High cheekbones vs. low cheekbones: What’s the difference?
Cheekbones, also known as zygomatic bones, play a big role in how our faces look. They give our faces structure and shape, and their prominence and position are often linked to beauty standards. While those standards can vary by culture and time period, cheekbones are almost always part of the discussion.
That’s why we’re diving into the differences between high and low cheekbones. We’ll explore what makes them different from an anatomical perspective, cultural perceptions of attractiveness, and how aging affects their appearance. We’ll also cover surgical and nonsurgical options for enhancing cheekbones, along with makeup techniques to create definition.
Keep in mind that genetics and ethnicity have a lot to do with cheekbone structure and position. For example, some ethnic groups are known for having more prominent or higher cheekbones. Aging also plays a role, as collagen loss and fat pad relocation can impact cheekbone prominence over time.
What are cheekbones and where are they located?
Cheekbones (also called zygomatic bones or malar bones) are the bones that give your face its shape. Everyone has them. They come in pairs and create the bony part of your cheeks.
These bones connect to the frontal bone of your forehead, the temporal bone at your temple, the sphenoid bone at the side of your skull, and the maxillary bone in your upper jaw.
Cheekbones stretch from the outside of your eye socket to the sides of your face. They support the middle of your face and contribute to your face’s overall shape.
To find your cheekbones, put your thumbs on the small flap of cartilage in front of your ear canal (the tragus). Then put your index fingers on either side of your nose. Bring your thumbs and index fingers together. The bones you feel under your fingers are likely your cheekbones.
You can also find them by feeling for the bony ridge beneath your eyes and along the sides of your nose.
High Cheekbones vs. Low Cheekbones: Defining the Differences
When people talk about cheekbones, they’re usually talking about the malar eminences, the bony structures beneath your eyes that give your face shape and definition. But where those bones sit on your face can make a big difference in your overall look.
High Cheekbones
High cheekbones are those that sit closer to your eyes, usually above the bottom of your nose. They tend to give your face a more sculpted look.
Because of their position, high cheekbones often cast shadows, which accentuates the hollows of your cheeks. Many people feel that high cheekbones give the face a more youthful, lifted look.
Celebrities who are known for having high cheekbones include Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bündchen, and Keira Knightley.
Low Cheekbones
Low cheekbones sit closer to your nose, usually at or below the level of your nostrils. The malar eminence is usually less prominent with this bone structure.
Low cheekbones can give your face a softer, rounder appearance. The middle of the face may look wider or flatter.
Celebrities with low cheekbones include Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton.
How Does Cheekbone Position Change as You Get Older?
Aging changes the structure and volume of your face. As you get older, your body produces less collagen and elastin, which keep your skin firm and tight. As those proteins decline, your skin loses elasticity and begins to sag. The fat pads in your face also diminish and start to droop, leading to volume loss in your cheeks.
As your skin loses support, your cheekbones become less defined, and your cheeks can appear flatter. When the fat pads in your face descend, it can create hollows under your cheekbones. These hollows can make you look older.
Finally, the bones in your face remodel as you age. This bone remodeling can lead to subtle changes in the shape and structure of your cheekbones.
Surgical solutions for enhancing cheekbones
If you’re looking for a more dramatic or permanent change to your cheekbones, several surgical options exist.
Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that lifts and tightens the skin and tissues of your face and neck. While it doesn’t directly alter the cheekbones themselves, it can definitely make them appear more prominent.
By lifting the skin around your cheeks, a facelift can reduce sagging and create a more defined and youthful facial contour. This can make your cheekbones look more sculpted and stand out more.
Facial Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting)
Facial fat transfer involves taking fat from one area of your body (like your tummy or thighs) and injecting it into your cheeks. It’s like a natural filler!
This procedure adds volume and projection to your cheekbones, creating a more sculpted and contoured look. The results can be long-lasting, but keep in mind that your body might reabsorb some of the injected fat over time.
As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks, including swelling, bruising, infection, and asymmetry.
Cheek Implants
Cheek implants are solid pieces of material, usually made of silicone or other biocompatible substances, that a surgeon places over your cheekbones to give them more definition.
Implants offer a permanent way to add volume and structure to your cheeks. They come in different shapes and sizes, so you can choose the ones that best fit your face and the look you’re going for.
Cheek Fillers: A Non-Surgical Route to Defined Cheekbones
If you’re looking to sculpt your face without surgery, cheek fillers are a popular choice. How do they work?
The procedure involves injecting substances like hyaluronic acid into your cheeks to add volume and definition. Hyaluronic acid is a common choice because it’s biocompatible (meaning your body tolerates it well) and, importantly, it can be reversed or adjusted if you’re not happy with the result.
A skilled injector can strategically place the filler along your cheekbone ridge, creating the illusion of higher, more prominent cheekbones. It’s like contouring with makeup, but the effect lasts longer!
However, keep in mind that fillers are temporary. Depending on the type of filler used and your body’s metabolism, they typically last anywhere from 6 to 18 months. To maintain your new cheekbone definition, you’ll need maintenance injections.
Benefits of Cheek Fillers:
- Minimally invasive, meaning little to no downtime. You can usually go back to your normal activities right away.
- Provide immediate results, so you can see the difference quickly.
- Reversible (if you use hyaluronic acid fillers). If you don’t like the results, the filler can be dissolved.
Cheekbone Contouring with Makeup Techniques
Makeup can work wonders to enhance or even create the illusion of higher or more defined cheekbones. It all comes down to the art of contouring and highlighting.
Contouring is the technique of using darker shades of makeup to create shadows, giving the illusion of depth and definition, especially in the hollows of your face. Highlighting, on the other hand, uses lighter shades to catch the light and bring forward the high points of your face.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to sculpting those cheekbones:
- Identify Your Cheekbones: Feel for the malar bones, the bony structure under your skin, to locate your cheekbones.
- Apply Contour Makeup Beneath the Cheekbones: Use a contour brush to apply a matte bronzer or contour powder in the hollows beneath your cheekbones. Start at your ear and blend toward the center of your face.
- Highlight the Top of the Cheekbones: Sweep a highlighter across the top of your cheekbones to make them pop.
- Add Blush (Optional): For a natural flush, dab some blush onto the apples of your cheeks.
- Blend, Blend, Blend: Blend all the products together seamlessly so there are no harsh lines.
Tips and Warnings
- Use the right tools: contour brush, highlighting brush, blending brush.
- Start with just a little product and build it up as you go.
- Blend like your life depends on it. Harsh lines are a no-no.
With a little practice, you can use contouring to enhance your natural features and create the cheekbone definition you desire.
How culture influences how we view cheekbones and face shapes
Beauty is famously in the eye of the beholder. What one culture considers beautiful, another might not even notice. Beauty standards are subjective, varying across cultures and even across time.
High cheekbones, for example, are often linked to beauty and attractiveness in Western and Asian societies, but not everywhere. Think of movie stars and models: many have high cheekbones that add definition to their faces.
Certain face shapes are also associated with attractiveness.
Heart or V-shaped face
A heart- or V-shaped face is characterized by a wider forehead and a narrower chin, usually with cheekbones that stand out.
Diamond face shape (especially for women)
If you have wide cheekbones, a narrow forehead, and a narrow chin, you may have what’s known as a diamond-shaped face, which is seen as attractive, especially for women.
Ultimately, though, beauty is a personal preference, and what matters most is how you see yourself. Whether your cheekbones are high or low, the most important thing is that you feel good about your own unique features.
Ethnicities known for high cheekbones
While cheekbone prominence varies wildly within and between populations, some ethnicities are often associated with higher cheekbones.
- Asian communities: High cheekbones are common in many Asian ethnicities, including Korean, Japanese, and Chinese people.
- African communities: Some African ethnicities also exhibit high cheekbones.
- Amerindian (Indigenous Peoples of the Americas): High cheekbones are a characteristic feature for many Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
- Western perception: It’s important to remember that high cheekbones are often admired in Western beauty standards. This perception can influence how we view and categorize facial features across different ethnicities.
It’s worth repeating that facial features vary a lot, and we shouldn’t make broad generalizations about what people “should” look like based on their background.
Key Takeaways
High cheekbones sit higher on the face, giving you a sculpted look. Low cheekbones are lower down, resulting in a softer, rounder face.
But here’s the thing: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Whether high or low, cheekbones are attractive depending on what you like and what’s considered beautiful in your culture.
If you want to change the way your cheekbones look, you have options. You can use makeup to create the illusion of higher cheekbones, or you can consider fillers or even surgery. If you’re considering cosmetic procedures, it’s important to understand your face shape and what you want to achieve.
Talking to a qualified cosmetic surgeon or makeup artist can help you decide the best way to enhance your cheekbones while keeping your look natural and balanced. They can give you personalized advice to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.