24 March 2015

Make up Style Guide by Face Shape

belleza_post-24

You can change your eye shadow or foundation, but you can’t change your face shape! It’s a crucial element in your quest for beauty that you should know how to work with to amplify your gorgeousness. The great news is that using makeup correctly can enhance your natural features for maximum impact – and disguise any areas you want hidden!

belleza_post-32

Find Your Shape

Considering your face shape before you apply makeup helps you accentuate your face in the right ways. In fact, you should learn more about your face shape and what makeup suits it before you purchase your next batch of beauty products because you might be using the wrong ones that are doing your face no favors.

Of course, before you can start you need to know what your face shape is. Most specialists break up face shape categories into seven types:

Heart. This is where your cheekbones are wide like your hairline, but you have a narrow chin. A celebrity example is Katie Holmes.

Round. Your face has pretty much the same width and length all over, without any sharp corners. You probably have full, prominent cheeks. A celebrity example would be Kirsten Dunst.

Square. You have a long face shape that is even: the sides of your forehead and jawline are pretty much in line and your jawline is prominent. Sandra Bullock is an example.

Oval. Here, the width of your face is about one-third shorter than its length. Basically, your face will be a little narrower at your jawline than at your temples. An example is Kylie Minogue.

Diamond. Your face narrows towards your hairline and your jawline reaches a point at your chin, but your cheeks are wider. Think Linda Evangelista.

Oblong. You don’t really have corners (such as on your jawline) that stick out. Rather, your face is rounder at the top and bottom, creating a lengthened shape. An example is Liv Tyler.

Pear/Triangle. This is where your face shape is larger at the bottom and smaller on top. So, your jawline would be wider than your hairline. Kelly Osbourne is an example of a pear-shaped face, as is Victoria Beckham.

Got your shape? Great! Now here is a guide on how to accentuate your face shape with makeup.

Heart Shape

belleza_post-29

One of the most striking features of the heart-shaped face is your prominent cheekbones. Play them up by placing bronzer in the hollow of your cheekbones and blush on the apples of your cheeks to draw a spotlight on them. Basically, whatever part of your cheek moves upwards when you smile, this is where your blush should go! Then, add a highlighter above your cheekbones to illuminate them.

With heart-shaped faces, you want to use soft colors, such as pink and peach tones, that are a little sheer. These are great for the eyelids and cheekbones as they subtly highlight them. You can also wear a bright color on your lips to balance out your face because you have a narrow chin. Avoid harsh eyeliner – keep it feathery as you don’t want defined lines that will be too severe when set against the angles of your face.

Round Shape

belleza_post-30

If you have a round face, bronzer is your new best friend because it helps to define your face. Use a bronzer that is a shade darker than your skin tone and a brightening highlighter that is a little lighter than your skin tone. Apply the bronzer from the middle of your cheek all the way up to your ear in a slanted line. You can purse your lips in a ‘fish face’ while doing this if it helps you follow the line. Then, use a highlighter over the top of your cheekbones to illuminate your contouring. Blend it well with a makeup brush.

To draw attention away from your round face shape, you want to play up your eyebrows.
Don’t leave them looking flat as this just accentuates the roundness. Make them a little angular by accentuating their arches. Fill in your eyebrows with a brow gel to make them striking yet soft. Accentuate eyes with strong, deep eye liner. Unlike with heart-shaped faces, you want to create strong lines! Using a smoky eyeshadow on your eyes is also a winner to create greater definition.

Square Shape

belleza_post-31

If you have a square face, you have a long face with striking but full features without much definition in the cheek area. With your makeup you want to soften your face. This can be achieved with feminine, shimmery makeup textures. A light rosy blush is great on your cheeks, as are soft colors on your eyes and lips. When applying blush, do so right on the centre of your cheeks instead of underneath or on top as these will just elongate your face more. Cream consistencies work to create a soft and feminine look. Blend your foundation and blusher really well because if you don’t, this can actually enhance your square shape.

You want to avoid anything too harsh on your face, such as dark lip colors. Stick to gentle shades that have a sheerness to illuminate your face. Mascara is great as it opens up your eyes and gives you doll-like glamour, which also happens to be a beauty trend this spring.

Oval Shape

belleza_post-27

If you have an oval face, you’re lucky that you can pull off a variety of looks. However, you want to reduce the length of your face to balance out your pretty features. A blush or bronzer should be applied across your cheeks to your temples to widen out your face.

You also want to bring greater definition to your chin area and you can do this by accentuating your lips so they steal the show. Line them with a pencil before blending in your lip color and choose a bold color. However, if you choose to accentuate your eyes then don’t highlight your lips simultaneously. The reason for this is that oval faces are in
proportion from the jawline to the forehead. Choosing one feature to which you
want to draw attention is much more effective otherwise nothing really gets
noticed.

Diamond Shape

belleza_post-28

Diamond face shapes have a narrow forehead and are widest at the temples, so you want to increase the width of your forehead to balance the rest of your face. This can be done by softening the arches of your eyebrows so that they don’t look too harsh and following their natural line with a brow pencil in their natural color.

Use a highlighter or illuminating product on your chin and forehead, and add blush to your cheekbones to accentuate them. Blend the blush well with foundation that’s slightly darker than your skin underneath it. Don’t apply blusher to the hollows of your cheeks – you want to focus on the apples to accentuate the diamond shape of your face.

When using eye shadow, apply it all the way to the eye’s outer corner. This has a widening effect. A soft color, such as silver, applied all over the surface of your eyelids is great to make the area bigger and brighter. You can add a darker shade to the crease of your eye to open and elongate their shape. Apply a bit of highlighter above your top lip to add definition to the bottom part of your face.

Oblong Shape

belleza_post-25

Accentuating your eyes is a great tip if you have an oblong face. This helps to pull attention upwards and can be achieved with long lashes coated in mascara, using bright and colorful eye shadows, and wearing eye liner. Be bold with color but do so in small amounts so that you don’t clash with the angles of your long face.

You also want to make your face look broader and shorter like the oval face shape, so use a matte bronzing product along your hairline. Blend it down your forehead. The same bronzer must then be applied to the bottom of the chin to create harmony.

Bring your cheekbones to the fore by placing highlighter on their highest points and then adding blush to your cheeks. You basically want to achieve a glow to soften your features while accentuating their definition.

Pear Shape

belleza_post-26

If your face is pear-shaped (otherwise known as triangular) you have a defined jawline that you want to soften. Contouring the rest of your face helps you draw attention to all the right places. Apply blush to your cheekbones to make them a greater focal point. Use foundation that’s a shade or two darker than your skin tone along your nose and diagonally from your earlobes to your chin to slim them. Use highlighter at the point of your chin to define it, as well as under your eyes, above your eyebrows and around your cheeks.

Wear bright eye-makeup so that you draw attention to the higher points of your face. When playing up your eyes, you should keep your lips neutral and soft. You want to avoid too
much lip color as this draws attention to your chin. Instead of harsh lip liner or lipstick, consider a hydrating lip defining product to bring subtle color without the heaviness you’re trying to
avoid.

Work with your face shape to bring out your most beautiful features. That’s what makeup should do, after all – highlight your natural beauty in the best way!

BACK

Our Blog

The hair salon at Bellezza offers everything from haircuts and styling to superb highlights and coloring. Our stylist team continuously explores fresh ideas and new techniques for hair treatments and styling.

Winter Hair Trends: Colors and Styles

18 November 2016

Winter Hair Trends: Colors and Styles

With the changing of the seasons comes an attendant change in hairstyles. Now that it’s colder, topknots and fishtail braids are being traded in for warmer, hair down styles. There’s no need to stick to one ‘do for life’ … in fact, did you know that women have an average of 104 different hairstyles in…

Christmas Nail Trends Full of Festivity

14 November 2016

Christmas Nail Trends Full of Festivity

Christmas nails are a great way to showcase your personality and put on a little flair for the holidays. After all, what could be less drab than festive nails in the spirit of the season? As Maisie Williams once said: If you’ve got cool nails, you wake up and you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m happy now.’…

The Science Behind Microdermabrasion

01 November 2016

The Science Behind Microdermabrasion

Over time, external factors (such as the sun and even pollution) can have a damaging effect on your skin. And while there are chemical peels, serums, and other options available for improving the appearance and health of your skin, microdermabrasion remains one of the most popular treatments, with the average cost being around $150 per session.

9 Reasons to Wax Instead of Shave

24 October 2016

9 Reasons to Wax Instead of Shave

  Did you know that the average American woman spends nearly 60 days of her life shaving? If you’re tired of the skin irritation, time, and money that goes into shaving on a regular basis, then it may be time to consider waxing as a means of hair removal instead. After all, there are numerous benefits that waxing affords…

7 Psychological Benefits of Going to the Spa

11 October 2016

7 Psychological Benefits of Going to the Spa

You know the spa is a place to unwind, relax, and reconnect. But do you know all the psychological benefits you will enjoy when you make spa visits a regular habit? The spa industry is worth over $15 billion. This astronomic growth suggests that many are realizing the full range of wellness benefits regular spa visits…

7 Massage Types and What They are Best For

30 September 2016

7 Massage Types and What They are Best For

Massage offers amazing health benefits, like stress release, release of muscle tension, and better quality of sleep. When you take the time to select the right form of massage for your specific health needs, you’ll receive even more benefits from your spa treatment. Learn which type of massage to choose and how it can help based…

Best Ways to Wear the Color of the Year 2016  

09 February 2016

Best Ways to Wear the Color of the Year 2016  

This year color giant Pantone shocked the fashion and design world by selecting not just one color of the year, but two. The stunning pastel duo of Serenity and Rose Quartz offer an updated take on the pink and blue so familiar in nursery decor. Get our tips on the best ways to wear Pantone’s…

Ready to Look Younger? Best Anti—Aging Treatments

04 February 2016

Ready to Look Younger? Best Anti—Aging Treatments

Miami day spas cater to the wellness needs of residents with anti-aging treatments that restore the youthful appearance and texture of skin from the inside out. By incorporating soothing techniques with ingredients that are proven to moisturize skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines, day spa treatments can help you look your best at…

Skin Troubles? Best Skin Clearing Foods for You

02 February 2016

Skin Troubles? Best Skin Clearing Foods for You

Tired of looking in the mirror, only to notice troublesome skin? Maybe you’re dealing with unsightly acne, signs of aging, or downright dry and dull skin. Regardless of your skin woes, there’s a good chance that what you’re eating (or not eating) is at least partially to blame. After all, your skin is an organ…

Nail Care Tips for Every Nail Type  

28 January 2016

Nail Care Tips for Every Nail Type  

In a perfect world, all women would have beautifully manicured nails without any effort. But, as you probably know all too well, this simply isn’t the case. Getting great-looking nails takes a great deal of work, time, and (often) money. However, even the best manicure or pedicure won’t solve the underlying problem of unhealthy nails….