How to Make a Big Forehead Look Smaller With Makeup
To visually shorten a big or tall forehead, place matte contour along the hairline, blend carefully, and keep highlight low. Here’s how to balance your features step by step.
1. Where to Place Contour for a Smaller Forehead
Apply a matte bronzer or contour shade that’s 1 - 2 shades deeper than your skin tone along your hairline and temples. Use a fluffy brush to diffuse the color into your hairline, focusing on the upper sides and center. Blend thoroughly to avoid harsh lines. This shadowing effect visually lowers the forehead.
2. Highlight Placement to Avoid Emphasizing Height
Keep highlighter off your upper forehead. Instead, apply a subtle highlight to the center of your face: tops of cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and cupid’s bow. This keeps attention away from the forehead and brings focus to the center and lower face.
3. Blush Placement for Balance
Sweep blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend slightly upward toward the temples, but not onto the upper forehead. This draws the eye outward and down, balancing the upper face.
4. Brow Shape and Placement
- Opt for soft, slightly curved brows rather than high arches, which can elongate the face.
- Keep brows a natural thickness and avoid placing them too high above the eyes.
- Filling in brows closer to their natural start point can help frame the upper face and minimize the appearance of forehead height.
5. Pro Tips: Face Framing and Personalization
- Pair makeup with face-framing hairstyles, like side parts or fringes, to further minimize forehead height.
- If you’re not sure of your face shape or undertone, scan your selfie with Makeup Check AI for personalized shade and placement tips tailored to your features.
These tricks land best on your actual features - Makeup Check AI maps them from a selfie so you know exactly where to place product.
Try Makeup Check AIFAQ
Where exactly should I put contour to make my forehead look smaller?
Apply matte contour along the entire hairline, focusing on the upper sides and blending well into the hair for a shadow effect.
Should I highlight my forehead if it’s big?
Avoid highlighting the upper forehead. Focus highlight on the center of the face and tops of the cheeks to keep attention away from the forehead.
What brow shape suits a big forehead?
Softer, slightly curved brows placed naturally can help balance a tall forehead. Avoid high arches and brows set too high.
How does blush placement affect my forehead’s appearance?
Blush applied to the apples of the cheeks and blended outward draws focus to the middle and lower face, balancing a larger forehead.
How can I know my exact face shape for best results?
Use Makeup Check AI to scan your selfie and receive personalized makeup placement and shade advice based on your unique features.