While the basics of makeup usage are straightforward – lipstick for the lips, foundation for the face, eye shadows for the eyes and so on – makeup application on the other hand is actually not a one-size-fits-all! Just like we need to pick the right shade of foundation to match our skin tone, there are some guidelines around the best method of applying blush to match our face shape.
Let’s look at the 4 main face shapes there are: Round, Square, Oval and Heart-Shaped, and what the best application methods are for them!
1) Round – round faces have typically equal height and width, and have an even, circular outline without angular features in the jaw and chin. Celebrities with this face shape include Mila Kunis, Chrissy Teigen and Emma Stone.
Application Method: Apply color just below the apples of the cheeks following the cheekbones, and up toward the hairline. This creates an angled cut to the circular shape in order to create a lifting effect.
2) Square – similar to Round faces in terms of having an equal height to width ratio, Square shaped faces are more defined with a pronounced angular jawline. Celebrities with this face shape include Angelina Jolie, Sophie Turner and Keira Knightley.
Application Method: The key is to tone down the angular features by softening the edges of the jawline. Bring attention to the cheeks by keeping color on the apples of the cheeks and blending straight outwards toward the hairline.
3) Oval – most identifiable by having more height than width, Oval faces are a taller version of the Round face, retaining the smooth outline in the chin and jawline without sharp angles. Celebrities with this face shape include Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway and Beyonce.
Application Method: The goal here is to create a wider looking visage to balance out the height. Start from the tops of your cheekbones, outside the apples of the cheeks, and blend in an angle towards the ears to widen out the centre of the face.
4) Heart-Shaped – as the name suggests, heart shaped faces are wider in the forehead and gradually taper in an angle in the jawline, and end off in a point at the chin. Celebrities with this face shape include Reese Witherspoon, Scarlet Johannsen and Sarah Hyland.
Application Method: The most flattering applcation method for the heart shaped face is to lift the cheekbones even higher. Accentuate the cheek bones in this face shape by applying color from the apples of the cheeks and blending up into the temples in a “C” shape.
The right application of blush is a quick way to achieve a more even face shape by manipulating the angles of the cheek bones. The key is to remember that makeup, much like painting, is all about creating an illusion using colors and shadows to create the ideal shape that you are looking to achieve! Once you’ve mastered that, it becomes quite tough to ever go wrong with makeup (with the exception of maybe choosing the wrong colors – but that’s a topic for another day!)