Face-Off: 3 Simple Steps to Finding Your Face Shape

by Jessica Cruel 0

In the beauty world, your face shape can determine many things from your next haircut to your makeup tactics to how you age. While the most common shape is oval, others include round, square, triangle, diamond and heart. Not sure which category you fall into? It's really just a simple equation of proportions. So grab a mirror and follow these simple steps to discover what face shape you are.

Step 1: What's the widest part of your face?

• All things equal: If the width of your forehead, cheekbones and jaw are equal, then you could have a square, round or oval face. Skip to step two to get more insight.
• Forehead: When the forehead is widest and the face gently tapers down to the chin, then your face falls into the heart shape category. This is also known as the inverted triangle shape.
• Cheekbones: You have a diamond face shape if your cheekbones are the widest area on your face.
• Jaw: The jaw is the widest part of the face on most triangular (aka pear) face shapes.

Step 2: What's the shape of your jaw?

• Round: Round and oval face shapes have a slightly rounded jaw.
• Square: If you have a strong jaw, then you could have a square face shape. Your chin may still come to a point, but the angle will be more gradual or flat. But keep in mind: diamond and triangle face shapes can also appear to have a square jaw.
• Pointy: When the chin comes to a distinct point, you can file your face shape under the heart category.

Step 3: What's the length of your face?

• Average: Most face shapes are a little bit longer than they are wide. For example, draw an imaginary line just below the eyes (horizontally from ear to ear), and another line vertically (through the nose from the top of your forehead down to your chin). You should discover a cross shape with a ratio of about one (width) to one and a half (length). This length coincides with most face shapes.
• Short: If your cross has a one-to-one ratio, then your face has more of a round shape.
• Long: You have an oblong shape if your face has a longer lower half. Note: all face shapes (except for round, oblong's polar opposite) may fall into the oblong category, depending on your measurements. An oblong square face shape, for instance, is considered a rectangle.

Source: Flickr User Danila Panfilov