Beauty 101: Facial Anatomy Breakdown for Beginners!

I know lots of my readers are very new to makeup. I remember when I was a sophomore and first really began to explore makeup, I would watch +Makeup Geek's videos (I can't believe I've been watching her videos for almost 5 years now!) and just be completely absorbed in her knowledge. This was the very first video of hers that I ever watched, because I had just joined colorguard earlier that year, and our school color was green. I remember watching her video and being so confused about some of the terminology she was using. What was a crease, what was an outer v, what was the waterline, and how the heck did you apply false lashes!? The only thing I knew was how to apply eyeliner (horribly, I might add), and mascara. Of course, as I explored more into the beauty world, I discovered what each part of the face was, and it helped my application immensely. So here we go!

A. Outer Corner or Outer V. Typically where a dark color is applied to add definition, the outer corner or outer v is a sideways v-shaped pocket on the outer edge of your eyelid. Applying a darker color here can give the illusion of wider set eyes. 

B. Crease. The crease is exactly what it sounds like -- it's where your eyelid creases. This is where the eyeball and the brow bone meet.You will often see that darker colors are applied here to add dimension and to create the appearance of a deeper crease. Some eye shapes (such as monolid eyes) don't have a defined crease.

C. Inner Corner. The inner corner can sometimes be incorrectly called the tear duct. The tear duct is a fleshy pink fold inside your eye, and it's best to avoid getting product there. However, your inner corner, which is the skin around your tear duct, is often highlighted to create a brighter, more youthful appearance.

D. Brow Bone. The brow bone where your eyebrow sits, also known as the superorbital ridge. It separates the frontal bone (the forehead) from the eye socket. The skin around the brow bone is often lighter than that on your lid, but it  is often highlighted to add dimension and to create the illusion of cleaner brows.

E/F. Upper and Lower Lashline. The upper and lower lashline is where your lashes grow. You could consider them the garden for your lashes. When dark eyeliner is applied to the upper or lower lashline, it can create the illusion of thicker, fuller lashes.

G. Hollow of the Cheek. The hollow of the cheek is underneath the cheekbone, and can most easily be found by sucking in the cheeks or making a fish face. By using a darker shade in the hollows of your cheeks, you can make your cheekbones look more defined, and it can also give a slimmer look to your face. 

H. Orbital Bone or Orbital Socket. The orbital bone, or, more appropriately, the orbital socket, is a collection of bones that create the eye socket. If you think of a skull, it is where the eyes of the skull would be. The orbital socket is made up of seven bones, but primarily the frontal bone (forehead),the lacrimal bone (which is separates the two orbital sockets), the zygomatic bone (cheekbone), and the ethmoid bone (which is behind the nose, and separates the nasal cavity from the brain). The only two bones that make up the orbital socket that you really need to know are the brow bone and the cheekbone. 

I. Jawline. The jawline is the line created by the lower jaw, and starts where the upper and lower jawbones meet. A "strong" jawline will be more square, while a "soft" jawline will be more rounded. You can change the shape of your jawline by highlighting and contouring. 

J. Apple of the Cheek. The apples of the cheeks are the fattiest part of the cheek, which can most easily be found when you smile. They become more rounded and noticeable when you smile, and it is the part of the face that the old lady at the supermarket used to pinch when you were little.
K. Side of the Nose. The side of the nose is the downward angle created by the bridge of the nose, as well as the nostrils. For a slimmer looking nose, you can apply a darker contour shade along the sides of the nose.
L. Bridge of the Nose. The bridge of the nose is created by two smaller bones. Think of it as the peak to the mountain. Some people have ridges or bumps in the bridge of their noses, while others have smooth bridges. It typically starts between your eyes, and ends at the tip of your nose.
M. Waterline. The waterline, or the tightline, is the fleshy section of your eye area that separates the lashline from the eyeball itself. It can be lined with a dark color for a smokier, more dramatic effect, or with a nude or white color for an awakening effect. Only use waterproof pencils or waterproof gel liner in the waterline, otherwise you will end up with a goopy, blurry mess (if you've done it, you know exactly what I'm talking about)!

The one thing I forgot to add to these photos was the Cupid's Bow. The cupid's bow is found on the upper lip, where your lips peak and fall. If turned sideways, it looks just like a hunting bow!

I hope this helps all you beginners out there!

- d.

p.s. Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends February 5th! 

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