How to Apply Your Makeup for Your Face Shape

The first step to perfectly flattering makeup is to know which face shape you have. Then, you should apply the key contouring principles below. Scroll on to discover how to determine your face shape, and then how to apply your makeup accordingly...

KEY CONTOURING PRINCIPLES

YOU 'PUSH BACK' WHEREVER YOU DARKEN OR ADD SHADOW
YOU 'BRING FORWARD' WHEREVER YOU LIGHTEN OR ADD LUMINESCENCE
FOR OLDER FACES, KEEP THINGS SIMPLE: APPLY WITH A LIGHT HAND AND BUILD UP TO YOUR DESIRED EFFECT

THE FACE SHAPES

CIRCLE

Take a look in the mirror. If your face is circle shaped then you have the same distance between both cheeks as you do between your chin and your forehead. A circular face usually lacks angles but does have width and fullness

Makeup for Circular Faces:

Round faces are very youthful but can lack structure. Try using a Bronzer under your cheekbones to hollow them out a little. You can also add some Highlighter along the tops of your cheekbones, on your chin and on your forehead to give the illusion of more shape

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OVAL

If you have an oval shaped face then your face is still round but is longer than it is wide. You don't have a square jaw or pointy chin, but your jawline may be more narrow than those with a circular face

Makeup for Oval-Shaped Faces:

Oval faces tend not to need much help with balance or structure, so most makeup techniques will work! Some people may wish to reduce their forehead length, in which case applying a little Bronzer at the hairline on both sides can produce a shortening effect on the face

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Makeup for Oval-Shaped Faces:

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TRIANGLE

A triangle or 'heart-shaped' face is wider at the forehead and more narrow at the chin. Often people with triangular faces have prominent cheekbones and/ or a pointy chin

Makeup for Triangular Faces:

Triangular faces have the coveted feature of chiselled cheekbones, so apply some Highlighter along their high points to make them pop. If you want to offset the pointiness of your chin, a good trick is to place some Concealer (in a shade lighter than your natural skin tone) along the bottom of your face: from below your ears to down towards your chin. This will give the illusion of a wider face!

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RECTANGLE

Rectangular faces are characterised by strong, angular jawlines. Their temples, cheekbones and jawline tend to be inline, but they are longer than they are wide

Makeup for Rectangular Faces:

The focus with angular face shapes should be to soften the features. Swirl Blush just above the apples of your cheeks in circular motions to give them fullness. Steer away from contouring around the jaw area, but do Highlight the high points of your cheekbones and your forehead to give your face lift!

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Rectangular faces are characterised by strong, angular jawlines. Their temples, cheekbones and jawline tend to be inline, but they are longer than they are wide

Makeup for Rectangular Faces:

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SQUARE

Those with square faces also have angular jawlines and find that their temples, cheekbones and jawline are vertically inline. However, the face is only as long as it is wide

Makeup for Square Faces:

Square faces should be treated much the same as rectangular ones. Focus on creating softness with Blush, and try not to contour the jaw. You may like to elongate the face by applying Higlighter to the centre of the forehead, down the length of the nose and a little on the chin

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