Tips to shape uo your face

With a few strategically applied makeup tricks, it's possible to create the illusion of a perfectly shaped face. You can downplay the sharpness of a square face, add chiseled cheekbones to a round face, or de-emphasize a longer face. We're not recommending the piled-on "contouring" makeup of the past; these tips are more about producing a subtle effect that's surprisingly simple to achieve.

1. Create a rounded effect on an elongated face shape.

Have an elongated face shape like Sarah Jessica Parker? Longo says to start with shading: Use a fluffy brush to blend a matte, neutral-toned blush or eye shadow along your hairline and chin to create the illusion of shadows, which will help minimize the length of your face. On eyes, concentrate color on the outer corners, and keep the color darker at the lash line; use an eye-shadow brush to blend the color upward. This will help create a rounder look, as will applying blush in a circular motion to the apples of the cheeks; applying it along the cheekbone will create an angular effect, which you want to avoid. Slightly rounding the upper lip line also helps give a softer, rounded appearance.

2. Add angles to a round face shape.

A few simple application tips can help give angles to a round face shape (think: Cameron Diaz). Longo says to focus on creating the illusion of upward motion with your makeup. On the eyes, draw eye pencil or shadow up slightly at the outside of your upper lids for a cat's eye effect; finish by curling only your outer lashes. Give the appearance of a more chiseled look by applying blush in long strokes toward the ear, shadowing underneath the cheekbones for a subtle sucked-in-cheeks look. Use lip liner to make the cupid's bow of your lips a bit more angular and less pouty.

3. Minimize the sharp lines of a square face.

Strategic shading can help play down the sharp lines of a square face shape, such as Gwyneth Paltrow's. With a large makeup brush dipped in neutral blush or eye shadow, sweep color along the four corners of the face to add some softness. Longo suggests keeping the eyebrows more rounded and arched rather than straight and angled, which can be too harsh on a square face. Make sure to keep the inner edges of the brows slightly rounded as well. On the cheeks, apply blush along the lower part of the apple, in an upward sweep toward the temples in a U shape to break up sharp angles.

4. Balance the proportions of a heart face shape.

With a heart face shape, like Rihanna's, the key is to use makeup to reduce the difference between a wide forehead and a smaller chin so that they appear more similar in width. Longo says to brush matte neutral eye shadow or blush along the hinge of the jaw to add shadows and make the face seem more proportioned. On the eyes, keep your liner and shadow on the lash line, but avoid extending it outward, and curl only the lashes in the middle. Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion, and make the lip lines a touch rounded. These tricks will help create a vertical effect that gives a more balanced shape to the face.

5. Play up a balanced oval face shape.

Women with an oval face shape, including Beyoncé, are lucky to have more flexibility when it comes to makeup application. Longo suggests a few tricks that can really play up your perfectly proportioned face. To maintain balance, the arch of your brow should be closer to the temple instead of above the iris of the eye. Curl all your lashes to give an upward sweeping appearance, and apply blush in a circular motion on the upper part of the apple of the cheek. A full, angled lip will give a more sophisticated look than a rounded effect.