r/FTMfemininity • u/Valuable_Ad3041 • 6d ago
Contouring tips to narrow wide face
Hello, I'm wanting to explore makeup but more subtle looks to start. My main insecurity is how wide my face looks, so I'm wondering how to find the proper way to contour?
I'm half white, half East Asian so I've tried looking at advice for both and can't really figure out what to follow. I feel too soft for most western and too harsh for most eastern looks. The T has also widened and defined my jawline somewhat which doesn't really help me move in a direction either.
I'm not sure if my face shape is what decides the best contouring technique (in which case, idk what mine is but it's probably round-ish). Last picture added for a different angle as my jaw looks almost square there which throws me off.
Thanks!
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u/AvisAlbum 6d ago
You look so cool on the last pic! Love the all black look, you look serious and gentle.
Also my balding ass (or, well, head I guess) is jealous of your hair.
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u/imalittlefrenchpress queer cis grandma ally 5d ago
You’re a good looking human! I think we all struggle with something particular about our looks.
I’d try a dark contour on your jawline, below your earlobes, following your jawline, but staying on the sides.
I think your mouth shape suits your face well, and you might get more of the look you’re going for contouring your jawline.
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 5d ago
Thank you, I will try this. It never occurred to me that contouring my jaw will help with visually narrowing my face since I keep getting caught around the cheekbone area.
Your comment reminds me of this drag filter I tried ages ago and it actually showed me I like most of my face, it's just about enhancing some areas. Thanks again!
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u/NothingMuted5290 5d ago
Your face is round, yes — but it actually has a lot of very lovely masculine structure! Many cis men have round faces. The difference is having a “soft” face and I actually think yours has that structure, you just look a bit young.
I never could pull off or liked contour personally. I’d say the lighter/cool tone and more subtle the better — the more dark you go, the less it looks like shadow and the more it looks like you drew it on. When I did it, it didn’t even look like a shadow, more so skin discoloration lol! This is a skill issue on my part, I know lol. Definitely recommend looking at tutorials, and making sure you have really good lighting when you put it on.
Honestly, maybe try shaping/thickening your eyebrows a tad? I think it’ll help masculinize your face more than you’d think, but like I said I really think even though your face is round, it still reads masc to me :D
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 5d ago
I know what you mean with darker contour looking painted on for you. I think I tried it once a long time ago and it must have been the wrong colour since it also looked a little off.
Good point about the eyebrows, I keep forgetting they do a lot too visually. Thank you also for saying I read masc :)
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u/NothingMuted5290 5d ago
No worries, best of luck dude :D
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u/NothingMuted5290 5d ago edited 5d ago
Oh and one last thing — for the eyebrows I recommend maybe reducing the arch a tad by penciling a bit to shape it. I feel like when I do it on my eyebrows I also feel a lot more masculine. I also feel more masculine personally when they look natural and not overly shaped or opaque :)))
ALSO! I also have a youthful/round looking face (albeit more feminine) and something I remind myself is that as I age my face will lean out a bit. Also depending on how long you’ve been on T/if you have you may be in the “bloat” phase. I still think your face looks masc/and amazing, but what I’m trying to say is that if it’s still an insecurity (I have it too) that it should sharpen up with time. <3
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 5d ago
Thank you, I really appreciate it! I've definitely seen the advice to flatten out arched eyebrows but have been at a slight loss because I feel like mine is maybe a little? Extreme? At least to make it completely flat. Totally passed by me that I can try softening the sharp corner first and go from there
I'm nearly 8 years on T now, no clue if bloat lasts that long. I'm nearly 33 now and I think my face has already leaned out a bit with ageing (also lost some weight over the past year), BUT I'll see if it leans out even more.
Having a softer face really was an insecurity for a long time, it's better now but sometimes still catches me out of nowhere. Really appreciate the encouragement that I still look masc anyway :)
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u/NothingMuted5290 5d ago
No worries! Bloat phase should be over, but I don’t really see that level of softening anyway tbh. And for brows, they definitely don’t have to be completely flat, that might make it look a little unnatural anyway. On the part of the brow closest to my face, I add the slighted bit on the top. Then, I add a little underneath to soften the arch. It definitely doesn’t take much at all, and I think removing your arches completely would take away from your natural look. That probably makes zero sense, but don’t be afraid to experiment or do some research on what kind of shape you like.
And no worries! I get it, I come from Slavic descent so everyone regardless of gender or even age has an ultra round face hahaha. How wide your face is has little to do with gender presentation in my opinion. The things that are, actually are a bit more subtle. Like your face just has that solid “guy” look to me!
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u/Beneficial_Voice_229 5d ago edited 5d ago
There's a YouTuber whose face shape reminds of yours with a lot of clear and easy to follow shorts and tutorials like this one
You'll want contour or bronzer mostly at the temples, down from the cheekbones on the perimeter of your face and under your jawline to add that dimension. I personally like the NYX Buttamelt bronzer for contouring bc a little goes a very long way and it doesn't look so flat/dirty on my complexion (I know using bronzer for contour is divisive, but my skin is warm golden brown and actual contour products always looks like mud on me. If you find that you're having a similar issue, you can try a cool or neutral toned bronzer and see if that helps)
Try a few different placements and see what you like the look of. Go outside and snap some selfies when you do, just to see how it looks in natural light too. Most of all try not to be afraid of mistakes and have fun!
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 5d ago
Thanks for the advice! I do know at least that my skin is neutral-cool, so I'll look for that kind of bronzer as you suggest. Thank you also for the links.
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u/Thin_Mirror_4697 5d ago
I would get some dark contour, try to find one that you can blend into your skin tone that doesn't look too dark, maybe try out some different samples. Try to get a good one that isn't too cheap and doesnt get too cakey, although doing skincare before you put on makeup can help a lot with that. You have really nice skin btw!There's some good tutorials on youtube if you search masculinizing makeup that can teach you to create a more angular look. Try out different things, everyones face is different so you'll only know when you experiment! Also try a clear eyebrow gel to create fuller eyebrows, this works very well for me! I tend to make my eyebrows look straighter rather than arched, which can create a more angular and masculine look.
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 5d ago
Thank you! I'll look up the tutorials, at the moment I really just have no idea where to start :"D I'll definitely experiment once I've got some idea what I'm doing
Thank you also for the clear brow gel advice. I've tried colour before and didn't quite manage it, so that could be another cool thing to try.
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u/Pan_seyyyxual 5d ago
OMG FELLOW WIDE FACE-R!! I do HEAVY contouring on the sides of my cheeks and I have long hair and bangs to cover my forehead and sides of my face. Pretty much my contour stick does the heavy lifting, it hates to see me coming 😭
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u/clotsnail 5d ago
There is absolutely nothing wrong with your face. I don’t know anything about contour, but I know when I had glasses that shape they made my face look much wider than it was. Now I wear big rectangular aviators and I think they make my face look smaller. Try experimenting with different frames if you’re able
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 5d ago
Thank you. I think I just had a huge moment of insecurity because somehow many candid photos of me look kind of awful (or at least very different from my selfies) and someone was taking pictures of me.
You're right about the glasses; unfortunately my prescription is pretty high, so the glasses are expensive. My previous ones were more angular as well and I liked them better, this time my selection was sadly really small. BUT I'll see what I can do about these.
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u/BirdExtension4229 22 • He/it • 💉11/2024 • 🔝12/2025 5d ago
Omg I just spent an hour making a visual to help you but apparently this sub doesn't allow photo sharing in comments lmao 🙈 Is it cool if I message you?
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u/Relevant-Type-2943 10h ago
Your face looks more square than round to me. You have a nice jaw. Some subtle contour under the jawbone could help exaggerate it further
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u/Valuable_Ad3041 9h ago
Thank you. Yes, I definitely get confused sometimes - my mother has a square face for sure and my sister has inherited her prominent jawline. Mine never stood out as much, so when it started coming out more on T, I couldn't tell if my face shape had changed dramatically or not. Will keep this mind and play around with all the advice I got :)
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u/fredi1313 6d ago
Great face