How to make your nose appear smaller

Our noses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own distinctive characteristics. If you're seeking a new look or feel insecure about your larger nose, explore a few methods to make it appear smaller. You can use makeup techniques like contouring and highlighting to reshape your nose, try facial exercises that gradually reduce its size, or opt for more permanent procedures to change the size of your nose permanently.

Apply bold or vibrant lipstick to shift focus away from your nose. Use a lip liner in a shade that matches your lipstick to outline your lips, then fill them in with the same liner. Afterward, you can apply the lipstick directly to your lips or use a brush for a more precise application. Blot excess lipstick with a folded tissue, and apply another layer if necessary.

Avoid heavy eye makeup. Overdone eye makeup draws attention to the center of your face, focusing on your nose. Instead, opt for a more natural, soft eye look using neutral shades.

• Dark circles under the eyes can also draw attention to the center of your face. Use concealer that matches your skin tone to cover dark circles. Apply it gently with your ring finger, blending from top to bottom and toward your cheekbones.
• Try winged eyeliner to create a feature that diverts attention from your nose.

Shape your eyebrows. Full, well-defined eyebrows can draw attention away from your nose, while thin and sparse eyebrows may make your nose appear larger. Be sure to groom your eyebrows carefully, without over-plucking. Then, fill in any sparse areas with brow powder and use a gel to set them in place.

Use your hair to distract from your nose. Large curls or voluminous hair can draw attention away from your nose. Pay attention to how you part your hair: a middle part will lead the gaze directly down the center of your face. A side part can help draw attention away from your nose. Hairstyles that may help include:

• Side parting
• Layered styles that frame your face
• Loose curls or waves
• Messy, loose updos
• Adding volume at the crown to make your nose appear shorter.

Know which hairstyles to avoid. Some hairstyles direct attention to the center of your face. For example, a wide fringe can hide your eyes, making it harder for people to connect with you through eye contact. Without eye contact, people will naturally look at the next most prominent feature: your nose. Here are some hairstyles that may draw attention to your nose:

• Middle-parted hair, which directs attention down to the nose
• Blunt cuts
• Straight, sleek hair
• Tightly pulled-back ponytails

Choose the right accessories. Consider wearing statement earrings or a bold necklace, such as chandelier earrings or a wide, long necklace. Sparkly accessories will draw attention away from your nose. Hats are also a good choice. If you wear glasses, opt for larger frames instead of small, thin ones. Large glasses naturally make your nose appear shorter and smaller.

Understand the effect of contouring and highlighting techniques. You can use makeup products slightly darker or lighter than your natural skin tone to create the illusion of a slimmer nose. However, keep in mind that this method doesn’t actually make the nose smaller. Additionally, if your nose is too long, contouring won't shorten it from the side view.

• When contouring the nose, think about what you want to achieve with its shape. For example, if your nose is long and you want it to appear more slender and smaller, apply highlighter to the tip of your nose and contour the bridge of your nose with a darker shade to make it appear shorter.

Choose the right contouring and highlighting products. Both powder and cream contouring and highlighting products can be used, but many people find powders easier to blend and apply. You can use specialized contouring and highlighting products or opt for matte eyeshadows. Avoid anything with shimmer to keep the skin from looking too shiny.

• For contouring, select a color that is 2-3 shades darker than your natural skin tone. You can use a powder or liquid bronzer.
• For highlighting, choose a color that is 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone. For example, you can use a dedicated highlighter product or a liquid concealer.
• Consider your skin's undertone when selecting products. Some people have warm/yellow undertones, while others have cool/pink undertones. Make sure to choose products that complement your undertone. Using products that don’t match your undertone may result in an unnatural look.

Select the right makeup tools and brushes. You’ll need specific brushes for makeup application. If you're using powder products, look for a soft-bristled brush. If you're using cream products, choose a firmer brush. Here are some tools you will need:

• A slanted brush for contouring and highlighting. This type of brush is the easiest to use.
• A soft blending brush to blend the two colors together. You can also use a makeup sponge if that feels more comfortable to you.

Apply primer and foundation. Primer helps minimize pores, while foundation creates a smooth base for makeup to adhere to. It also makes blending makeup easier and evens out skin tone.

• Use your fingers to apply primer and a makeup sponge or foundation brush to apply foundation.
• Make sure the foundation matches your natural skin tone. Don’t test foundation on your hands or wrists; the skin there often has a different tone than your face.
• Wait for your foundation to dry before starting the contouring process. This only takes a few minutes.

Begin with the highlight technique. Use an angled brush to draw a thin line down the center of the nose bridge. Try not to make it too wide, as this can make your nose appear larger. Start from the top and continue to the tip, but avoid going below the tip of the nose.

Blend and soften the highlight line. Switch the angled brush to a blending brush or makeup sponge. Gently glide the brush along the nose bridge from top to bottom, blending the highlight towards the sides. Your goal is to soften the sharp lines, not to expand the highlight or blend it outward.

• The highlight technique lifts the face, drawing attention to the brightest points, while also adding depth to the overall appearance.

Use contouring techniques to slim a wide nose. Take a clean angled brush and apply contour from the inner corners of the eyes down towards the tip of the nose. Then, use a blending brush to blend the contour upwards towards the highlight line.

• If you want to narrow the nostrils, add contour along the sides of the nose.

Draw a contour line under the nose tip to make a long nose appear shorter. Start by drawing a contour line down both sides of the nose. Next, extend the contour down just above the nostrils. Remember to blend the contour from the 'bottom' upwards towards the tip. This technique 'lifts' the nose, making it appear shorter.

Learn how to contour a bulbous nose, often referred to as a button nose. Begin by drawing a contour line from the inner corners of the eyes towards the tip of the nose. Curve the contour under the tip in a small 'U' shape or a downward-pointing arrow. Avoid making the shape too sharp, as this can look unnatural. Instead, adjust the 'U' shape to suit the width of your nose bridge.

Use contouring to straighten a crooked nose. Contouring can help make a crooked nose appear straighter. Sometimes, a crooked nose may look larger than it actually is. To fix this, draw contour lines down both sides of the nose, starting from the inner corners of the eyes and ending at the tip of the nose. Rather than following the natural curve of the nose, aim to draw the lines as straight as possible.

Blend the contour line with a soft brush. Use a brush to blend the contour line along both sides of the nose, right between the highlight line and the contour line. This will soften any harsh edges. Then, blend the contour powder outward across the face, starting from the area next to the highlight line and moving towards the cheeks.

• If you’ve added contour at the tip of your nose, remember to blend it in circular motions with the brush.
• If you’ve contoured the sides of the nostrils, ensure you blend over those areas as well.

Use a large soft brush or kabuki brush to apply a light dusting of setting powder to the nose and face. This step helps lock in your contour lines and prevents them from smudging. The setting powder also absorbs any excess oil. Try to choose a translucent setting powder or one that matches your skin tone. Avoid anything with shimmer to keep the nose from looking shiny. If there’s excess powder, use a clean brush to gently sweep it away.

Rhinoplasty surgery. If you're looking for a permanent solution to reduce the size of your nose, you might consider investing in cosmetic surgery. Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to address issues with the size and shape of the nose, including the following:

• Wide nose with flared nostrils
• Bumpy or flat nose
• Button, hooked, or upturned nose tip
• Crooked or asymmetrical nose

Know what to expect. The surgery usually lasts 1-2 hours and is performed by a cosmetic surgeon while you are under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. As with most cosmetic surgeries, the surgeon will review your medical history to determine whether you're a suitable candidate for the procedure and if any precautionary measures are necessary.

Remember that cosmetic surgery carries risks. Like all surgeries, rhinoplasty comes with its own set of risks. You may encounter issues during or after the surgery, such as:

• Allergic reactions to medications, including local anesthetics
• Breathing difficulties
• Excessive bleeding
• Bruising
• Infection

Understand that you will need time to recover. Typically, patients can go home on the same day, although in some cases, an overnight stay at the hospital may be required. Full recovery can take several weeks. During this period, you may experience bruising, swelling, and puffiness around the nose and eyes. These effects usually subside within 14 days.

Note that you may need to wear a nasal splint for up to a week. The splint resembles a bandage or wide adhesive strip. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help reduce swelling and pain. Some patients find that applying cold compresses also provides relief.

Understand that surgery may leave scars. Cosmetic surgery generally doesn’t leave noticeable scars, but in the case of nostril reduction, small scars may form at the base of the nose. Occasionally, blood vessels in the nose may rupture, leading to small red spots. These spots may remain permanently.

• Avoid flaring your nostrils. When angry, people often flare their nostrils, which can make the nose appear larger.
• If you're bothered by the size of your nose, try to focus on aspects you like about it. It may not be as small as you'd like, but perhaps it has a beautiful angle that you admire.
• You can purchase contour kits with pre-selected shades, so you don't have to buy products separately.
• Understand your family's genetic traits. Knowing where certain features come from can sometimes help you accept them more easily.
• Try to embrace confidence in your nose. Sometimes, the lack of confidence you feel may draw more attention to it.
• Consider getting ear or lip piercings. These can help divert attention away from your nose and are much more affordable than surgery.
• If you struggle with drawing straight lines when contouring, you can place cotton swabs on either side of your nose, touching the tip and bridge of the nose.
• Know that having a large nose is not a big deal. In fact, some people wish their noses were larger or more prominent. Whether male or female, remember that you can still be beautiful or handsome, even without a small nose.

• Cosmetic surgery can be risky and carries the potential for complications. It’s important to discuss with your doctor exactly how you want your nose to look.