How to Highlight & Contour for Your Face Shape
When highlighting and contouring, the goal is to work toward a more oval-looking face; this is thought to be the ideal face shape. Using the below techniques, you’ll learn how to change the appearance of the face, be it shortening or slimming your jawline, rounding off a square hairline, or emphasizing your cheekbones. Before we get into the makeup application, you will need to know your face shape so you know what attributes to emphasize and where to contour.
Find Your Face Shape
To find your face shape, stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back. Then, carefully outline your face on the mirror with a bar of soap (you could use lipstick, but soap is easier to wash off). Now, look at the outline and compare it to the nine face-shape descriptions below.
If Your Face is…
OVAL FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- The proportions of the forehead height balance with the chin.
- Both the hairline and jaw are delicately curved.
- Cheekbones are sculpted but not overly prominent.
|
- Contour your hairline and under jawline.
- Highlight your cheekbones.
- Add blush under your cheekbones or apples of your cheeks.
|
LONG FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- You have a high forehead.
- Your chin is long.
- Because of the length, the cheekbones can look flat and lack lift.
|
- Contour your temples, top of your hairline and under your chin.
- Highlight your cheekbones and temples.
- Add blush sparingly, on the apples of your cheeks.
|
ROUND FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- The line of your forehead, cheeks and chin combined almost form a circle.
- The width of your face is almost the same as the length.
- Fuller cheeks often make the definition of the cheekbones look flat.
|
- Contour your temples and under your cheekbones.
- Highlight your chin and the center of your forehead.
- Add blush under your cheekbones.
|
SQUARE FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- You have a strong bone structure.
- Your jawline is angled at the sides.
- Your hairline is wide and angled.
|
- Contour the corners of your hairline and the corners of your jaw.
- Highlight your cheekbones, chin and the center of your forehead.
- Add blush under your cheekbones.
|
RECTANGLE/OBLONG FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- Your face is longer than it is wide.
- Your cheekbones are long and straight.
|
- Contour your temples, top of your hairline, sides of your jawline and under your chin.
- Highlight the center of your forehead.
- Add blush to the apples of your cheeks.
|
TRIANGLE FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- Your forehead is narrower and more rounded than your jawline.
- Your jawline can appear angular.
- You cheekbones may be lost because of your wider jaw.
|
- Contour your jawline and under your cheekbones.
- Highlight your temples.
- Add blush under your cheekbones.
|
DIAMOND FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- Your forehead and chin are slightly narrow and rounded.
- The center of your face is proportionally wider than the top and bottom.
- You have very prominent cheekbones.
|
- Contour the center of your forehead and your chin.
- Highlight your temples and jawline.
- Add blush to your cheekbones or the apples of your cheeks.
|
INVERTED TRIANGLE FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- You have an angular forehead.
- Your forehead looks proportionally wider than your rounded, longer chin.
|
- Contour the center of forehead and your chin.
- Highlight your temples and jawline.
- Add blush to your cheekbones or the apples of your cheeks.
|
HEART-SHAPED FACE
| Characteristics |
Enhancing Techniques
|
- You have an angular forehead.
- Your forehead looks proportionally wider than your rounded, longer chin.
- You have a “widow’s peak” hairline.
|
- Contour your temples and the center of your chin.
- Highlight your jawline.
- Add blush to your cheekbones or the apples of your cheeks.
|
Practice Makes Perfect
Show us how you’ve perfected contouring and highlighting! Post pictures on Instagram of your best looks and tag us using @janeiredale and #friendfavorite for your chance to be featured on our page.
