Finding Your Signature Makeup Look: Advice From the Top Makeup Artists in the Industry
- jennysmithmattfeldt
- Mar 3
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 10
By JENNY SMITH MATTFELDT Published March 3, 2025
Trends are fun to experiment with, but nothing beats truly understanding and loving your face. Having a signature look means you always have a go-to style that makes you feel confident, no matter what. To create a look that’s uniquely yours, focus on three key elements: your face shape, your contrast level, and the feature you love most and want to highlight. It’s all about embracing your individuality and leaning into what makes you feel your best.
1 Face Shape
Makeup techniques can vary based on your face shape. For example, someone with a round face might benefit from some contouring to elongate the features, while a square jawline could be softened with the right blush placement. Knowing your face shape helps with contour, highlight, and brow placement. You can probably get a good idea of your face shape just by looking in the mirror, but if you're unsure or want a more precise answer, you can measure it using a soft tape measure. Here's how:
Forehead Width: Measure across the widest part of your forehead (from one side to the other).
Cheekbone Width: Measure from the top of one cheekbone to the top of the other cheekbone (just below your eyes).
Jawline Width: Measure across the bottom of your jaw from one side to the other (at the point where your jaw is widest).
Face Length: Measure from the center of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.
Heart
A heart-shaped face has a wide forehead and high cheekbones, tapering down to a pointy chin. Focus on highlighting the chin and contouring the forehead to balance proportions.
Square
A square face has a strong, angular jawline with a forehead, cheekbones, and jaw that are all about the same width. Soften angles with bronzer along the jawline and temples.
Round
A round face has equal width and length, with soft, rounded contours and a fuller, less angular jawline. Contour under the cheekbones and along the jawline to add definition.
Diamond
A diamond face has narrow forehead and jawline, with wide, prominent cheekbones. Add highlight to the center of the face (forehead, nose, chin) to soften sharp angles.
Oval
An oval face is longer than it is wide, with a gently rounded jaw and forehead. The width of your forehead is slightly greater than your chin. Keep blush high on the cheekbones to enhance natural symmetry.
Rectangle/or Oblong
A rectangular face is longer than it is wide, with a square jawline and straight sides. The forehead and jawline are typically about the same width. Use blush on the apples of the cheeks to create width and soften length.
2 Contrast Level
Complexion contrast has been around for a long time but is recently really trending, this term refers to the difference in tone and depth between the skin, hair, and eyes. The contrast level can help guide you when choosing makeup, clothing colors, and hair styles that enhance your natural features. Here’s a breakdown of low, medium, and high contrast complexions:
Low Contrast
There isn’t much difference between the lightness/darkness of your skin, hair, and eyes. Your features tend to blend together more seamlessly, creating a soft, harmonious look. When it comes to low contrast makeup go for subtle, harmonious makeup looks. Soft shades that aren't too strikingly different than your skin complement a low contrast complexion well.
Medium Contrast
Involves a noticeable difference between skin, hair, and eyes, but not as stark as high contrast. There’s more definition, but it’s still balanced and not too jarring. When it comes to makeup you can experiment with both soft and bold colors. Use rich earth tones, burgundies, and jewel tones, and feel free to play with more definition in your makeup (such as a bolder lip or eyeliner).
High Contrast
There’s a striking difference between the tones of your skin, hair, and eyes. This creates more dramatic definition and makes each feature stand out more distinctly. Dramatic makeup works well with high contrast complexions. Deep lipsticks (like berry or red), bold eyeliner, and vibrant eyeshadows all add to the striking effect.
Finding Your Contrast
To determine your contrast level, start by taking a photo of yourself in good natural lighting. Convert the image to black and white, then compare it to a grayscale contrast scale (you can find one online and screenshot it). Next, identify the lightest and darkest areas of your feature, this could be your skin, hair, or eyes. Match these points to the closest shades on the contrast scale, then subtract the darkest value from the lightest. For example, if my lightest area is an 8 and my darkest is a 2, the difference is 6, meaning I have medium contrast.
Low Contrast: 0-3
Medium Contrast: 4-6
High Contrast: 7-10
3 Best Feature Forward
Look in the mirror and think about what you love about your face. Do you have killer cheekbones, bright eyes, or full lips? Your signature look should highlight these features.What do people tend to compliment you on?a
Often, your best feature is something others notice or mention regularly. Do people rave about your glowing skin, your expressive eyes, or your perfect brows? While this isn’t the ultimate test, feedback from others can be a helpful clue about what stands out most. Finding your signature look can take time, and that’s okay! Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different looks and see what feels most you.
At the end of the day, your best feature is what makes you feel good about yourself. It’s not just about what others see, it’s about what you embrace and love about your own appearance. Sometimes the most important feature is the one you feel the most confident in.
Lips Focus
One of the best beauty trends right now? A statement lip, and it doesn’t have to be red to steal the show. Think Hailey Bieber’s viral lip combos, the festive glitter lip transformations that take over during the holidays, or Rihanna’s iconic Gloss Bombs. And, of course, there’s the queen of the lip herself, Charlotte Tilbury. Her Pillow Talk lipstick is nearly impossible to find because it’s just that flattering on everyone.
Charlotte Tilbury once said, "Lipstick is instant glamour and happiness in a tube." And if anyone knows how to create the perfect pout, it’s her. Here’s her foolproof method:
Prep your lips. Exfoliate and apply a hydrating lip oil to create a smooth base.
Lip liner is key. Use a sharp liner to trace from the center of your Cupid’s bow outward, following your natural lip shape. For a fuller look, slightly overline just above the center of your top lip and just below the center of your bottom lip, but leave the outer corners as they are to keep things natural.
Fill it in. Use that same lip liner to fill in your lips. This acts as a base to help your lipstick last longer.
Apply lipstick. Swipe it directly onto your lips for bold color, or use a brush for a more precise application.
Finish with gloss. A little shine on top gives that fresh, plump, and polished effect.
And just like that, you’ve got a lip look worthy of a beauty icon.
All Eyes on Your Eyes
Celebrity makeup artist Sir John, who regularly works with icons like Zendaya and Beyoncé, swears by eyeliner as his favorite makeup tool. His best tip is a little reminiscent of your mom licking her finger to smooth your hair down. He told Beauty Crew, “I have a little hack...take a little of your saliva on a cotton bud, just like your mum would. Pull the skin around your eye taut to ensure there are no creases during cleanup, then drag the damp cotton bud all the way up to shape that wing.”
He also recommends tilting your head back, like you’re trying to look up your nose in the mirror, while applying liner. And instead of attempting one perfect stroke, break it into about three smaller lines for better control. Make sure your brows are shaped and filled in, as they frame your eyes. You don’t need bold brows to compete with the eye makeup, but they should look defined. Opt for a natural, lifted brow shape that complements the shape of your eyes.
Skin Forward
Gone are the days of choosing between bold lips or dramatic eyes a skin-forward look is the modern way to appear fresh, healthy, and effortlessly glowing. This approach highlights your natural skin and bone structure for a radiant, lit-from-within effect.
Start with great skin, hydration, exfoliation, and moisturization are key to a smooth, glowing base. Legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath, known for her signature “diffused glow” skin, always begins with a milky hydrating essence to plump the skin, followed by sunscreen. She then warms foundation in her hands and applies it with her fingers in light, buildable layers, followed by cream bronzer and blush allowing them all to melt seamlessly into the skin.
The goal is hydrated, radiant skin with natural-looking coverage where needed. She finishes by brightening the under-eyes with concealer, adding a touch of champagne glow to the lids, and sweeping on full, fluttery lashes for a polished yet effortless effect.
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