High cheekbones, an oblong jaw line and raised forehead all characterize the sleek look of a long face shape.
For centuries, a high forehead was considered to be a mark of royalty, and it’s rumored that screen siren Marilyn Monroe was even known to tweeze her hairline in order to emulate the more aristocratic look.
Since the top and bottom angles enjoy such prominence on a long face shape, makeup emphasis is best kept to the center of the face to draw the viewer in to your gaze, says makeup artist and hairstylist Eva Scrivo, author of “Eva Scrivo On Beauty.”
“To bring attention to the center, you can blend a flat contour shade down the bridge of the nose, which adds depth. It’s the same concept as looking at a sketching. Your eye can’t see the nuances of shape until shading is added,” says Scrivo.
Eyes: Eyes are an ideal place to play with makeup, and in particular, your lashes. “When applying mascara, really focus on the center of the eye arch. You can build up more coats there. I even love to throw a couple of individual lashes on the center of the eye, it adds a third dimension,” says celebrity makeup artist Molly Stern.
You can find individual lashes at the drugstore, or even cut up a strip to just use a few at a time. It’s ideal to look for individual lashes that don’t have a knot at the base—though if yours do, just be sure to add a bit of eyeliner at the lash line to conceal the look.
Cheeks: Blush is another opportunity to highlight the center of your face, and celebrity makeup artist and YouBeauty Makeup Advisor, Fiona Stiles, says that a cream highlighter applied along the top ridge of cheekbones will give you an ethereal soft focus.“To find the structure of your cheekbones, just make a fish face. The top ridge is where you put your highlighter, which should have light reflective qualities, but not be too shimmery,” says Stiles. You can then add your favorite blush to the apples of the cheeks for a finishing glow.
Sheer shades: And as a general guideline, too much color can compete with the angles of a long face, so it’s best to err towards the side of sheer if your skills are limited, instead of reaching for full-coverage color. “Because long shaped faces have a strong presence when entering a room, there is no need for too much makeup. Instead, a soft, natural and dewy glow is all that’s necessary for a statement,” says New York makeup artist Nicole Bryl.
