by Kimberley Heit

Created on: November 02, 2009

A round face is virtually as wide as it is long and tends to look full in the cheek region. If you'd like to make your face resemble a more oval shape, there are many ways to do so. The most common ways to achieve this are by making the right choices when it comes to your hairstyle, make up, neckline, accessories and eyebrow shape.

Hairstyle

A round face will look longer and leaner if you choose a long, sleek hairstyle. So if possible grow your hair to your shoulders or longer and keep it straight until it passes the chin. You want to avoid any fullness through the cheek region, because this will only make your face appear rounder. In addition you want to choose a side part, rather than a center part and make sure you style your hair to achieve volume at the top of your head. This will add visual length to your face.

Makeup

You can significantly help to influence the visual proportions of your facial appearance by contouring and highlighting with makeup. Try applying a contouring powder, or blush in the hollows of your cheekbones, rather than the center of your cheeks. Then apply a highlighter to the top of your cheekbones just under the eyes. This will help to structure cheekbones and improve the wide, flat appearance of your face shape. Make sure you define your eyes and mouth well, because this will also help make your face appear a little more structured.

Neckline

When it comes to clothing choices, make sure you avoid high, round neck styles, because these will draw further attention to your round face. Try to choose slightly lower neckline styles, because these will help to add visual length to your face area. V necks are a good choice because they draw the eye downwards.

Accessories

Your accessories can also influence the appearance of your face, so make sure you also make wise choices in this department. For sunglasses or prescription frames look for styles that are rectangular or cat eye shaped. When it comes to hats, choose styles that feature a small brim, but lots of height at the top. Choose necklaces that are long, rather than choker styles because these will widen your face. Avoid round hoop earrings in favor of long dangly styles or simply small studs.

Eyebrow shape

When it comes to your eyebrows, you want to create as much arch as possible, because this draws the eyes up rather than outwards, consequently creating more visual length. It can also be beneficial to trim your eyebrow ends in line with a diagonal line out from your inner eye or nose end. This will help stop eyes from traveling the full width of your face.

The more elements you work into your look, the higher the chances of deceiving the eye into thinking you have an oval shaped face.

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