Strategies To Visibly Slim Your Face Before Your Wedding

There are many ways to make your face appear thinner before your wedding, ranging from makeup and skincare to haircuts and jewellery.

If you're looking for a quick fix, makeup can be used to contour and slim the face. This can be done by applying a foundation matching your skin tone, then using a bronzer and a highlighter to create shadows and angles. A darker shade of foundation or bronzer can be applied to the hollows of the cheeks, temples, jawline, and sides of the nose to create shadows, while a lighter shade of foundation or highlighter can be applied to the tops of the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, and the chin to catch the light.

Haircuts and hairstyles can also have a slimming effect on the face. Adding layers, fringes, and face-framing pieces can help to elongate and slim the face. Longer haircuts are generally more flattering for a thinner face, but if you prefer short hair, an asymmetrical cut or flat-top can help to achieve a similar effect. Styling your hair with a side part, a high ponytail or bun, or a side-swept bang can also make the face appear thinner.

In addition to makeup and hair, there are other tricks that can help slim the face. Wearing long, dangly earrings, longer necklaces, and wider glasses can draw attention away from the width of the face. Choosing shirts with a V-neck or scoop neck can also make the neck and face appear longer. Facial exercises, a healthy diet, and reducing alcohol intake can also help to slim the face over time.

For a more permanent solution, plastic surgery or injectables such as Botox can be considered, but these come with risks and should be discussed with a professional.

Makeup tricks: contouring and highlighting can create the illusion of a slimmer face

Contouring and highlighting are a great way to make your face look slimmer and more defined. Here are some tips to achieve this:

Choose the Right Products

The consistency of the products you use is important. If your skin is on the oilier side, powder products are a better option as they will help to mattify the skin and absorb excess sebum. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, opt for creamy products with nourishing ingredients to prevent your skin from drying out.

When choosing a contour product, make sure it is 2 to 3 shades darker than your skin tone and does not contain any shimmer. Too much shimmer will emphasise the curves of your face instead of concealing them. For highlighting, you can use powder or cream products that contain light-reflecting particles to illuminate the high points of your face.

Prepare Your Base

Before applying any contour or highlight, it is important to start with a well-prepped base. Moisturise your face and, if needed, use a primer to minimise the appearance of enlarged pores. Then, apply your foundation, blending it outwards from the centre of your face. Make sure to choose a foundation shade that matches your skin tone—a shade that is too light or too dark can affect the overall appearance of your face shape.

Master the Art of Contouring

Contouring helps to give your face more depth and definition. To contour your cheeks, apply the product where the hairline meets the upper end of your ear and blend it down below your cheekbones. You can also contour your nose by applying the product to the sides of your nose and blending. To contour your forehead, create a shadow effect around your temples along the hairline.

Highlight Strategically

After contouring, apply highlighter to the areas of your face where light naturally hits. Focus on the centre of your face, including the bridge of your nose, the inner corners of your eye sockets, and the highest points of your cheekbones. You can also apply a light concealer under your eyes, on your forehead, and on your chin to emphasise the central parts of your face and make the darker areas recede into the background.

Accentuate with Blush

Adding blush during the contouring process can help to slim down your face and give you a natural, radiant glow. Stick to matte blushes in darker shades such as berry, plum, or peach, and apply them below your cheekbones, pulling it back towards your eyebrows.

Practice Makes Perfect

Contouring and highlighting is a makeup technique that requires practice. Play around with different products and application methods to find what works best for you and enhances your natural beauty. Remember, you don't need to be a makeup professional to achieve a slimmer-looking face!

Haircuts and hairstyles: longer haircuts, layers, and certain updos can elongate the face

If you're looking to elongate your face before your wedding, there are a few haircuts and hairstyles that can help achieve that look. Here are some ideas to consider:

Longer Haircuts

Long hair can instantly slim down your face. If you don't want to wait for your hair to grow, you can opt for semi-permanent hair extensions to speed up the process. Ask your stylist for a few face-framing layers to give your hair volume and make your face appear leaner. You can also try an A-line bob, which is a great option if you like the face-slimming effect of long hair but don't want to commit to the length. Have your stylist cut the hair framing your face at your jawline and go as short as you like at the back.

Layers

Face-framing layers that follow the contours of your cheekbones and jawline can instantly slim down your face. This technique, known as hair contouring, creates a "hair contouring" effect, as described by celebrity hairstylist David Lopez. Layers also work well with medium-length hair, especially when paired with texture to add volume and width.

Updos

Updos, such as buns and ponytails, can elongate your face by creating a vertical illusion. A high bun or topknot draws the eye upward, making your face appear longer and slimmer. When creating a ponytail, be sure to add volume by backcombing and teasing the hair. Face-framing layers or tendrils can also be added to these updos for a softer, more romantic look.

Other Tips

When it comes to bangs, side-swept or wispy bangs are a better option for elongating your face than blunt bangs, which can make round faces appear squatter. A deep side part can also provide an instant slimming effect by adding lift at the hairline and sweeping diagonally across your face. Additionally, adding volume and width to your hair can help balance out your face shape. Shaggy layers or loose waves can be styled with different products to achieve this effect.

Accessories: wearing long earrings or necklaces can draw attention away from the width of the face

Accessories can be a powerful tool to draw attention away from the width of your face. Here are some tips on how to use earrings and necklaces to achieve a thinner-looking face for your wedding:

Earrings

The right earrings can help elongate your face and make it appear slimmer. If you have a round face, opt for drop or dangle earrings. These earrings will make your face look longer and thinner by creating vertical lines. Avoid large circular earrings, hoops, and button studs, as they will only emphasise the roundness of your face.

If you have a heart-shaped face, chandelier or teardrop earrings can help counterbalance your sharp chin. These earrings are wider at the bottom than at the top, filling in the lower portion of your face and creating a more balanced appearance.

For those with long and narrow faces, studs, clustered earrings, short dangles, and medium to large hoops are a good choice. Round earrings will add width to your face and make it look fuller.

Necklaces

When choosing a necklace, consider both your neckline and face shape. If you have a round face, opt for elongated pieces that hang past the collarbone. These will create vertical lines and make your face appear thinner. A V-neck top paired with a longer necklace that hangs down in the middle is a perfect combination.

If you have a long or narrow face, a pendant-style necklace will add width near the chin area, balancing out your features. A scoop-neck top or dress also works well with a longer necklace that fills in the empty space, creating an elegant look.

Chokers or collar necklaces are a good choice if you want to create a more defined jawline. These necklaces sit close to the neck and can make your neck appear longer and thinner. However, if your necklace is too tight, it may be uncomfortable, so adjust the length accordingly.

Bib necklaces, which cover the collarbone area, can also help create the illusion of a thinner face. Their curved silhouette and substantial fullness will balance out sharp features, such as a heart-shaped face with a broad forehead and cheekbones that taper to the chin.

Remember, the key is to create vertical lines, add width to the chin area, or define your jawline to draw attention away from the width of your face. Play around with different accessories to see what works best for you and makes you feel confident!

Glasses: wider frames can make the face appear narrower

There are many ways to make your face look thinner before your wedding, from makeup and skincare to haircuts and hairstyles. One way to make your face appear narrower is by wearing glasses with wider frames.

Glasses with wider frames can make your face appear narrower, but it's important to ensure that they fit properly. If your glasses are too wide for your face, they will likely fall off, and your eyes won't be centred in the middle of the lenses. The width of your glasses frames should match the width of your face at the temple level. Additionally, the lenses should be centred in front of your eyes, with your pupils looking out of the middle of each lens. This applies both horizontally and vertically.

When choosing glasses, you should also consider the bridge width and temple length. The bridge width is the distance between the two lenses, and it should be wide enough to rest comfortably on your nose without slipping or feeling too tight. The temple length is the distance from the hinge to the tip of the temple arm, and it should be long enough so that the lenses are not too close to your eyes.

You can usually find frame measurements printed on the inside of one of the temple arms, which include the lens width, bridge width, and temple length in millimetres. These measurements can be used as a guideline to help you choose the right size frames for your face. However, it's also important to try on different frames to see how they look and feel on your face.

In addition to wider frames, you can also create the illusion of a thinner face by choosing glasses with adjustable nosepads that lift the frames away from your face. This can be especially helpful if you have a low nose bridge, wide face, or high cheekbones.

While wider frames can help make your face appear narrower, it's also important to consider other factors such as your face shape, eyebrow shape, and cheekbones. You can consult an optician or optometrist to get a professional opinion on the best frame size and style for your face. They can also help with any adjustments or recommend a different size if needed.

Clothing: wearing V-necks or scoop-necks can elongate the neck and, in turn, the face

The neckline you choose can make all the difference in how your clothes flatter your figure and highlight your best features. While necklines come and go in popularity, certain shapes can enhance your silhouette.

If you have a round face, the goal is to add length and structure, creating a more balanced look. A V-neck will elongate the neck and create a flattering vertical line, making your face appear longer and slimmer.

The same goes for those with a heart-shaped face, which is wider at the forehead and tapers down to a narrower chin. A medium V-neck will elongate your chin and draw attention away from a broader forehead.

For those with a long face, a V-neck will draw the eye downward, elongating the neck.

If you have a short neck, a wider, deeper neckline increases the amount of exposed skin, which extends the line of your neck, making you appear slimmer and taller.

If you have broad shoulders, a wider neckline helps compensate for their width and looks more natural. Plus, showing your collarbones is always flattering.

If you're getting married soon and want to make your face look thinner, wearing V-necks or scoop-necks can elongate the neck and, in turn, the face.

Frequently asked questions