How to Minimize a Wide Nose With Makeup

Cleopatra was said to have had a broad Roman nose.

Women use makeup to highlight the best features of their faces. They wear mascara, shadow and liner to play up big, beautiful eyes, or use lip liner and lipstick to create a prominent pout. Makeup can also be used to downplay a feature that a woman might not feel is her best. Using the contours and highlights created by different shades of makeup, women can easily make a wide nose appear smaller and more narrow.

Things You'll Need

• Two small-bristled cosmetic brushes
• Large-bristled cosmetic brush
• Two cosmetic application sponges
• Cream foundation two shades darker than natural skin tone
• Cream highlighter two shades lighter than natural skin tone
• Translucent loose powder

Instructions

1. Draw two thin lines of the darker foundation down the sides of the bridge of the nose using a small cosmetic brush. Start up near the eyebrows and draw two straight lines down to the tip of the nose.

2. Blend the lines into the nose using a cosmetic sponge, blending away from the bridge and down the sides of the nose. The result should be darker contoured lines, which are visible but not too thick or dark.

3. Draw a line of highlighter straight down the bridge of the nose, in the middle of the two darker lines using a clean small cosmetic brush.

4. Blend the highlighter into the bridge of the nose using a clean sponge. Blend carefully, making sure to not smudge the darker lines.

5. Brush loose translucent powder onto the nose using the large cosmetic brush. Cover the area to help seal in the foundation lines, brushing lightly so as not to smudge or obscure the makeup.

Tips & Warnings

• If using this technique for the first time, practice at home when you have plenty of time to wash your face and try again.

• Err on the side of caution with the dark lines. Their contour should create an illusion as opposed to being two dark visible lines. Make them subtle enough to be viewed close-up.

References

• Oprah.com: Ask Val; How Do I Make My Nose Seem Smaller; Valerie Monroe; Feb 2010
• Nose Cosmetic.com: Nose Makeup; How to Make Your Nose Look Smaller and Narrower