High Vs Low Cheekbones

High Vs Low Cheekbones

Are High Cheekbones Considered Attractive and Why

Genes are the source of all our blessings and troubles. Genetic background plays a strong role in the structure of our face, which is why we should always look for answers there. Physical appearance is highly related to our ancestry.

High vs. Low Cheekbones: How to Tell the Difference

You have probably heard how praised high cheekbones are, especially in the fashion and beauty industry. The hype around high cheekbones has been around for a while, leaving women puzzled about whether they have high or low cheekbones.

To the surprise of many, scientific research shows high cheekbones as an indicator of beauty. Historically, men and women with higher cheekbones have been considered attractive and beautiful.

On the other hand, people with rather low cheekbones strive to achieve more prominent facial features by practicing mewing as the top cheekbone-defining exercise.

Skip the long read and learn how facial exercises can help you achieve your dream cheekbones. Start with a quick quiz below !

Here’s what you’ll also learn:

  • 🤔 What makes the cheeks high or low?
  • 📋 Differences between high and low cheekbones.
  • 📖 How to tell if you have high cheekbones?

What Makes Cheekbones What They Are?

It has been proven that your ethnic predispositions and genetic background play a significant role in the look of your facial features, i.e., whether your cheekbone structure will render more prominent cheekbones vs. low cheekbones.

As defined in textbooks, cheekbones form the bone structure of your face underneath your epidermis. Malar bones are part of the human skull that add significant structure to the face. The higher the cheekbone, the higher the estrogen level.

In fact, a fraction of our brains still runs on primitive dispositions, thus correlating beauty with fertility. Moreover, according to academic research, scientists discovered that people with raised cheekbones appeal to others as more trustworthy. In terms of biology, high or low cheekbones are indicators of baby fat loss.

Different types of cheekbones, coupled with cheek muscles, tend to frame faces differently, accentuating particularities in our face shape. As your face ages, cheekbones become more prominent and define your overall appearance.

Types of Cheekbones

If you’ve only heard of high cheekbones, you might be surprised to learn there are more types. High, low, sunken, flat, prominent, and uneven are all types of cheekbones that rim the face structure.

However, it’s worth mentioning that as we reach middle age, our zygomatic bones, otherwise known as cheekbones, might become more prominent if we also lose weight. The different types of cheekbones depend on the zygomatic muscles, the malar bones, genetics, and ethnic groups.

Since cheekbones are the one facial feature people notice fast, those who are unhappy with the look of their cheekbones tend to practice mewing to tighten facial features.

High Cheekbones

Naturally accentuated cheekbones are a beauty feature in different cultures and ethnic groups. Generally speaking, elevated zygomatic bones are features of people living in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as those of African descent. Asian societies are known for wider cheekbones.

From an anatomical point of view, high cheekbones are related to the proximity of the malar bones to the eyes. Moreover, high cheekbones tend to be more defined in men than in women. It’s important to mention that high cheekbones are not the same as strong cheekbones.

Low Cheekbones

Biology and genetic background play a huge role in why you have lower cheekbones instead of higher ones. Ethnicity is also a key factor in the appearance of your natural look. The malar bone, another medical term for the zygomatic bone or cheekbone, determines the height of the cheekbones. West Asians are typically known for their low cheekbones.

Uneven Cheekbones

Asymmetrical or uneven cheekbones might be the result of aging, injury, smoking, and other contributing factors. However, if you’ve always had uneven cheekbones or mild cheekbone-related asymmetry, it’s nothing to be worried about.

Still, many people with uneven malar bones tend to resort to cosmetic treatments to achieve higher or lower cheekbones.

Prominent Cheekbones

Prominent cheekbones can be any cheekbone type, low or high, that stands out as a noticeable feature of your face. Both lower cheekbones and higher ones can be prominent. People with prominent cheekbones usually have hollow cheeks that further enhance the look of their cheekbones.

⚠️ Get the type of cheekbones you’ve always wanted ⚠️

Protruding Cheekbones

You can tell if someone has protruding cheekbones if they stand out as the most noticeable feature, as if they are poking out of their face. High cheekbones are most commonly considered protruding in slimmer individuals. Interesting to note is that people with protruding cheekbones are considered bossy and rather opinionated.

Sunken or Flat Cheekbones

Flat cheekbones are one of the most common cheekbones types found in the majority of people worldwide. Other than genetics and ethnicity, sunken, flat cheekbones can be the result of aging, and there’s nothing wrong with it.

As a saggy neck and jaw skin is a giveaway of age, sunken cheekbones can do the same. Saggy jaw skin fixing can be done easily by using dermal fillers or mewing. People with poorly defined, unnoticeable cheekbones look rather flat in the face, lacking sideway projection. In such cases, dermal fillers can help add volume and plump the cheek area.

How to Determine Your Cheekbone Type

To identify your cheekbone type, stand in front of a mirror and locate your cheekbones with your fingers. If your cheekbones align with your nostrils or lower, they are considered low. High cheekbones are found at the level of your upper nose or closer to your eyes.

Signs of High Cheekbones

Use your index finger to move it from the ear to the nose and gently touch your cheekbone. If it feels like your cheekbone is right under your eye socket, congrats, you are blessed with high cheekbones!

Anatomically speaking, as a facial feature, a higher cheekbone will start right over the medial canthus of your eye. In essence, you can also tell if you have high cheekbones if the length of the ogee curve measures more than half across the middle of your face.

What Indicates Low Cheekbones

Again use your index finger from the ear to the nose and locate your cheekbone. If it happens to be lower at your nose, you have a low cheekbone. Lower cheekbones refer to the starting point being at the middle of your nose. Moreover, people with an oval face shape are prone to having lower cheekbones.

Also, lower malar bones render low cheekbones, so if your ogee curve length stops before the middle of your face, you can definitely say you have low cheekbones. A skinny person might have more prominent low cheekbones compared to people with rather large and voluminous cheeks.

Differences Between High and Low Cheekbones

Regarding the position of your facial bones, it’s important to understand that nobody has perfect cheekbones. Different face shapes have different bone structures, and that’s totally fine.

The main parting point in high cheekbones vs. low cheekbones is the structure of the facial bones. Also, a more defined jawline contributes to the prominence of your upper cheeks.

In a nutshell, if your malar bones are nearing your eyes, you have high cheekbones. On the other hand, lower malar bones refer to the zygomatic arches resting closer to the bottom part of your nose.

5 Ways to Alter Your Facial Structure and Gain High Cheekbones

Luckily for everyone looking to alter their facial structure, science and medicine have come up with practical and efficient ways to deliver the targeted results. From following tips on how to get cheekbones to enhancing the look of your flat cheekbones to resorting to cosmetic dermatology and cheek implants, there is a plethora of methods to try.

1. Mewing as the Ultimate Jaw and Cheekbone Defining Method

For some time now, mewing has been considered the most effective, nonsurgical method for strengthening the jaw muscles to gain definition. Since high cheekbones are considered a beauty trait, more and more men and women are looking to enhance their facial structure, cheekbones included.

The mewing effect on the chin includes a more defined and prominent jawline and sculpting of the cheekbones’ visual appeal. Mewing can help your flat cheeks gain high cheekbones without surgery. Just as mewing can help with tightening the saggy neck skin, it can help you get higher cheekbones with little effort.

To get the best results, you can download our Mewing.Coach app and mew anytime and anywhere.

2. Effective Plastic Surgery Procedures for Beautiful Cheekbones

Facial implants and fat transfers are the most common surgical procedures used to boost the look of flat-looking, unnoticeable malar bones. When done properly, plastic surgery procedures will enhance the volume and structure of the face, giving the cheekbones a more visual appeal.

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Other than enhancing the look of their cheekbones, people also favor plastic surgery to achieve a more symmetrical face. Moreover, with plastic surgery, you can slightly lift the side eye area and achieve a natural-looking expression that complements the look of your upper cheeks.

Cheek implants are commonly inserted by an incision in the mouth cavity, but doctors also practice eyelid incision combined with eyelid surgery, if needed. Besides facial implants, people can also undergo fat grafting (using their own fat) to plump the cheek area and sculpt the cheekbones.

3. Dermal Fillers As the Most Common Cheekbone Enhancers

A dermal filler is a non-surgical aid helping people get higher cheekbones and adds more definition around the cheekbone area. Dermal fillers are injectables that add volume to the cheeks for more prominent definition and lift.

Most dermal fillers consist of hyaluronic acid, a natural compound of sugar in the connective tissues of our skin.

4. Different Facial Implants

People who resort to surgical procedures to get a high cheekbone usually favor cheek implants. As such, these implants work to plump flat cheeks and give patients a high cheekbone that will frame their face nicely and add to the overall body positivity of the patient. Cheek implants come in three different types, such as:

  • Malar implants are inserted straight on the cheekbone to achieve high zygomatic arches.
  • Submalar implants aim at delivering fuller cheeks and diminishing a sunken facial look.
  • Combined cheek implants are inserted to achieve both a fuller face and distinguished cheekbones.

5. MakeUp Techniques and Facial Contouring for Accentuated Cheekbones

Nowadays, people are resorting to different methods and techniques to enhance their looks, especially around the eyes and cheekbones. A high cheekbone is a desired trait in women of every skin tone.

Makeup is one of the best, non-invasive cheek and cheekbone augmenting techniques. By using light and dark contouring shades, you’ll be able to accentuate your facial features as you want.

Quick FAQs About Cheekbones

The craze around cheekbones is totally understandable. We shortlisted the most frequently asked questions about cheekbones, mewing, and contouring, so have a look and see if you can find the answer to your question.

Do I have high cheekbones if my face is heart-shaped?

A heart-shaped face usually has fuller cheekbones, a pointy chin, and a wide forehead. Full, wide cheekbones mean they can easily be prominent if your cheeks aren’t overly voluminous.

Are low cheekbones not as appealing as high cheekbones?

No. This is a common misconception brought upon by the fashion industry Goliaths favoring high-cheeked models only. In fact, celebrities like Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie rock low cheekbones and look absolutely stunning.

What separates low from high cheekbones?

In essence, the position of your malar bone determines how your cheeks will look. If your cheekbones are located closer to the bottom of your nose, you have lower cheekbones – the same facial bone structure as Cara Delevingne!

In the case your zygomatic bone starts right under your eye, you have high cheekbones! Just like Timothy Chalamet and Cameron Diaz!

The Verdict: How to Tell if You Have High Cheekbones vs. Low Cheekbones

If you wonder whether high cheekbones are rare, you should know that is not the case. People all over the world are born with high malar bones or have found an effective method, like mewing, to help them spruce up their looks.

When you’re young, your facial bones are still malleable, and it is easy to “modify” your looks. But as you are nearing a certain age or are losing weight rapidly, the bone structure in your face can change. Luckily, there are ways for all of us to try and boost our looks – some of them completely natural.

For instance, if you want the cheekbones you’ve always dreamed of, try mewing for a while. You can download our Mewing.Coach app and get the best out of the technique. Follow the guides and don’t miss out on the exercise – our daily Mewing.Coach reminder will always tell you when it’s time to start mewing! Start with a quiz below!

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Are High Cheekbones Considered Attractive and Why

High cheekbones are widely regarded as a hallmark of beauty, alongside attributes like youthful skin and bright smiles. This feature has captivated the interest of both psychologists and the general public, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between facial structure and perceived attractiveness.

The allure of high cheekbones transcends mere aesthetics, tapping into evolutionary preferences for symmetry and health. But what is it about high cheekbones that captures our admiration and desire? Join us as we delve into the reasons behind their appeal.

In this article, we’ll elaborate on:

  • 📖 What is considered an attractive face.
  • 🤔 What is more attractive – low or high cheekbones?
  • 💡 Reasons behind having high cheekbones.

Are High Cheekbones Attractive?

There is no one universal definition of a beautiful face because, as the saying goes, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. We all have different views on what beauty is; however, the number one criterion for beauty seems to be a symmetrical face. A lot of research has been done on beauty, and high cheekbones often come on top as a preferred feature.

A study done by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology executed on a group of 20,000 people from around the world confirms this. After being shown pictures of a diverse group of women from different cultural backgrounds, the evaluators agreed that the women with high cheekbones were the most beautiful.

But does this mean that low cheekbones are not attractive? We have to remember that there is no correct type of cheek and that low cheeks can be just as attractive. If we have to compare low vs. high cheekbones, the reason behind the attractiveness of high cheekbones is that they are more aesthetically pleasing than low cheekbones. High cheekbones make the jawline look more defined, making the face look more symmetrical.

There is also the matter of youthful appearance to be considered. High cheekbones in women are usually associated with youthfulness and high estrogen levels, which is what men gravitate towards. So what are females looking for?

For thousands of years, women have found high cheekbones to be attractive in men. Scientific research shows that cheekbone prominence is deemed to be attractive, which is why women tend to consider men with large and prominent cheekbones and well-defined jawlines attractive.

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Why Do Models Have High Cheekbones?

Looking at the modeling industry, we get the impression that all models have high cheekbones. That’s not true. Brands and agencies consider the entire face and look when searching for models. High cheekbones are not the decisive factor, although some agencies like their high-fashion models to have them. Why? Because it gives the model a more gaunt look when the ogee curve is more defined.

You will find models and actors that have low cheekbones and are just as successful as those with high cheekbones. There is more to having a beautiful face. This study shows that the facial aesthetic is influenced by a diverse range of facial components, as seen in the photo alterations.

Reasons Behind the Attractiveness of High Cheekbones

Let’s face it. Not everyone is blessed to have the best facial features, which is why we are always looking for ways to enhance our look. Most often, we blame genetics for not having the right facial structure, but we should also keep in mind that other factors are involved, like ethnicity, face shape, and gender, to name a few.

If you are not one of those with the right genes, you can try simple exercises like mewing to naturally improve the face. This is an easy way to shape the jawline, lose cheek fat and get the protruding cheekbones you want.

But before we get to the exercises, you should know why high cheekbones are considered attractive. Below we give you some reasons.

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Influence of Genetics

Genes are the source of all our blessings and troubles. Genetic background plays a strong role in the structure of our face, which is why we should always look for answers there. Physical appearance is highly related to our ancestry.

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Look at your ancestors to see who has well-defined high cheekbones in the family. You may not have been blessed with the best cheekbone genes, but thankfully mewing can help. Use it to determine the cheek fat and how to lose it and, in turn, improve the cheekbones making them more prominent.

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Ethnic and Cultural History

Ethnicity is another factor that strongly influences the structure of your face. Different cultures value different facial features – angles and proportions vary, cultures prefer various types and shapes of the chin, and beauty traits differ.

For example, Native Americans, Africans, Asians, and Eastern Europeans are known to have high cheekbones. Caucasians have narrower faces than their fellow friends of Asian descent.

The typical facial features of Asians include prominent cheekbones on a wide and short face. Contrary to them, the southwestern European descendants have narrow and long faces, nasal bones that are sharply angled, and shallow cheekbones.

Those of Eastern European descent are known for their high cheekbones, just like the Africans and Hispanics. Africans also have a recognizable prominent mouth region and wide nasal cavity.

Due to their bone structure and higher cheek prominence, the Asian ethnicity is considered to be one with the highest cheekbones.

Gender Influence

Having low cheekbones is not a deal breaker. If you look at some famous male figures, you’ll see that the low and prominent cheekbones make them seem more masculine. On the other hand, higher cheekbones are often connected to a more feminine look.

The cheek shape and size are among the major distinctions between women and men. Yet, it is worth mentioning that both men and women can have both high and low cheekbones. But how are they different, and what are some of the general cheekbone structures based on gender?

Typical Cheekbone Structures in Men

In the old age, the definition of an attractive man used to be a broad face and large canines. Hunters and gatherers were good representatives of this group. Following the evolution and improvement of society, this standard became somewhat aggressive. Women started preferring men with wide big cheekbones but removed the pronounced canines from the equation.

Generally speaking, men are known to have flatter and angular cheeks. They have more chiseled facial features like a strong brow bone, thick straight eyebrows, a wide forehead, deep-set eyes, thin and wide lips, and a square jaw.

Cheekbone Features in Women’s Faces

Women, on the other hand, tend to have fuller and rounder cheeks and higher cheekbones than their male counterparts. The fuller and rounder look is due to females having more fat on their faces. Other features include fuller lips, shorter and pointed chins, and narrow jaws.

Central and Eastern European women are known to have high cheekbones, while Asian women have wider mandibles. Their cheekbones protrude upwards, while the ones of the Asian population extend outward. This is why we are witnessing higher cheek prominence in Asian females.

Cheekbones Are Determined by Face Shape

The shape of our face is also one factor that determines the type of cheekbones we have:

  • Square face shape – has harsh angles, is fairly robust, and has strong cheekbones.
  • Oval face shape – high cheekbones, sharp contours, and balanced forehead and cheek proportions.
  • Round face shape – full cheeks where fat is stored in the cheeks, making them round, but they can easily become hollow cheeks when the fat is gone.
  • Diamond face shape – a rare face shape with wide, dramatic, and high cheekbones and a narrow chin and forehead.
  • Oblong face shape – there are no protruding bones, has a square chin, and the cheekbones are symmetrical and round.

Due to the round jawline and chin, the round face shape doesn’t have particularly pronounced cheekbones. That makes it the face shape with the lowest cheekbones. On the other hand, the square and diamond face shapes are considered to have the highest cheekbones.

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Having High Cheekbones Is Believed to Indicate Positive Human Traits

Coming back to what we said at the beginning, we can easily see why cheekbones can indicate some human traits. They tend to portray honesty and trust, give our faces a youthful appearance, and show that we are sexually mature.

Youthful Appearance

No matter which part of the world you come from, high cheekbones are considered a universal sign of a youthful appearance. Shallow cheekbones have come to represent gravity’s effect on aging.

Those wondering what causes the double chin, who are experiencing volume loss and looking to fix the problem, have many options available. Mewing is a nonsurgical option that can advise on how men can improve their jawline, as well as women. Other options include cheek implants, cheek lifts, plastic surgery, and dermal fillers.

High Estrogen Levels

High cheekbones are a sign of high estrogen levels, which in turn determines the reproductive state of the woman’s body. Shaping a perfect female jawline to complement those high cheekbones is a great way to accentuate the aesthetic appearance and justify this universal beauty symbol. Practicing the proper tongue posture with the mewing technique is one method to achieve this.

Sculpt Your Face With Mewing

Take a quick quiz to receive a workout program to improve your jaw, facial muscles and overall appearance.

Trustworthiness

It may seem unreasonable, but somehow having high cheekbones may lead others to see you as trustworthy. According to a New York University study, subjects unconsciously link trustworthiness with high cheekbones.

The amygdala in the brain, responsible for social and emotional regulation, responds by making the correlation of people with high cheekbones trustworthy.

Sexual Maturity

High cheekbones are often considered a sign of sexual maturity. Fuller cheeks are often associated with children because they are linked to a child’s maturity regardless of gender.

Higher cheekbones, however, are not associated with children because they appear in the later stages of our lives. The round, childlike faces take on an elongated facial structure once puberty hits both genders.

So how are cheekbones indicators of sexual maturity? The testosterone boost during puberty is what gives men’s cheekbones their adult shape. On the other hand, once a woman starts getting the right cheekbone structure during puberty, it means that she has entered adulthood.

Honesty

Since the brain assumes that people with high cheekbones are trustworthy, this also means that it considers them honest. It seems that people tend to trust those with pronounced cheekbones and high eyebrows.

We can’t really say if this is true or not because it takes more than just cheekbones to predicate a person’s traits. But as we have mentioned before, some studies have shown this result.

How to Tell If You Have High Cheekbones

High cheekbones are located directly underneath the eyes and are in line with your nose bridge. Low cheekbones are aligned with the nostrils and can be found in the lower part of the face. The best indicator you have high cheekbones is if the area below your eyes is the widest part of your face.

When contouring, makeup artists usually make cheeks slightly dip below the cheekbone, but if you have the effect occurring naturally, then you are blessed. How does one determine where the cheekbone is located? Try the following.

Look in the mirror and place the thumb on top of the cartilage piece of the ear. Place your index finger along the nostril. The cheekbone is the hard piece you feel below the outstretched finger. Use a bright light to help you find it.

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Bottom Line

There are no good and bad cheekbones.; there are just different face shapes that have their own charm and beauty. Not everyone is blessed with the facial structure as per societal norms, but that doesn’t mean we cannot do something about it.

Hyaluronic acid filler treatment may temporarily solve the issues with lost volume. Another option is mewing, an alternative to surgery and other treatments. It helps in achieving a defined jawline and cheeks and a more attractive face shape. You can also use the mouth vs. nose breathing technique to improve your breathing.

To get the best results, you can try out our Mewing.Coach app. Download it for free and keep track of your mewing progress. This in-app coach will also tell you when it is time for your daily exercise so that you can get the desired high cheekbones as soon as possible!

Dr Narelle Bleasel FACD
Dr Narelle Bleasel FACD

Dermatologist in Battery Point, Australia

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