Enhancing Your Facial Features with Makeup for Different Types of Face Shapes
We all desire glowing and radiant skin. However, achieving it can seem impossible with our busy lives and the constant barrage of skin issues we deal with. Our skin can show signs of stress, from acne and dullness to fine lines and uneven texture. This is where face yoga comes in!
Face yoga is a natural way to combat common skin problems and reveal a more youthful and healthy complexion using simple exercises that tone and stimulate the facial muscles under the skin. This article will help you understand the different types of face shapes, face yoga techniques for all kinds of face shapes, and tips to amp up the glow-boosting benefits.
What are the Different Types of Face Shapes?
The first step to customised skincare is understanding one’s face shape. Determining facial shape allows one to apply skincare products makeup and strategically follow face yoga exercises to tone up the best facial features. Here are the different face types, including the face shape types females usually have:
Oval
The oval is considered the ideal face shape. It is characterised by a balanced width and length and a gently curved jawline. Oval faces suit most hairstyles and can pull off varied makeup looks.
Round
As the name suggests, round face shapes have curved lines with a soft proportion of width and length. They have a rounded hairline and jawline, with cheekbones as the widest part of the face.
Heart
Heart-shaped faces have a broad forehead and cheekbones that taper to a pointed chin. The jawline is generally angular. Heart faces typically have excellent bone structure.
Square
A square face shape is characterised by a strong jaw and angular features. It has a broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and a strong jawline with sharp angles instead of curves.
Diamond
Diamond face shapes exhibit narrow cheekbones and a wide, narrow forehead and jawline. Like heart and oval faces, diamond shapes are versatile for different hair and makeup styles.
Oblong
Oblong faces are longer than they are wide, with a long and straight cheek line. They feature foreheads, cheekbones, and jawlines of relatively similar widths.
Know Your Face Shape
Wondering “what is my face shape”? You can determine it yourself at home with a few simple steps:
- Stand facing a mirror and use an eyeliner pencil or lipstick to mark the outline of your face.
- Start at the centre of your hairline and move across the forehead, jawline, and chin.
- Step back and assess if your face is longer than it is wide or vice versa.
- Examine whether you have more rounded or angular face features.
- Compare your facial outline against the standard face shape diagrams.
Identifying face shape lets one tailor face yoga routines, makeup applications, and haircuts to better suit natural features.
Makeup for Different Face Shapes
When applying makeup products like foundation, bronzer, blush, and highlighter, one should adapt the placement and intensity based on their face shape. This section covers tips for all face types.
- Oval: Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep a highlighter along the cheekbones. Any eye or lip shape makeup usually works well.
- Round: Contour makes lines below the cheekbones, which can help the face look slim. Try angular brows and eyes. Use lip liner to define the edges of your lips.
- Heart: Accentuate cheekbones with blush placement and beams of highlighter. Play up the eyes and the lips since they are the focal point.
- Square: Soften angles with bronzer and blush on the perimeter of the face. For balance, try rounded eyes and lip makeup.
- Diamond: Highlight the cheekbones. Define the eyes appropriately and fill out the brows to widen the centre of the face. Overline the lips gently for fullness.
- Oblong: Sculpt with bronzer underneath the jawline to minimise length. Add volume at the crown for height. Play up the eyes and lips.
It is better to apply makeup on a skincare base for all face shapes. The Pink Foundry’s Waterlight Gel Moisturiser can be used for ultralight, water-like, consistent skin before applying makeup.
Also read: How to tighten face skin: Our top tips
Face Yoga for Different Face Shapes
Just as particular makeup tricks suit specific face shapes, one can also tailor face yoga techniques and sequences to target problem areas or play up the makeup based on the shape of their face.
For Oval Faces
Since an oval is considered the ideal shape, maintaining the sculpted symmetry is the goal. Here are some face yoga poses people with oval faces can try:
- Cheekbone lift: Open the mouth in an “O” shape. Place fingers at the top of the cheekbones, palms facing down. Gently glide the fingers upwards while resisting with cheek muscles. Repeat five times.
- Upper lip pinch: Pinch the upper lip between the index finger and the thumb. Hold for 5 seconds while resisting. Repeat 5 times.
- Jaw releases: Place palms on the sides of jaw joints. Gently press down, angling underneath the jaw. Inhale as you press down, exhale as you release. Repeat 5 times.
For Round Faces
The priority with full and rounded faces is to create a definition along the jawline and cheekbones.
Effective exercise sequences include the following:
- Fishy pouts: Pucker the lips into a “fish face” and suck in the cheeks. Hold for 5 seconds. Release and repeat 10 times.
- Jaw slimmer: Open the mouth wide. Use fingers to gently pull the skin forward along the jaw, feeling the stretch underneath. Repeat on each side 10 times.
- Cheekbone lifts: Follow the same sequence described for oval faces above.
For Heart Faces
Heart face shapes tend to have defined cheekbones already, so the focus should be on the pointed chin area. Targeted exercises include:
- Chin slide: Place the fingers under the chin and thumbs resting on the jawline. Glide the fingers up along the jawbone toward the ears. Repeat 10 times.
- Neck stretches: Drop your chin down toward the chest. Slowly roll your head to the left, then the right side, feeling a stretch in the neck. Repeat five times each way.
- Lip plumper: Pucker lips outward into a kiss shape. Hold for 5 seconds. Release and repeat 10 times.
For Square Faces
The structured jawline and angles of square face shapes can be softened with targeted face yoga movements. Some great options include the following:
- Jaw releases: Follow the sequence described for oval faces above.
- Temple toner: Place the fingers at the temples. Make small circular motions, gradually widening the circles. Repeat 5 times clockwise and counter-clockwise.
- Brow lifts: Place the index and middle fingers underneath the brows. Firmly glide the fingers outward toward the temples. Repeat 5 times.
For Diamond Faces
People with diamond-shaped faces should focus on adding volume to the cheekbone area and minimising the narrow chin. Diamond-shape specific exercises include:
- Cheek puffs: Inhale deeply to fill up lungs fully. Try puffing the air into your cheeks. Hold for 3 seconds before releasing the air. Repeat 10 times.
- Chin widener: Place index fingers at chin corners with thumbs underneath. Gently stretch the skin outward, holding for 20 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
- Upper lip pinch: Follow the directions for oval faces above.
For Oblong Faces
The relatively elongated oblong face shape benefits from movements that broaden and add volume, counteracting the visible length. Effective techniques include:
- Cheekbone circles: Make an “O” shape with the mouth. Use fingers to massage the cheekbones in small and tight circles. Complete ten circles outward and ten circles inward.
- Brow shaper: Place the fingers at the inner eyebrow corners. Smoothly slide the fingers over the brows to the outer corners. Repeat 5 times.
- Jaw release: Follow the sequence for the oval faces above.
In addition to the facial yoga exercises, one can use The Pink Foundry’s Mineral Matte Tinted Sunscreen for broad-spectrum face protection (& makeup) from UVA and UVB rays.
Conclusion
Understanding your unique face shape and learning targeted face yoga exercises allows one to reveal the most beautiful and radiant skin complexion. Following customised makeup tips for different face shapes, one can accentuate the best features and develop glowing and youthful skin through simple and practical exercises.
Consistency is key to reaping the rewards of these exercises. Set aside at least 5 minutes daily to practice a personalised routine. Gradually increase the number of sets over time. With facial yoga, one can safely and affordably address skin issues like wrinkles, sagging, and dullness.