3 Steps to Identify Your Face Shape (It’s Actually So Easy)

Face shape is one of those physical features we might not
always be actively thinking about, but it contributes to so many
parts of our lives. Everything from picking a hairstyle to
determining the best makeup
technique and even selecting the most flattering
sunglasses hinges on this specific anatomical detail. According
to Tanuj Nakra, MD, board-certified cosmetic surgeon and co-founder
of
Avya Skincare, “The shape of our faces is a direct result
of our underlying bone structure, which is based on genetics.” That
being said, the process of identifying your face shape certainly
doesn’t need to include a trip to the doctor’s office.

It’s time to finally demystify the magic of identifying your
face shape, and we’re here to help you do it. While we fancy
ourselves quite knowledgable on a host of beauty topics, we knew
an A team of cosmetic dermatologists and surgeons would be the
perfect resource for breaking down the specific steps for
pinpointing your face shape quickly and accurately. So we called
in our favorite MDs to help us understand the ins and outs of
facial structure.

Keep scrolling to peep our handy face-shape chart and the three
best tips for identifying yours, according to our squad of
aesthetic experts. Then, read more about your specific face
shape.

According to Simon Ourian, MD, founder of Epione
Beverly Hills, making an outline of your face in the mirror can
point you in the right direction of determining your face shape.
“Stand in front of a mirror and trace the outline of your face
using lipstick or anything else removable,” he instructs. Step
back, and you can use the below guidelines to identify your face
shape.

As Nakra puts it, “The cheekbones (maxilla) and
jawbone shape (mandible) have a major impact on facial shape.”
He says that some other factors also contribute, such as
the shape of the forehead and nose, the location of the eyes and
mouth, and the prominence of facial fat pads, but the cheeks and
jaw tell most of the story. “First, identify the most prominent
point and location of each cheekbone. Next, determine
the shape and prominence of the jawbone. Comparing these two bony
landmarks can help determine the face shape,” he instructs.

Obviously, our faces are not going to be exact replicas of
geometric shapes we learned about in school. So it’s best to be
less rigid with our expectations of conforming to an exact shape
and leave room for other contributing factors. “The
overall face shape takes into account the relative prominence of
features and changes with age and weight,” says Anita Patel, MD,
founder of her eponymous
cosmetic surgery practice in Beverly Hills. “If looking at a
triangle, a youthful face has the apex at the bottom, whereas an
aged look has the triangle flipped upside down, with the base at
the bottom,” she adds.

In addition, Ourian recommends thinking about how we apply our
makeup to help make us more cognizant of our facial structure. “As
a rule of thumb, consider how and why you contour and highlight
certain areas of the face using bronzer, blush, and highlighter.
This bone structure you exaggerate shadows and highlights,
contributing to your face shape,” he says.

“Those
with square faces have less prominent chins and angled jaws. Along
the sides of the face, it’s typically straight with a
1:1 proportion when comparing vertical to horizontal length,” says
Ourian. Patel also adds that on a square face, you’ll notice short
chin length and more heaviness in the lower cheeks. Celebs with
your face shape: Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, Katie Holmes

According
to Nakra,low, flat cheekbones and a small, curved jawbone are
common in round face shapes. Ourian agrees, and also says that for
round faces, cheeks will be the widest part of the face. Celebs
with your face shape: Chrissy Teigen, Selena Gomez, Kate
Bosworth

Patel
calls out the brow bone as a telltale area for identifying
rectangular faces, noting that it will typically be broad or more
prominent than in other face shapes. Ourian also says there is an
equal width up and down the face. “People with rectangular faces
typically have foreheads, cheeks, and jawlines that are nearly the
same width across,” he explains. Celebs with your face
shape: Tracee Ellis Ross, Sarah Jessica Parker, Joan Smalls

High,
flat cheekbones are the first sign of an oval face, according to
Nakra. Patel points out that some more features to take into
account are balanced width and proportion of forehead and cheeks,
and soft contours in the chin and jawline. Celebs with your face
shape: Beyoncé, Alexa Chung, Jessica Alba

“This
face shape features a wide forehead and narrows to a pointed,
narrow chin,” Ourian points out of heart-shaped faces. Nakra agrees
but clarifies that the narrow chin on a heart-shaped face will
still be prominent and well-defined. Celebs with your face
shape: Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Scarlett Johansson

Hollow
or narrow temples, prominent cheekbones, and a tapered chin are all
defining characteristics of a diamond face shape, according to
Patel. Ourian says that angular cheekbones and pointed, prominent
chins are also present, and that foreheads for this face shape are
slightly narrow in contrast to the other high parts of the face.
Celebs with your face shape: Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Halle Berry.
Up next, Meghan Markle’s makeup artist shares his secret weapon
against pimples.