Do you have a 'high' or 'low' face? It will change how you do your makeup.

There's a new theory on TikTok — and it's gone viral for its ability to help people choose the most flattering makeup look to complement their features. And no, it has nothing to do with face shapes. 

In 2024, it's all about 'visual weight'. 

Before you ask, it doesn't refer to your actual weight — but rather, the size of your face and the arrangement of its features. And it might just be the key to answering all your most pressing makeup questions. 

Does full glam or soft glam suit you best? Should you bother with contouring? Do you need to highlight your cheekbones? Should you fill in your brows or just use gel?

Watch: How to add a dash of colour to your makeup. Post continues below.

According to TikTok, all you need to do is determine your face's 'visual weight' by assessing your bone structure, your facial features and how full and pronounced those features are.

Put simply, the theory states that those who have stronger features have a 'high visual weight', whereas those with softer, smaller features have a 'low visual weight'.

@_zeya High vs low visual weight #makeup #visualweight #highvisualweight #lowvisualweight #fyp ♬ hata by kyra - kyra!

So, is this trend actually accurate? And importantly, does it really work? We asked an expert.

What is 'visual weight'?

Mamamia asked makeup artist Mia Connor, who shared that the 'high visual weight' and 'low visual weight' trend may not be as clear cut — or as 'new' — as you might think.

"TikTok is constantly trying to reinvent the wheel and give past makeup trends new life/names," she said. "Like all makeup trends, there are soooo many variables to consider and it’s not a case of fitting in one box or the other." 

"This trend advises that high visual weight people suit more glam, heavier styles of makeup and low visual weight people suit softer makeup looks — I disagree. I think it’s the opposite."

In Connor's expert opinion, softer makeup actually suits high 'high visual weight' faces and bolder makeup suits 'low visual weight' faces. Interesting!

So, how do you find out what category you fall under?

How do you know if your face is low or high visual weight?

If you're just a beauty-obsessed as us, chances are you've probably seen videos of TikTok creators comparing bold and soft glam filters on their faces to work out their correct visual weight. However, according to Connor, it's pretty simple to work out. 

In fact, she said most makeup wearers will already know where they fit simply by looking at their preference of how they look with natural makeup versus a high glam makeup look.

"In my opinion, high visual weight equates to someone with stronger features whereas low visual weight is someone who has softer features," said Connor.

For example, "Brows that are statement, naturally full and bold — they are a strong feature on someone’s face versus someone with a finer brow." 

"High visual faces could also have "eyes that are really upturned, cat-like, extremely almond and sharp," said Connor. "It’s as if these eyes look like they have already been glammed straight out of the womb! People with these eye shapes will often look amazing rolling straight out of bed with zero makeup on." 

Think this, versus someone with perhaps a "rounder, down-turned or hooded eye shape that can still look quite soft with a stronger smoky eye, for instance."

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Other facial features such as your jawline and cheekbones can be an indicator of which category you fall into. 

As Connor explained, high visual weight faces are often characterised by "jawlines that are sharp and prominent" versus "someone with a softer or weaker jawline."

Cheekbones that are high, prominent and super sharp might also highlight a high visual weight face, she said.

For high visual weight faces think of celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Dua Lipa and Tracee Ellis Ross. For low weight faces, some celebrity examples are Selena Gomez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry and Hailey Bieber.

"My general rule of thumb with makeup, is whatever your features are, do the opposite," shared Connor. "For example, strong features can wear less makeup and lighter, more natural shades on their eyes and still look quite made up."

"If you apply too much on these features, they may appear less soft and harsher. Whereas softer features can potentially still look soft with more makeup than someone who already has strong features." 

What makeup look suits 'high visual weight' faces?

When it comes to makeup looks that suit high visual weight faces, Connor suggests those with deep-set eyes, lots of lid space, narrow eyes, upturned eyes or almond eyes opt for "lighter shades on the lids, with more focus on mascara/lashes and add a liner at most."

Read: let your eyes do the work! 

As she explained, "Deep-set eyes are definitely high visual weight — they are naturally contoured, so too much dark eye shadow will enhance this further and make them look harsh."

Meaning? The more pared-back the better.

"Lots of lid space equals lots of eye real estate. Eye makeup on this person will be so much more dramatic versus the same eye makeup on someone with less visible lid space as simply, you can’t see as much."

What makeup suits 'low visual weight' faces?

"Hooded, round, wide set, down-turned — are all eye shapes that I would consider low visual weight," said Connor.  

"These eye shapes can take a bit more eye makeup and still look super soft. Faces that have less prominent cheekbones, less angular, softer jawlines — these faces can take more contouring for instance, as they don’t naturally have that carved out structure. Whereas someone with really sharp, high cheekbones won’t benefit from lots of cheek contour — they already naturally have that." 

As Connor said, whatever you have — simply do the opposite! 

"Makeup washes off and is fun so do whatever makes you feel best!"

So! Whether you fall into the high or low visual weight category, there's obviously no hard and fast rule when it comes to makeup — simply choose whatever makes your feel most confident. As always, you do you!

Do you have a 'high visual weight' face or a 'low visual weight' face? Share with us in the comment section below. 

Feature image: Getty.