Okay, so I’ve always been kinda self-conscious about my side profile. My chin, or lack thereof, has always bugged me. I felt like it made my face look… incomplete. So, I went down a rabbit hole of figuring out how to make my chin look longer from the side. Here’s what I did, and trust me, it’s been a journey!
Phase 1: The Makeup Illusion
First, I attacked this with makeup. I figured, if I can contour my cheekbones, why not my chin?
- Highlighting: I started by dabbing a bit of highlighter right on the tip of my chin. This, I learned, catches the light and makes the chin project outward a bit more.
- Contouring: Next, I used a contour shade (just a couple shades darker than my skin) and drew a subtle line under my jawline, blending it really, really well. The key is to make it super subtle, or it looks… muddy. I swear, blending is 90% of the battle.
- Setting: Finally, it is important to fix the makeup. I tried some setting powders and sprays.
Honestly, this worked pretty well for photos! It was a noticeable difference, but it felt like a temporary fix, and it was a bit of a pain to do every single day.
Phase 2: Posture Power
Then I read somewhere that posture plays a HUGE role. Slouching makes your chin recede, while good posture helps everything align better.
- Chin Tucks: I started doing these “chin tuck” exercises. Basically, you just pull your head straight back, like you’re trying to give yourself a double chin (ironic, I know). I did a few sets of these throughout the day.
- Shoulder Rolls: I also focused on rolling my shoulders back and down, keeping my chest open. This automatically made my neck feel longer and my chin a little more prominent.
- Mindful Sitting: I became super aware of how I was sitting at my desk. I tried to sit up straight, with my shoulders relaxed and my head level.
This posture stuff was harder than it sounds! It took a lot of conscious effort to break my bad habits, but I think it did make a subtle difference over time. Plus, it’s just good for you anyway.
Phase 3: The “Long-Term” Solutions
Now, I was still looking for something a bit more… permanent. I wasn’t ready for surgery or anything drastic, but I started researching other options.
- Facial Exercises: I stumbled upon some facial exercises that claimed to strengthen jaw muscles. I tried a few, like jaw jutting and resisted mouth opening, I’m not gonna lie, I felt a bit silly doing them, and I’m not sure if they made a huge difference, but it felt like I was doing something.
- Considered Fillers: Okay, I briefly looked into fillers. Just a tiny bit to add some projection to my chin. I watched a ton of videos and read a bunch of reviews. But, I’m still on the fence about this one. It’s a bigger commitment, and I’m still weighing the pros and cons.
This phase is still ongoing. I’m still doing the facial exercises (sometimes), and I’m still thinking about fillers (maybe someday). It’s definitely a process!
So, that’s my chin saga! From makeup tricks to posture tweaks to contemplating more involved solutions, it’s been a journey of self-discovery and, well, chin-discovery. I’ve learned that there’s no one magic fix, but a combination of things can definitely make a difference. And, most importantly, I’ve learned to be a little kinder to myself and appreciate my face, even the parts I used to be so critical of.