How To Apply Makeup For Different Face Shapes To Enhance Beauty?

Have you ever felt that your bare face is more beautiful than when you have makeup on? The reason may be that you don't know which makeup style suits your face shape, as there are a lot of styles of makeup for different face shapes. Then, let's explore together with Japan With Love to find out which face shape you have, and choose the makeup style that suits your face shape!

1. Identify Your Face Shape

Every face is a canvas, and every canvas is unique. Our faces come in an array of shapes and sizes, and makeup has the power to accentuate our individual beauty. This isn't just about makeup; it's about enhancing the beauty that's already there, celebrating the features that make you unique, and leaving you feeling more confident than ever.

However, before we dive into the makeup techniques tailored to specific face shapes, let's first get acquainted with some popular face shapes. Each of these shapes has its unique characteristics, and knowing which one is yours is the essential first step on your beauty journey.

1.1. Round Face

A round face is characterized by softly curved sides and a gentle, full appearance. Typically, the widest part of the face is the cheekbones. To determine if you have a round face, measure the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw. If they are approximately equal, you likely have a round face.

Selena Gomez has signature round face

1.2. Oval Face

Often considered the ideal face shape, an oval face is slightly longer than it is wide. The forehead and jawline are balanced, and the chin is slightly narrower than the forehead. If your face resembles an elongated circle, you have an oval face.

Bella Hadid is an example of individual has oval face

1.3. Square Face

A square face is defined by strong, angular lines. The forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are all about the same width. To check if your face is square, measure these three areas. If they are nearly identical in width, you've got a square face.

Angelina Jolie’s attractive square face shape

1.4. Heart Face

A heart-shaped face features a wider forehead and a narrower jawline and chin. It's sometimes called an "inverted triangle". To identify a heart-shaped face, look for a broader forehead compared to the rest of your face.

Scarlett Johansson’s shape face is a heart-shaped one

1.5. Long Face

In this face shape, the distance from the forehead to the chin is notably greater than the width across the cheekbones. The forehead tends to be taller and more prominent, while the cheekbones may not be as high or wide. The jawline can vary, but it often leans towards being slightly rounded or angular, and the chin is relatively narrow and vertically elongated. 

An example of individual long-shaped face is Kim Kardashian

That's how we define these face shapes. Now, let's figure out what yours is. It's quite simple. Stand in front of a mirror, pull your hair back to expose your face fully, and use a washable marker or lipstick to outline your reflection. Then, compare the shape you've outlined with the descriptions above to determine your face shape.

Knowing your face shape is the foundation of personalized makeup. It's like having a map to guide you on your beauty journey. If you are wondering, "What makeup style suits my face?", then move on to the following section. We'll explore makeup techniques that will accentuate your unique features and enhance your natural beauty.

2. Makeup For Different Face Shapes

As you may know, there are various styles of makeup for different face shapes. For your question, "What makeup style suits my face?", let's dive into the following makeup styles and tips for each face shape with Japan With Love!

2.1. Round Face

Round faces are known for their soft and gentle curves, and makeup can be used to enhance their beauty by adding definition and creating the illusion of more angular features.

Contouring is a game-changer for round faces. Using a matte bronzer or contouring powder, you can create shadows along the sides of your face. Focus on areas like the jawline, beneath your cheekbones, and the sides of your nose. This technique introduces depth and structure, making your face appear more defined.

Selena Gomez before and after makeup

Apply a highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and your cupid's bow. These accents will draw attention to these areas, further enhancing your facial features.

The eyes are a powerful tool to balance the softness of a round face. Experiment with eyeshadow techniques like the cat-eye or winged eyeliner to elongate your eye shape. Curling your lashes and using mascara can also make your eyes look larger and more defined. Then, choosing foundation and blush, opt for shades that match your skin tone and undertone. Blush should be applied slightly higher on your cheeks to give the illusion of higher cheekbones

2.2. Oval Face

Oval faces are often described as the ideal face shape because of their balanced proportions. If you're lucky enough to have an oval face, you can consider yourself a makeup canvas with endless possibilities when you consider “Which makeup style is best for me?”. The goal here is not to correct or enhance specific features but to emphasize your natural beauty while maintaining that lovely symmetry.

As oval faces have near-perfect symmetry, which means you won't need to spend extra effort contouring or balancing uneven features. Instead, you can focus on highlighting your naturally well-proportioned face.

The goal of contouring and highlighting is to emphasize your natural beauty

If you want to add a touch of dimension, lightly contour your cheekbones, jawline, and nose. Remember, with an oval face, subtlety is key. You can apply blush slightly above the apples of your cheeks and blend it upwards toward your temples. This technique enhances the natural contours of your face.

Enhance your brows with a bit of shaping and filling using a brow pencil or powder. This frames your eyes and adds depth to your overall look. About lip makeup, oval faces can pull off a wide range of lip shapes and colors. From bold reds to subtle nudes, experiment with lipsticks that make you feel confident and complement your overall look.

2.3. Square Face

Square faces are characterized by strong, well-defined features. If you have a square face shape, you likely have a prominent jawline, a wide forehead, and straight sides from your temples to your jaw. The goal when applying makeup to a square face is to soften those angles and add dimension to create a more harmonious look.

Start with a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly. To soften the angles of your jawline and forehead, use a cream contour product in the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, and on the sides of your forehead, then blend well for a seamless transition.

Square faces can achieve a balanced and harmonious look with the right makeup style

Apply a subtle highlighter to the high points of your face, such as the tops of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose. This adds a touch of luminosity and softness. You should focus on your cheekbones. Apply blush slightly higher on your cheeks and blend it upwards towards your temples. This technique adds a touch of softness to the face.

Soften your look by shaping your eyebrows with a slight curve rather than straight lines. This will help add roundness to the face. It is recommended to experiment with lip colors and shapes. Rounder lip shapes and shades with a hint of gloss can soften your overall appearance.

2.4. Heart Face

Heart-shaped faces are characterized by their broad foreheads, high cheekbones, and narrow chins. These features create a lovely, inverted triangle shape that is associated with youthful and feminine beauty. When applying makeup to enhance a heart-shaped face, the goal is to accentuate those stunning features while achieving balance and harmony.

You can achieve a stunning, harmonious appearance that celebrates your unique face shape when follow these makeup tips

Start with a foundation that matches your skin tone precisely, even out your complexion, paying extra attention to your forehead and cheekbones. As heart-shaped faces often have a narrower chin, use a contour shade along the jawline to add definition. Blend it subtly to create the illusion of a more square jaw. Emphasize your high cheekbones with a flattering blush color. Apply a touch of highlighter to the center of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, and on your chin.

Additionally, you can apply blush slightly above the apples of your cheeks and blend it towards your temples. Draw attention to your eyes with eyeshadows in various shades and textures. You can try both bold and subtle eye looks, but avoid overly heavy eyeliner on the lower lash line as it can accentuate the narrower chin.

2.5. Long Face

Long faces are known for their vertical proportions, with the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline aligning in a similar width. If you have a long face shape, you can use makeup to add balance and create the illusion of more horizontal proportions.

You can contour along the sides of the forehead and jawline. This helps to visually shorten the face by adding shadows to the upper and lower areas. Then, you can apply highlighter along the tops of your cheekbones, down the center of your nose, and on your chin. This adds a horizontal emphasis to counteract the vertical length.

Long faces have a unique grace that makeup can enhance by focusing on contouring, highlighting and blushing

It is recommended to apply blush slightly higher on the cheeks than you might for other face shapes. This technique creates the illusion of more horizontal fullness. Long faces can handle a variety of eye makeup styles. However, you can consider a smudged liner on the upper lash line to draw attention to the eyes. Well-defined eyebrows are crucial for long faces. A slight arch can help balance the vertical length of the face.

3. Conclusion

Above are all the nuances of makeup application for different face shapes, from the rounded contours of a circular face to the elegant lines of a heart-shaped visage. So throughout this guide, we guess that you can find yourself the answer to the question "What makeup suits my face shape?", right?

Remember that the key takeaway here is that there are no strict rules in makeup; instead, think of these tips as your artistic tools. They help you enhance your natural beauty and emphasize the features that make you unique.

So whether you have an oval face, a square face, or any other delightful variation in between, remember that makeup is a form of self-expression. It's about celebrating your individuality and embracing the face you were born with. For more beauty tips, don’t forget to drop by Japan With Love blogs!