Gained a few pounds? Pre-disposed to bloating? Have a round face that makes you look heavier than you are? Try these simple makeup, hair and accessory tips to create the illusion of a much slimmer face.
1. Make your eyes pop
Bigger eyes equal slimmer face. So, apply a neutral shimmer to the inner corners of the eyes. Next, glide a dark brown, gray or black pencil liner across the entire upper lash line. Skip liner on the bottom lash line: it’ll make your eyeslook smaller. Curl lashes and apply two coats of volumizing black mascara.
Another eye look that slims the face: a cat’s eye. This helps elongate the lash line and eye shape in an outward and upward direction, thereby drawing attention to the corners and making your face look leaner.
2. Fill in your brows
Thick, angular brows can help your face appear thinner by adding contour and a point of interest. On the other hand, thin, over-tweezed brows can contribute to a rounder-looking face. The Rx: Use a brow pencil or shadow one shade lighter than your natural eyebrow color to fill in the brows.
3. Go deep!
A pressed matte powder that’s one shade darker than your skin can be a round-faced girl’s best friend. Here’s how to make it work: Lightly shade the jawbone, sides of the nose and temples with only a hint of product; it should be barely noticeable.
4. Add some shimmer
Apply a translucent shimmer powder or cream with fingertips along your cheekbones and collarbone. Highlighting bone structure reflects light, making it more noticeable (thus making you look thinner).
5. Pick the right part
Opt for a side part – a center part makes your face look round. A good rule of thumb to find the most flattering, face-slimming part: Use the arch of your eyebrow as a guide. Start the part above the arch and go back from there in a straight line.
6. Rethink your bangs
Soft, side bangs create a natural frame around the face, while longer layers downplay a rounder shape. But skip short bangs, which make your face seem wider and rounder.
7. Add volume
Hair that lies too flat on the head makes a full face appear even bigger. Add slight volume in the crown to slim a round face. How? Lightly tease the hair near the crown; keep the rest smooth and past your shoulders for a sleeker look.
8. Do an updo or a mid-height ponytail
Building extra height at the crown of your head narrows round features and makes your face seem thinner. For the simplest ‘do, twist hair into a high knot and fasten with a barrette. Or try a pony – for the most slimming effect, match the ponytail height to the tips of your cheekbones.
9. Color your hair darker around your face
Lighter, face-framing highlights open up the face, making it appear wider. Darker tones, on the other hand, have a slimming effect. So keep the strands closest to your face a shade or two darker than the rest of your locks.
10. Think long jewellery and rectangular shades
Long, dangly earrings and sleek pendant necklaces elongate and slim the face and body with their vertical lines. Almost any style works, but avoid hoops that hang from below your ears; hoops that go through your ears will do the trick, though.
And score face-slimming shades: If your face is on the full side, wide rectangular-frame sunglasses give you a sleeker look.
