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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Do you have a strong face and if so what make up do you wear?

19 replies

porridgeisbae · 07/09/2023 22:47

I have a strong nose and strong chin, with a long face. Sometimes I get accused of being secretly a man (I'm not.)

I just was playing with some fairly basic makeup and I honestly looked better before I put it on, 😂

If you have a strong face, what makeup do you wear? I'm thinking like a very soft look of some kind. Even eyeliner looks bad.

OP posts:

Holdmysunhat · 07/09/2023 22:57

I too have a strong face! I play up my strong features by highlighting my brows and eyes. I also go as big as poss with my hair to balance out my features. I’m not afraid of blusher as I have quite good cheekbones and like to think that sort of balances things somewhat. I’m white but emulate a kind of middle eastern style of beauty. Not sure if that’s good advice or applicable to your looks but that’s my approach!

As an aside, I see a lot of musicians and models these days who have strong features and are seen as beautiful. I think the definition of beauty has broadened lots since I was young to be more ethnically inclusive. I’m too old to care really but it cheers me up!

Holdmysunhat · 07/09/2023 23:01

Ps sorry if this is an obvious as sin suggestion maybe you could book time with a make up artist. Also there all sorts of contouring tricks to make noses look slimmer on YouTube and ways to play down features if that’s what you’re after

Original poster

porridgeisbae · 07/09/2023 23:05

@Holdmysunhat Interesting.

Yes a sort of draggy look is in right now with all the contouring (unless that's out of fashion now.)

What do you use/do to highlight your brows and eyes? I can see that that might make the face look wider at that point if done properly.

Sounds like you are quite bold with your look.

Have you seen a makeup artist and was it helpful?

I did look at Youtubes at one point, will look again, thanks.

OP posts:

FinallyHere · 07/09/2023 23:08

If you would like some genuinely unbiased help, I recommend unreservedly

https://www.cosmeticsalacarte.com/studio-list

Holdmysunhat · 08/09/2023 04:33

Well @porridgeisbae I use a dark brown on my brows (a Revolution Makeup brow sculpt kit) and soft brown on my upper lids. Eyeliner looks even better on my lower lids but that look is now dated. I then go bold on mascara with something like Hourglass Unlocked.

I very rarely wear colour on my eyes and don’t usually wear lipstick. I like a creamy blush like Milk Makeup/Stila on my cheeks. I use a light coverage foundation so nothing heavy or obviously made up. Draggy is definitely not the intended look haha. I don’t do contouring myself (too lazy) but imagine it could be a good look for me. I do know what you mean if you’re picturing heavily made up and contoured young celebs.

By middle eastern, I was picturing loads of long dark, thick curly hair and strong on the eyes with darker hues. As I say, that may not suit you at all but works well for me. The big brows balance my nose and I emphasise my cheekbones with blusher to balance my other pronounced facial features. My strategy is basically to make all of me look bigger (especially hair) so my features don’t stand out as much!

ovulationleavesmetired · 08/09/2023 05:14

I follow Katie Martin on Instagram...she has a stunning strong face and does makeup tutorials.
Could be worth a look at for you?

Do you have a strong face and if so what make up do you wear?

BeethovenNinth · 08/09/2023 05:32

I have a strong jaw and cheekbones. I wear glasses as I don’t like makeup!

Original poster

porridgeisbae · 08/09/2023 10:43

Great tips, thanks all.

OP posts:

Mumsanetta · 08/09/2023 12:21

Hannah Waddingham has what I would consider a strong face and her make-up always looks fab. I love a strong face, perhaps because I have the opposite - a soft focus face that lacks any bone structure. I have to contour to define my features and past work experiences have taught me to wear a very impassive, cold expression in meetings to toughen up my overall appearance.

Usernamen · 08/09/2023 12:25

What’s a strong face? Does it mean angular?

Original poster

porridgeisbae · 08/09/2023 12:52

@Usernamen As in largeish rather than small features maybe. And perhaps angular. Can seem a bit masculine.

I find if I'm not too thin then it looks better as I get older. My chin actually doesn't look so bad in this retro look I did last nite. The bags under my eyes are a lot worse than this IRL. Excuse the washing behind me lol.

My pics seem to be uploading at poor quality everywhere today, which makes features look softer than they are.

OP posts:

Original poster

porridgeisbae · 08/09/2023 12:54

@Holdmysunhat I had cheek and nasolabial fillers which maybe helped make the chin look smaller. But they didn't help enough to justify £900 on them again.

OP posts:

Mumsanetta · 08/09/2023 12:58

I would say you have a long face rather than a strong face. Either way, it’s a lovely face! The current make up trend seems to be dewy, soft skin. Might be worth stopping by a Charlotte Tilbury makeup counter or Space NK to try something new and see what they suggest.

Original poster

porridgeisbae · 08/09/2023 13:29

@Mumsanetta I would say you have a long face rather than a strong face.

It is definitely long but I have a strong nose and chin, too. It's usually the chin that makes people think I'm secretly a man.

OP posts:

JMAngel1 · 08/09/2023 14:32

I have a strong face. I’m Irish but often get asked if Middle Eastern. My jawline is kind of like Olivia Wilde’s which I don’t see as a bad thing as it gives good structure now that I’m 51.
I find the more makeup definition the better / if I try to do an ethereal look, I just look washed out. I need a strong eye to balance out my jawline. I don’t do contour though as I feel it makes me look more angular.
Agree with PP who said go for bif voluminous hair - I definitely do that to balance me out.

Don’t see strong features asa bad thing - it can be a blessing as we age.

Look into the Kibbe system to help you find clothes that match your face. Now that I know I’m a Soft Dramatic and dress as such, I find that my clothes suit my face if that makes sense.

Original poster

porridgeisbae · 08/09/2023 17:32

@JMAngel1 Yes I've thought this year that I'd rather have a strong chin than a weak one. Could you show me a pic of one of your eyes or something so I can see what you do?

OP posts:

ThePoshUns · 08/09/2023 17:36

I hear you OP.
I am blessed with a long face and a strong jaw.
If I wear too much make up I feel like a man in drag.
I tend to do a strong eye or lip, never both at once.
Although with age I hardly bother and hope for the best!

ThePoshUns · 08/09/2023 17:37

And agree with @JMAngel1 I am 52 and have no jowls ( yet)

JMAngel1 · 08/09/2023 17:48

Oh god when I say strong eye it’s nothing fancy! I just put a dark bronze shade all over the upper lid and blend it up into socket. Put the same shade in a fairly thick smudged line all the way under my eyes (I have almond eyes so this accentuates shape) - then 3 coats mascara. If I’m feeling fancy I put black eyeliner on top upper lash line but not very often. Dye brows regularly and brush through with gel to define.
That’s it - no fancy shading etc. I don’t suit pale eyeshadow at all.

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