Table of Contents
- The Best Makeup Techniques for Each Face Shape
- Eye Makeup Tips for Different Face Shapes
- Contouring and Highlighting for Your Face Shape
- Lip Makeup Tips to Complement Your Face Shape
- Common Makeup Mistakes To Avoid
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Is your Instagram also exploding with videos of the new makeup for face shape trend? (because mine is)
Well makeup is something that isn't one-size-fit-all. Sure Kendall Jenner looks good with fox eyes and lifted contour, but if you don't have her face shape it wont look good on you! The placement of your blush, contour, and highlight depends on your face shape.
So let's first look in the mirror (or your front-cam) and understand your face shape before we get into how to do makeup according to your face shape?
The Best Makeup Techniques for Each Face Shape
Round Face
A round face has soft lines without any defined angles. There are no sharp edges on a round face. So to create the illusion of jawlines and cheekbones focus on using contour on your cheeks, jaw and forehead to sculpt your face. Also add highlighter on high points of your face to add dimension.
Oval Face
Oval face shape has a natural symmetry and is the most ideal face shape to try different makeup styles. Focus on shaping your eyebrows and enhancing your eyes using bold and dramatic eyeshadow makeup.
Square Face
Square face has strong features like a sharp jawline and prominent nose. The goal is to smooth out the angles and create a more rounded appearance using makeup. Pay attention to contouring your jaw, temple and hairline and use blush on your cheekbones.
Heart-shaped Face
A Heart-shaped face is known to have a wide forehead and a narrow chin, like an inverted triangle. So to make it look balanced, there's a need to create an illusion of a wider jaw by contouring and highlighting the top part of your face. This will also help draw attention away from your chin.
Diamond Face
Diamond face is characterized as having wide cheekbones and narrow forehead and jaw. The focus is to minimize the width of the cheekbones and make your forehead and jaw appear more full. Use contour on your cheekbones and highlighter on your forehead and chin to make it look balanced.
Long Face
A long face is narrow in width and longer in height. Your forehead and jaw have a similar width and you have a prominent chin. You should apply makeup in a way that it cuts your face in half. Use contour on your hairline, cheekbones and chin. Use blush and highlighter on your cheeks and nose to add width.
Eye Makeup Tips for Different Face Shapes
Round Face
A dramatic eye makeup will look good on a round face. Create a high arched shape on your eyebrows using an eyebrow pencil to make your face look longer. Go for a smoky eyeshadow that will draw attention in the centre and define your face.
Oval Face
Oval face shape is balanced so your eye makeup should also be subtle. Neatly shape your eyebrows and create a soft angle. Apply a neutral eyeshadow on your eyelids and blend it with a darker shade on your crease. Accentuate your eyes with a bold eyeliner and lengthening mascara.
Square Face
Thick eyebrows with a soft arch will help draw focus in the middle of your eyes. Add a light color eyeshadow and blend it well to avoid harsh lines. Draw a winged eyeliner using gel eyeliner to elongate the eyes. Also focus on using lengthening mascara on your eyelashes.
Heart-shaped Face
Keep your brows soft and rounded to create the illusion of a less wide forehead. Stick to a simple eyeliner with a soft wing using a pencil eyeliner and add a coat of defining mascara to lift your lashes.
Diamond Face
You need to add extra focus on your eyes to keep your face appearing balanced. A soft-curve on your eyebrows will help soften the face. To elongate your eyes draw a thick wing using a liquid eyeliner on your upper lash line and add a thick coat of mascara on your eyelashes.
Long Face
Long face needs added width so you can go all out with your eye makeup. Draw flat and long brows to give the top of your face a wide effect. Use dark shades of eyeshadow and a voluminous mascara to your eyelashes to add depth.
Contouring and Highlighting for Your Face Shape
Round Face
Contour the entire outer shape of your face including below your cheekbones to create angles. Next apply blush starting from your cheeks towards your ears in an upward direction. Then apply highlighter on the bridge of your nose, centre of your forehead, high point of cheeks, brow bone, cupid’s bow and chin.
Oval Face
Apply a matte finish contour beginning at your temples and continuing down to the centre of your face. Now lightly apply blush on your temples and the apples of your cheeks. Apply highlighter to your brow bone, bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow and chin.
Square Face
First contour your temples and jawline and blend it in well in an upward direction for a natural finish. Add a touch of contour to your cheek bone as well. Then add blush to your cheeks and finish it off by applying highlighter in a “C” shape on your cheeks and temple.
Heart-shaped Face
Use contour on the top of your forehead and blend it down towards your temples and below your cheekbones. Blush is to be applied at two fingers distance from the nose and blended towards your ear. Highlight the bridge of your nose, cheekbones, under your brows, cupid’s bow and chin.
Diamond Face
Use a contour palette below your cheekbones, sides of your forehead and jawline to balance out your features. Apply blush on your cheekbones and blend it upwards on your temple to soften the angles. Then apply highlighter on the centre of your forehead, high point of your cheeks, bridge of nose, cupid’s bow and chin.
Long Face
To contour your face, apply it around your hairline, below your cheekbones blended towards the temple and on your chin blended back along your jaw. Add blush to the apple of your cheeks blended straight and backwards to add width to your face. Then highlight your cheekbones, your brow bone, tip of nose and cupid’s bow.
Lip Makeup Tips to Complement Your Face Shape
Round Face
Using a lip liner to make your lips slightly pointed from the corners and use deep reds and berry shades to create contrast.
Oval Face
Use a lip liner before using a lipstick in shades like nudes, pinks and soft reds that complement your natural lip color
Square Face
Your face is very prominent thus a lip gloss in a bold red or pink shade can help draw attention to your lips.
Heart-shaped Face
Soft pinks and reds are recommended to add a pop of color. Make your bottom lip look fuller to draw attention away from your wide forehead.
Diamond Face
Pick light and natural shades of lipstick and line your lips in their natural shape to avoid your lips looking wider than they are.
Long Face
Avoid harsh lip lining and bright shades for your lip makeup and stick to subtle pink shades of matte lipstick.
Common Makeup Mistakes To Avoid
-
Not incorporating contour placement according to your face shape.
-
Applying too much or too less blush and ignoring wrong blush placement which will distort your proportions.
-
Creating an overly high and harsh arch on your eyebrows.
-
Overlining your lips and creating lip shapes that don't compliment your face shape.
-
Applying highlighter all over your face and on areas that don't need highlighting.
Conclusion,
From your eye makeup, contour and blush placement, it all comes down to your face shape. Whether you have a round, square or diamond face shape, it is the main factor in achieving your desired makeup look. So if you're still doing your makeup, like you're making cookies using a cutter, then stop and personalise your routine!
FAQs
How do I determine my face shape for makeup application?
To find out your face shape, tie your hair back and look at the outline of your face in the mirror. Measure your forehead, cheekbones and jawline and the length of your face.Then compare your features to different face shapes to see where you fit.
Which lipstick shades and styles suit different face shapes?
The lipstick shade depends on your skin tone and lip shape. For a long face shape try to overline your lips to add width. Heart-shaped face looks great with light shades that balance out the sharp chin. Round face will look good with a defined cupid’s bows and bold lipstick shades.
How can I enhance my jawline with makeup?
To make your jawline more defined, use contour under your jawbone and blend it well downwards to avoid any harsh lines.
Should I change my makeup technique based on my face shape?
Yes, doing makeup according to your face shape can highlight your natural beauty by balancing your proportions and enhancing your facial features.
Is there a universal makeup style that suits all face shapes?
Yes! The basics of makeup like shaping your eyebrows, blending in makeup well and using soft neutral shades is something that suits all face shapes.
How can I highlight my cheekbones if I have a diamond face?
If you have a diamond face and want to highlight your cheekbones, then apply highlighter above your cheekbones and blend it towards your temple to enhance your bone structure while maintaining balanced proportions.
Written by Madiha Patel
