Understanding face shapes and the characteristics of ageing
Identifying face shapes...
Understanding How Face Shapes Affect Ageing
When it comes to ageing, we often focus on skincare routines and products. But did you know that your face shape plays a significant role in how your skin ages? The structure of your face can determine where wrinkles form, how quickly volume is lost, and how your skin sags over time. Here’s a closer look at the fascinating relationship between face shape and ageing, and ways you can approach managing the effects of ageing on your skin.
The Science Behind Ageing
As we age, our skin loses its youthful fullness due to the gradual depletion of collagen and elastin—two proteins that keep our skin bouncy, plump, and resilient. This loss of volume isn’t just skin-deep; it begins from the inside out, affecting bones, muscles, and fat pads before manifesting on the surface as lines, folds, and wrinkles. Factors like stress, environmental aggressors, lifestyle choices, genetics, and diet all contribute to how we age, making the process highly individual.
The Power of Breath: How Breathing Techniques Influence Facial Structure
It might surprise you to learn that the way we breathe can significantly impact our facial structure over time. Proper breathing, especially through the nose, encourages the natural development and maintenance of facial symmetry. This is because nasal breathing helps to keep the tongue in the correct position—resting against the roof of the mouth—which in turn supports the mid-face and jawline. Conversely, mouth breathing, often associated with stress or improper breathing habits, can lead to a downward and backward growth of the face, resulting in a longer, narrower face and a receding chin. By practising mindful breathing techniques, such as deep nasal breathing and diaphragmatic breathing, you can support not only your overall well-being but also help maintain a more balanced and youthful facial structure. For more information on the vast impacts how you breathe can have on your health and appearance the book Breath by James Nestor is a great resource.
The Triangle of Youth…
When we’re young, our faces typically have what’s known as the “Triangle of Youth.” This triangle, with its base across the cheeks and the point at the chin, represents the fullness and lift that comes with youth. As we age, this triangle inverts, leading to a loss of volume in the cheeks, a sagging jawline, and the formation of jowls. In the NeoSculpt and Kinesis treatments, our therapists are able to adjust facial massage practices to suit and support the variety of face shapes and presentations; this bespoke approach is at the heart of the FENN philosophy, imbued into every treatment we offer.
Knowing your face shape and how this may impact the features as you age can inform how to approach your skin care today; the treatments to invest in, the products to include and where to be consistent with application.
How Different Face Shapes Age
Oval Face Shape
An oval face is characterised by a slightly wider forehead than the jawline, with a rounded, soft jawline. Think Julia Roberts or Jessica Alba. While this face shape is often considered ideal, it shows the earliest signs of ageing around the eyes and cheeks. Crow’s feet and upper eyelid hooding can appear, and the cheeks may lose their volume and definition, leading to a tired, hollow look. The temples are also prone to hollowing as fat is lost in this area.
Round Face Shape
Round faces, like that of Jennifer Lawrence, are equal in length and width, with full cheeks and soft, curved edges. The good news? Round faces tend to age well, thanks to the natural storage of fat in the cheeks, which can help maintain a youthful appearance for longer. However, without proper care, even a round face can lose volume, leading to pronounced nasolabial folds (those pesky smile lines).
Square Face Shape
A square face, exemplified by Angelina Jolie and Olivia Wilde, has a similar length and width but with more angular features. The strong structure of a square face means that it ages more slowly than other shapes. Sagging and slackness take longer to appear, giving this face shape a longer-lasting youthful appearance.
Heart Face Shape
A heart-shaped face, with a wide forehead and a delicate, pointed chin, is prone to losing elasticity and support in the upper half of the face, particularly around the forehead and brow bone. Hooded eyelids and fine lines are common as the skin loses its firmness. Think of Reese Witherspoon or Scarlett Johansson.
Heart Shape
Oval Shape
Round shape
Square Shape
Non-Surgical Solutions for Supporting your Skin as you Age
No matter your face shape, there are steps you can take to slow down the ageing process and keep your skin looking its best:
- SPF: Sunscreen is your number one defence against ageing. It protects your skin from free radical damage and prevents discolouration, keeping your complexion even and radiant.
Add to cart: Outside Beauty Mineral Primer SPF50+ / Rationale Beautiful Skin Superfluid Range
- Retinol: The only topical treatment proven to reverse the signs of ageing, retinol accelerates cell turnover, helping new, healthy skin cells rise to the surface and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Add to Cart: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Series / Raaie Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir / Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides / Rationale Series #6
- Hydration: Staying hydrated is crucial for preventing premature ageing. Drink plenty of water and use skincare products that contain hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and glycerin. These ingredients draw moisture into the skin, plumping up fine lines and preventing them from forming in the first place.
Add to cart: Medik8 Hyrd8 Intense / Rationale #1 Hydragel & Serum / Raaie Cocoon Ceramide Cream
- Collagen: Including collagen rich foods and a good quality collagen supplement consistently may mitigate declining collagen levels and impact your skin health. Treatments such as microneedling work to stimulate collagen and the natural healing process of the skin which with regular treatments has been shown to plump and firm skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sun damage.
BOOK IN: FENN ReFORM
ADD TO CART: Pearl by Par Olive Collagen
- Facial massage can invigorate the skin by increasing blood circulation, promoting lymphatic drainage, and even subtly improving facial structure by toning the muscles and enhancing the natural contours of the face.
BOOK IN: FENN Neo Sculpt
ADD TO CART: Lesse Sculpting Tool / Tronque Body Contour Tool
A Healthy Reminder on Ageing…
We hope that as we age we do so feeling strong and confident in who we are. This confidence comes in a variety of combinations for each of us - our skin care and our appearance is just one facet of who we are. We hope to be able to instil our clients with realistic expectations of ageing; celebrating and supporting through each life stage.