How to Tell if You Have High Cheekbones : Comprehensive Guide

Do you ever look in the mirror and wonder, “Do I have high cheekbones?” You’re not alone. High cheekbones are often associated with facial symmetry, definition, and what many cultures perceive as attractiveness.
Well, Not to worry about that we are providing a detailed guide on how to tell if you have high cheekbones.
The people around the world think that high cheekbones are the symbol of attractiveness in both men and women. In fact, many well-known celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Katharine Hepburn, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Heath Ledger are frequently noted for their defined cheekbone structure.
But what actually defines high cheekbones? Is there a scientific way to tell? And can you enhance their appearance naturally?
This comprehensive guide explains everything — backed by anatomy references and practical at-home assessments.
What Are Cheekbones? (Understanding Facial Anatomy)
Cheekbones refer to the zygomatic bones in the human skull. These bones sit below the eye sockets and help define the structure of your face.
According to Cleveland Clinic, the zygomatic bone connects to the maxilla, temporal, sphenoid, and frontal bones, forming part of the eye socket and upper face.
Types of Cheekbones
- High Cheekbones – Located closer to the eyes, often more prominent.
- Low Cheekbones – Sit lower on the face, closer to the bottom of the nose.
- Uneven Cheekbones – One side may appear higher than the other.
- Flat/Sunken Cheekbones – Less definition or depth.
- Prominent Cheekbones – Strong, outward bone structure.
- Overly Protruding Cheekbones – Can give a wide facial appearance.
How to know if you have High Cheekbones (Step-by-Step)
We hope you understand that where is the cheekbone is located on your face and how it looks like? It is very easy to find out that you have high or low cheekbones.
Check out the steps below and check if you have high cheekbones or low. Make sure you stand in front of the clean mirror and have a bright light on your face. Don’t forget to remove your makeup before starting the process.
1. Follow the steps to check if you have high cheekbones or low
First, let’s clarify that there is no exact science to determine whether someone’s cheekbones are high or low, but there are a few steps to figure it out.
Let’s get started…
Step 1
You have to stand in front of a mirror under the bright light. Remove your makeup before beginning the process.
Step 2
Put your thumb directly above your ear (at the top) and place your index finger at below of your nostril above the upper lips.
It will draw a line when you move both of your index finger and thumb towards each other – the line that is drawn by these two fingers is exactly where your cheekbone is located on your face.
Step 3
Once you have found your cheekbones, locate the position carefully, is it located to the closer to the bottom of your nose or is it located under your eyes?
The cheekbones line will appear right below the eye or at the upper part of your nose, it means you have high cheekbones and when the lines of the cheekbones are located towards the bottom of the nose, is known as low cheekbones.
Video tutorial to know the answer of How to Tell if You Have High Cheekbones?
2. Anteater Test
The Anteater Test is a simple and effective way of determining if you have high cheekbones.
To perform this test, simply pinch the top of one cheek on either side, then lightly tug outward. If your skin tautly follows the contour of your cheek, chances are that you do indeed have high cheekbones.
3. Mirror Reflection Test
The Mirror Reflection Test is another easy way to check if you have high cheekbones. Stand in front of a mirror and look straight ahead at your reflection. Press the palms of your hands against each side of your face, where you believe your cheekbones might be.
If it looks like the flesh is rounding up and out, this is a sign that you likely do have higher than average cheekbones!
4. Ruler Measurement Test
Another at-home test you can carry out to determine whether you have high cheekbones is the Ruler Measurement Test. Take a ruler and place one end of it on the bottom of your eye socket.
Note down the distance between your eye socket and the highest point of your cheekbone. If your measurement is 2.2 inches or higher, chances are that you have defined high cheekbones!
5. Finger Trace Test
This is one of the most popular and reliable tests to determine whether you have high cheekbones. Take your index finger and place it on the middle of your cheekbone.
Then trace along with your knuckle towards the tip of your eyebrow – if it is a smooth transition with no significant dip in between, you likely have defined high cheekbones!
6. Silhouette Comparison Test
Another test to determine if you have high cheekbones is silhouette comparison. Stand in front of a mirror and close one eye, then use your hand to create a line where the outer edge of your eyebrow meets the top of your cheekbone.
If this line has an angular shape, then there’s a good chance that you have high cheekbones!
Signs of High Cheekbones
- Definition and Projection: High cheekbones are characterized by a noticeable and well-defined projection of the bones. They typically create a distinct shadow and hollow area directly below them. This adds depth and structure to the face, giving it a more sculpted and chiseled look.
- Facial Symmetry: One key aspect of high cheekbones is that they are usually symmetrical on both sides of the face. If your cheekbones are evenly positioned and proportionate, it suggests a higher placement on your face.
- Facial Shape: High cheekbones are often associated with facial shapes like oval, heart, or diamond. These face shapes tend to have more pronounced cheekbones, contributing to an angular and defined appearance.
- Visible Contour: Run your fingers gently along the sides of your face, starting from your temples and moving towards the center. If you can feel a distinct ridge or prominence along this path, it indicates the presence of higher cheekbones.
- Profile View: Observe your face from the side in a well-lit mirror. High cheekbones can be more apparent when viewing your profile. If you notice a strong, prominent curve from your temple to the apple of your cheeks, you likely have high cheekbones.
Can You Make Cheekbones More Prominent?
Your bone structure cannot change without surgical procedures. However, you can enhance appearance through:
- Makeup techniques
- Hairstyling
- Lighting and photography angles
- Weight management (if facial fullness masks bone structure)
How to Enhance High Cheekbones with Makeup (Professional Technique)
Do you have low cheekbones and want your new look with high cheekbones, you don’t need to spend huge money on plastic surgery. Just Hollywood movie star makeup or simple makeup is enough to get prominent high cheekbones.
You can just try to make your cheekbones more prominent. This will make a big change in your look and give a twist to your look.
DIY Prominent Cheekbones!
Professional makeup artists like Lisa Eldridge often use contouring to sculpt the midface
— Things you will need:
- Makeup Brushes
- Blush
- Foundation
- Contour Powder or Bronzing
- Highlighter
— Step-by-Step Contour Guide:
- Suck your cheeks and find the hollows to identify your cheekbones. After finding your cheekbones perfectly, tilt the brush over it, at a 45-degree angle.
- In the second step, you have to focus on the contouring. First of all, hold the brush vertically at the endpoint of your eyebrows. At this point, your contouring should be ended, make sure the contour powder should not cross your cheekbone area.
- Now, it’s time to find a perfect bronzer according to your skin tone likely the bronzer should 2-3 shades darker than your skin tone. Now, smoothly stroke downwards the bronzer until you reach half of your cheekbones make sure your start position is just below your hairline.
- The next step is to brighten the area under the cheekbone using a fluffy brush. Use a fluffy brush with bronzer to give a perfectly natural look.
- Finally the last step, you need to apply highlighter exactly above the cheekbones with the help of a small fluffy brush. You can also use a small shimmer blush if you didn’t have a small fluffy brush.
💡 Tip: Check out tutorials from makeup artists like Lisa Eldridge or Wayne Goss on YouTube for visual demos.
Do Facial Exercises Make Cheekbones Higher?
Sometimes it may happen that you have high cheekbones but they are not very prominent due to excess of fat on your face. This is one of the common problems in the people.
Don’t worry—here’s a simple guide, you can remove face fat with the help of some exercises on a daily basis to get high cheekbones. Check out some awesome and simple cheek exercises that will help to make your cheekbones more prominent and gives a new face look.
Some Facial Exercises to Get Prominent Cheekbones
1. Fish Face
- Sit or stand upright with your shoulders relaxed and your face at ease.
- Tighten your lips together, then gently suck your cheeks inward to create a “fish face” shape. You should feel your cheek muscles engaging.
- While holding the fish face, try to smile slightly. This adds extra engagement to the cheek and jaw muscles.
- Hold the position for 6–8 seconds, breathing normally through your nose.
- Slowly relax your face back to neutral.
- Repeat 3–4 times for best results.
2. The Cheek Puff
- Sit comfortably with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
- Fill your mouth with air by inhaling deeply, as if you are inflating a balloon inside your mouth.
- Puff one cheek outward and hold for 2–3 seconds.
- Transfer the air to the opposite cheek and hold again for 2–3 seconds.
- Continue alternating from side to side in a controlled motion.
- Slowly exhale the air from your mouth.
- Repeat this exercise 10–15 times to fully activate the cheek muscles.
3. The Bumble Bee
- Sit upright and gently close your lips together without clenching your teeth.
- Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
- Begin making a gentle chewing motion with your jaw – move it up and down in a relaxed, controlled way.
- While chewing, hum softly so that you feel a slight vibration in your lips and cheeks (similar to a bee buzzing).
- Focus on feeling the vibration in your cheek area.
- Repeat for four slow breaths, maintaining steady movement and controlled breathing.
4. The X and O
- Sit upright and relax your face before beginning.
- Form a small “O” shape with your lips and exaggerate the “O” sound, stretching your lips forward and engaging your cheeks.
- Hold the “O” for 2–3 seconds.
- Next, pronounce the letter “X” using your entire face – stretch your mouth wide into a broad smile and activate your cheek muscles.
- Move slowly and deliberately between “O” and “X” positions.
- Repeat this sequence 10 times for a complete set.
5. The Fish and Puff
- Start by sucking your cheeks inward and pursing your lips to form the fish face.
- Keeping your lips tightly pursed, gently fill your cheeks with air without releasing the lip position.
- Move the air from one cheek to the other in a slow, controlled motion.
- Hold the air on each side for five seconds before switching.
- Maintain steady breathing through your nose throughout the exercise.
- Repeat 10 times, then relax your facial muscles completely.
Lifestyle Tips That May Enhance Facial Definition
— Maintain Healthy Weight
Due to overweight or obese, there are chances that your cheekbones are hidden due to excess of face fat. To overcome this start doing face exercise give above and start losing weight.
— Stay Hydrated
According to the Mayo Clinic, proper hydration supports skin elasticity and overall facial appearance. So drinking water to flush out any water retained in the face area and this will helps you to get better cheekbones.
— Chew Gum
Yes, Chewing gum is one of the best exercises for your cheeks and jaws. Due to regular chewing, a piece of chewing gum will help to chisel your face and make your cheekbones stand out.
The best thing is that you can perform this exercise at any time while working, studying or driving. Just don’t overdo it!
— Smile more!
Yes, that’s true – smiling, looks a simple activity but it involves several facial muscles. Smiling will helps to shape your face in a way that your cheekbones will become more prominent over time.
Conclusion
I hope this guide on how to tell if you have high cheekbones will help you to look for your cheekbones and judge for yourself if they are high or low.
Determining whether you have high cheekbones involves observing the visual cues such as definition, projection, symmetry, and facial shape. While makeup and exercises can help enhance the appearance of cheekbones, it’s essential to celebrate and love yourself just as you are, regardless of your facial structure.
If you have any suggestions about how to tell if you have high cheekbones? or you hear of any other ways to make your cheekbones more prominent, please feel free to share with us or you want to ask something then please don’t hesitate to drop a comment below!
Till than take care and don’t forget to share this article on how to tell if you have high or low cheekbones on social media with your friends.













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