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Makeup for Different Face Shapes
Here’s a comprehensive guide to Makeup for Different Face Shapes, detailing how to apply makeup that flatters your unique features using contouring, highlighting, blush, and brow placement. The right techniques can create harmony and enhance natural beauty.
How to Identify Your Face Shape:
To determine your face shape, observe:
- Forehead width
- Cheekbone width
- Jawline width
- Face length
Use a mirror and tie your hair back to see the overall contour.
Makeup Guide by Face Shape
1. Oval Face
Traits: Balanced proportions, slightly narrower chin, high cheekbones
Goal: Maintain natural symmetry
Makeup Tips:
- Contour: Light contour under cheekbones for dimension
- Highlight: Center of forehead, bridge of nose, tops of cheeks
- Blush: Apply on the apples and sweep slightly upward
- Brows: Soft arch follows the natural shape
✅ Avoid heavy contouring—your face is already well-proportioned
2. Round Face
Traits: Equal width and length, full cheeks, soft jawline
Goal: Add definition and elongate the face
Makeup Tips:
- Contour: Sides of the forehead, under cheekbones, along the jawline
- Highlight: Center of forehead, under eyes in a triangle, chin
- Blush: Apply slightly above the apples, angle toward temples
- Brows: A high arch gives the illusion of length
✅ Avoid blush directly on the apples—it can make cheeks appear fuller
3. Square Face
Traits: Strong jawline, forehead, and jaw are similar in width
Goal: Soften angles and define cheekbones
Makeup Tips:
- Contour: Temples, jawline, under cheekbones
- Highlight: Center of forehead, chin, under eyes
- Blush: Apply on the apples and sweep upward in a soft curve
- Brows: Rounded or soft-angled arches work best
✅ Avoid harsh brow angles or strong contour lines—softening is key
4. Heart-Shaped Face
Traits: Broad forehead, high cheekbones, narrow chin
Goal: Balance forehead width and soften the chin
Makeup Tips:
- Contour: Sides of forehead and temples to minimize width
- Highlight: Under eyes, chin to bring it forward
- Blush: Sweep across cheeks toward ears, not too low
- Brows: Rounded or soft arch helps balance the pointy chin
✅ Avoid adding too much emphasis to the chin or forehead
5. Long (Oblong) Face
Traits: Face is longer than it is wide, often with a narrow chin
Goal: Shorten appearance, add width
Makeup Tips:
- Contour: Hairline, under chin, and below cheekbones
- Highlight: Center of forehead and under eyes
- Blush: Apply horizontally across the cheekbones
- Brows: Straight brows make the face appear shorter
✅ Avoid vertical blush application or high-arched brows
6. Diamond Face
Traits: Narrow forehead and chin, wide cheekbones
Goal: Minimize width of cheeks, highlight forehead and chin
Makeup Tips:
- Contour: Under cheekbones to slim face width
- Highlight: Center of forehead, under eyes, and chin
- Blush: Focus on upper cheekbones and sweep toward temples
- Brows: Keep soft curves to balance cheekbone width
✅ Avoid excessive blush on cheeks—it enhances width
Bonus: Universal Tips
| Feature | Best Practices |
|---|---|
| Foundation | Match your skin tone exactly; blend into neck and hairline |
| Concealer | Use a shade lighter under eyes and to highlight high points |
| Highlighter | Apply where light naturally hits: cheekbones, brow bone, nose, cupid’s bow |
| Contour | Use matte bronzer or contour powder 1–2 shades darker than your skin |
| Blush | Cream blush gives a youthful glow; powder blush lasts longer |
| Setting | Always set with powder in oily zones, especially T-zone |
Tools You’ll Need
- Blending sponge or brush
- Contour stick/palette
- Highlighter (cream or powder)
- Angled brush for contouring
- Fan brush for highlighter
- Blush brush