Facial Contouring

There are five basic facial shapes: oval, square/rectangular, round, heart and diamond. Most women prefer to create an illusion of an oval face shape and other just want to enhance their facial shape. The following are techniques for creating an oval illusion for the basic shapes.

Diamond-Shaped Face

Characteristics Narrow forehead. Narrow Chin Wider cheeks than jawline

Objective To balance Forehead and jawline must appear wider

Techniques Apply regular foundation before contouring makeup Apply lighter shade of foundation at angle on both sides of forehead. Apply lighter shade of foundation at angle from middle to bottom of jawline. Apply blush on the ball of the cheek in a crescent shape. Blend outward out toward hairline.

Heart-Shaped Face

Characteristics Widest across forehead Tapers down to cheeks, then down to narrow, sometimes pointed chin. Jawline is not prominent

Objective To balance face. Forehead must appear more narrow and lower half of face more wide

Techniques Apply regular foundation before contouring makeup Apply darker shade of foundation on either side of forehead Apply lighter shade of foundation at either side of jawline Apply blush starting under the ball of the cheek Blend away toward the center of the ear

Round Face

Characteristics Width about same as length Short forehead Wide cheeks Roundness through jaw

Objective Create more definition Forehead and jawline must appear more narrow

Techniques Apply regular foundation before contouring makeup Apply darker shade of foundation in an arc on either side of forehead Apply darker shade of foundation on either side of jaw up to tip of ear. This will eliminate fullness in these areas Apply blush on the ball of the cheek beginning at point just outside of center of eye. Extend to temples near hairline.

Square/Rectangular-Shaped Face

Characteristics Width of cheeks and forehead are similar Width of jawline and forehead are similar Prominent jawline Angular overall appearance Rectangular face is longer than it is wide

Objective To soften angles Forehead and jawline must appear more narrow

Techniques Apply regular foundation before contouring makeup To make forehead appear more oval, apply darker shade of foundation on either side of forehead and blend To make jaw appear more oval, apply darker shade of foundation on either side of jawline and blend Apply concentration of blush directly on the ball of the cheek. Blend toward the top of the ear for a square face and middle of the ear for a rectangular face

  
 

Oval-Shaped Face

Characteristics Equal distance from hairline to eyebrows, from eyebrows to tip of nose and from nose to chin Wider forehead than jawline Prominent cheekbones gently taper to oval chin

Techniques Apply blush just under the ball of cheekbone, directly below the outer part of the iris Extend in smooth arc, fading toward top of ear