Contouring Demystified! The Smartest Makeup Hacks For Round Faces

Have a round face shape? You’re in luck, because it’s the most youthful-looking. But, of course, even that comes with concerns. Lacking a bit of definition? We feel you. Using these makeup tips and tricks from the pros will help you sculpt your features so it looks slimmer and longer — if that's what you're goin' for.

“Some people with a round face fear that it looks 'fat,' but that is not true at all,” clarifies Melissa Silver, a NYC-based makeup artist. “Adding a beautiful, clear bright blush and a touch of highlighter will give the face some dimension. And, if you choose an amazing lip color or great shadow, you will also bring focus to another area that you are not so conscious of.”

When contouring, the goal is to concentrate on the nose, jawline and cheekbones, but round faces can be bit tricky, since they can sometimes appear flat. Therefore, you want to keep the contour on your cheeks and jawline soft and high and up into your hairline. Using a matte bronzer, try creating an “E” on the left side of your face and a “3” on the right side of your face with your brush,” explains celebrity makeup artist and LORAC founder Carol Shaw. “Start at the temples of your forehead and then sweep it onto your cheekbone and along your jawline.” A few light strokes should do. As for blush, instead of dusting it onto the apples of your cheeks, sweep it up a little higher, too, so it appears less doll-like.

Afraid to contour? No worries. Highlighting can serve a similar purpose, and it's almost foolproof. “Instead of contouring with a dark shade, highlight after blush above the cheekbone," says Silver. "Your cheek will instantly look more sculpted, and it's far less daunting.” (Try using a liquid highlighter such as Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant.) A little bit goes a long way, and the light-reflecting properties can “create the illusion of mile-high cheekbones,” says Shaw. Dot and blend your highlighter above and between your eyebrows, under your eyes, the sides of your nose, in your chin cleft, and on your cupid's bow (to make your lips appear fuller).

Another trick makeup artists swear by for round face shapes: Accentuate your features. “Wearing eye makeup and color on your lips brings attention to your features instead of the shape of your face,” explains Shaw. By bringing attention to a specific area, you’ll be able to walk with confidence. Plus, who needs another excuse to add a bold lip color or major lashes? Not us — and, we hope, not you.