she is also a Google person and learns tricks from here and there.
Here is a tested version, I am sure you’ll love it.
If your face is oblong or rectangular, then your first and foremost motive will be to show the face as oval.
Make brows a little arched than the normal run of your brow bones. This will make your face look a little more oval and round.
1. Use Pinkish (light) shade on to the sucked cheeks ( this will give a plumped up look) and use a rosy darker shade onto apples.
- Make your eyelashes look bigger and more dramatic by using double curling (before and after use of mascara) or you may even experiment with darker false lashes. You can even layer your mascara and focus on the corners of your lashes to make them look longer and add a wow factor to your eyes.
- Try to keep lips minimum and rosy pink, they look the best and full, to make your face appear fuller. Another option is going for a nude lipstick with some lip gloss on top. This will give your lips a fuller look. Avoid matte lipstick as it can make your lips appear less full.4.
- Minimize sharp edges of the face (like sides of jaws and if your nose is real sharp, follow alternate technique refer to point 6 with a bronzer sweep.
- Coming to the nose, like for an oval face you follow a side shadowing, here you need to follow a top shadowing technique. Do not use shadowing on the sides of the nose – let it remain covered in foundation. You can add some highlighter to the top of your nose and bronzer to the sides of your nose to help accentuate your features.
3. Makeup For Heart Shaped Faces
The best face to refer to when talking about heart-shaped faces is Reese Witherspoon’s.
Here are a few makeup tips for this face shape. If you have a tapered jaw line and a wide forehead, like most heart-shaped faces, the first focus is to move away any attention from the wideness of the forehead. You can highlight certain features and turn down others to perfectly balance this face shape.
1. Use a bronzer or a foundation (darker to the skin tone) along the sides of the temples and the bottom of the chin. Use a highlighting powder and also on top of the nose. Side shadow the nose with a bronzer and add some color to the cheeks to accentuate the high cheek bones that are typical of this face shape.
2. Plump up your lips rather than your eyes. Use a lip plumper or a high-shine gloss and a bold lip color so that focus remains on lips and not on the tapering jawline.
3. Do not make the eyes too smokey, use lighter shades even if you go for a night out smokey effect.
4. Apply bronzer under your chin and contour your cheekbones with it by tracing the hollows of your cheeks.
5. Use a subtle shade of blush to add color to the apples of your cheeks.
4. Makeup For Diamond Shaped Faces
The biggest concern with makeup for different face shapes is that they look very disproportionate, and this makes it very difficult to achieve a dazzling look! Use makeup to brighten the center of your face which brings attention to the center of your face. A lighter liquid foundation or highlighting powder will help you achieve this effect with ease.
- Apply it to the forehead, bridge of the nose and center of the chin to draw attention to the center part of the face.
- Using a bronzing powder or slightly darker foundation, contour the peak of the forehead, the tip of the chin and underside of the cheekbones for minimizing the width and giving the face a more proportionate look. Keep in mind that you should select a foundation that blends well with your skin tone.
5. Makeup For Round Shaped Faces
Round face has equal length and width. So when it comes to makeup, you will have to create the illusion of length. Contouring is very important for this face shape.
- A bronzer can work as a contour when applied to the temples and beneath the jaw line. Doing so will create the illusion of an oval face. Also, highlight the forehead, area under the eyes and the chin to draw attention to the center of your face.
- A blush can be applied just beneath the cheekbones to give them definition, or apply it directly to the apples of the cheeks to accentuate their perfect shape. Do apply the blush in upward strokes to give a slimming effect.
A little care needs to be taken regarding the colors as bright colors only accentuate the roundness of the face. If you do not know which color to choose, stick to neutral shades as they are the safest bet.