12 Tips to Help Make Your Face Appear More Symmetrical, According to Makeup Artists

Check your camera angle and lighting

Before getting into makeup application, experts say you should get an understanding of your Zoom setup. “The first thing you want to check is the angle of your laptop. The camera should be directly in front of you, not sitting to either side, and aligned with, or slightly higher than the eyes,” says Bobbi Brown Cosmetics national makeup artist Michele Shakeshaft. She adds that the lighting should also be directly in front of you. “If the lighting is sitting to either side, it will alter the symmetry of the image on the screen.” The lighting has to be uniform so that the makeup is uniform, she explains.

“After you have set up your equipment properly, turn on the light and check your image on the screen. What you see is what everyone else is seeing,” says Shakeshift. “Adjust angles and lighting as needed, then look at how you can touch your makeup to help with symmetry.” Celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter suggests taking a photo on your computer to see if you like the makeup and lighting.

Contour your face

Celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz says contour, blush, highlighter and bronzer are must-haves when she’s hopping on a Zoom meeting. “Contouring shapes and defines your face, and after applying foundation, I recommend applying the contour under cheekbones, along the jawline and the sides of the nose,” says Loiz. She suggests practicing on your Zoom camera before your meetings so you can get it exactly right. She prefers to contour with Charlotte Tilbury products.

Make your brows look more symmetrical

The way to make your eyebrows look more symmetrical is by measuring the ends of your brow with the end of a makeup brush from the inner corner of the eye to the tip of the brow, says Linter. She notes that angling the brush correctly is important during this step.

Use a concealer brush

When applying concealer before a Zoom meeting Linter says you absolutely must use a brush for your under eyes for uniformity. “Fingertips hold heat and don’t work well for the symmetrical look,” notes Linter.

Apply blush

“Once you have the contour where you’d like it, apply blush to the apples and blend toward the temple,” advises Loiz, who likes to use Pat McGrath Labs Blush.

Linter suggests centering your brows and lips before applying blush. Once those are in place, “do some cheek color on the highest point of your cheekbones and swing to the center of the face, one or two fingers from the nose, depending on face width,” says Linter.

Don’t forget the highlighter

Loiz says highlighter and bronzer are musts as well. She recommends applying Dior Backstage Glow Highlighter ($45) on top of your cheekbones.

Use a beauty blender

To ensure nothing looks patchy, Linter recommends using a beautyblender for extra spot coverage. Loiz even suggests going a step further and using a dampened makeup sponge to bounce over the makeup to melt the blush, contour and highlighter together. “You don’t want to see any harsh lines,” says Loiz. “Make sure you bounce the makeup sponge over the jawline and bridge of the nose to blend in as well.”

Bronze the right spots

“Sweep bronzer along your forehead, cheekbones and the bridge of your nose to warm your face,” advises Loiz. “This will keep you from looking pale or washed out while on Zoom.” She recommends using Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant warmth Bronzer ($34).

Use this expert tip for lip application

“Once the brows are centered, do your lips, using four strokes,” says Linter. Draw a stroke on the upper lip from the corner to the Cupid’s bow and stop. Then do the same on the other side. On the lower lip, go from corner to center of the lips,” explains Linter. “You don’t need to use a lip pencil. You can use a lip brush and lipstick or gloss and a wand.”

Keep a Zoom touch-up bag nearby

“I always have a little ‘Zoom touch-up bag’ nearby with my quick touch-up essentials such as Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick ($32), Extra Lip Tint ($34), Skin Full Cover Concealer ($33), Perfectly Defined Brow Pencil ($45) and a Pot Rouge ($35),” says Shakeshaft. “These are all products that require no brushes to apply for quick, effortless touch ups.”

Don’t draw attention to parts of your face that are uneven

“Often the face is not symmetrical,” says Linter. “Sometimes one eye is smaller than the other.” Her advice is not to focus too much attention on the uneven features. For example, if your lips are uneven, don’t wear a bold lip color, says Linter.

Don’t rely on sunlight

Linter prefers using a makeup mirror with lights and magnifying sides to apply makeup—she uses one from SimpleHuman. She keeps the same motto when it comes time for the meeting. She advises avoiding daylight because it can be uneven. Instead, she recommends using a ring light. She’s a fan of Glamcor Galileo Ring Light ($372).