High cheekbones are widely regarded as a hallmark of beauty, alongside attributes like youthful skin and bright smiles. This feature has captivated the interest of both psychologists and the general public, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between facial structure and perceived attractiveness.

The allure of high cheekbones transcends mere aesthetics, tapping into evolutionary preferences for symmetry and health. But what is it about high cheekbones that captures our admiration and desire? Join us as we delve into the reasons behind their appeal.

In this article, we’ll elaborate on:

• 📖 What is considered an attractive face.
• 🤔 What is more attractive – low or high cheekbones?
• 💡 Reasons behind having high cheekbones.

Are High Cheekbones Attractive?

There is no one universal definition of a beautiful face because, as the saying goes, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. We all have different views on what beauty is; however, the number one criterion for beauty seems to be a symmetrical face. A lot of research has been done on beauty, and high cheekbones often come on top as a preferred feature.

A study done by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology executed on a group of 20,000 people from around the world confirms this. After being shown pictures of a diverse group of women from different cultural backgrounds, the evaluators agreed that the women with high cheekbones were the most beautiful.

But does this mean that low cheekbones are not attractive? We have to remember that there is no correct type of cheek and that low cheeks can be just as attractive. If we have to compare low vs. high cheekbones, the reason behind the attractiveness of high cheekbones is that they are more aesthetically pleasing than low cheekbones. High cheekbones make the jawline look more defined, making the face look more symmetrical.

There is also the matter of youthful appearance to be considered. High cheekbones in women are usually associated with youthfulness and high estrogen levels, which is what men gravitate towards. So what are females looking for?

For thousands of years, women have found high cheekbones to be attractive in men. Scientific research shows that cheekbone prominence is deemed to be attractive, which is why women tend to consider men with large and prominent cheekbones and well-defined jawlines attractive.

Why Do Models Have High Cheekbones?

Looking at the modeling industry, we get the impression that all models have high cheekbones. That’s not true. Brands and agencies consider the entire face and look when searching for models. High cheekbones are not the decisive factor, although some agencies like their high-fashion models to have them. Why? Because it gives the model a more gaunt look when the ogee curve is more defined.

You will find models and actors that have low cheekbones and are just as successful as those with high cheekbones. There is more to having a beautiful face. This study shows that the facial aesthetic is influenced by a diverse range of facial components, as seen in the photo alterations.

Reasons Behind the Attractiveness of High Cheekbones

Let’s face it. Not everyone is blessed to have the best facial features, which is why we are always looking for ways to enhance our look. Most often, we blame genetics for not having the right facial structure, but we should also keep in mind that other factors are involved, like ethnicity, face shape, and gender, to name a few.

If you are not one of those with the right genes, you can try simple exercises like mewing to naturally improve the face. This is an easy way to shape the jawline, lose cheek fat and get the protruding cheekbones you want.

But before we get to the exercises, you should know why high cheekbones are considered attractive. Below we give you some reasons.

Influence of Genetics

Genes are the source of all our blessings and troubles. Genetic background plays a strong role in the structure of our face, which is why we should always look for answers there. Physical appearance is highly related to our ancestry.

Look at your ancestors to see who has well-defined high cheekbones in the family. You may not have been blessed with the best cheekbone genes, but thankfully mewing can help. Use it to determine the cheek fat and how to lose it and, in turn, improve the cheekbones making them more prominent.

Ethnic and Cultural History

Ethnicity is another factor that strongly influences the structure of your face. Different cultures value different facial features – angles and proportions vary, cultures prefer various types and shapes of the chin, and beauty traits differ.

For example, Native Americans, Africans, Asians, and Eastern Europeans are known to have high cheekbones. Caucasians have narrower faces than their fellow friends of Asian descent.

The typical facial features of Asians include prominent cheekbones on a wide and short face. Contrary to them, the southwestern European descendants have narrow and long faces, nasal bones that are sharply angled, and shallow cheekbones.

Those of Eastern European descent are known for their high cheekbones, just like the Africans and Hispanics. Africans also have a recognizable prominent mouth region and wide nasal cavity.

Due to their bone structure and higher cheek prominence, the Asian ethnicity is considered to be one with the highest cheekbones.

Gender Influence

Having low cheekbones is not a deal breaker. If you look at some famous male figures, you’ll see that the low and prominent cheekbones make them seem more masculine. On the other hand, higher cheekbones are often connected to a more feminine look.

The cheek shape and size are among the major distinctions between women and men. Yet, it is worth mentioning that both men and women can have both high and low cheekbones. But how are they different, and what are some of the general cheekbone structures based on gender?

Typical Cheekbone Structures in Men

In the old age, the definition of an attractive man used to be a broad face and large canines. Hunters and gatherers were good representatives of this group. Following the evolution and improvement of society, this standard became somewhat aggressive. Women started preferring men with wide big cheekbones but removed the pronounced canines from the equation.

Generally speaking, men are known to have flatter and angular cheeks. They have more chiseled facial features like a strong brow bone, thick straight eyebrows, a wide forehead, deep-set eyes, thin and wide lips, and a square jaw.

Cheekbone Features in Women’s Faces

Women, on the other hand, tend to have fuller and rounder cheeks and higher cheekbones than their male counterparts. The fuller and rounder look is due to females having more fat on their faces. Other features include fuller lips, shorter and pointed chins, and narrow jaws.

Central and Eastern European women are known to have high cheekbones, while Asian women have wider mandibles. Their cheekbones protrude upwards, while the ones of the Asian population extend outward. This is why we are witnessing higher cheek prominence in Asian females.

Cheekbones Are Determined by Face Shape

The shape of our face is also one factor that determines the type of cheekbones we have:

• Square face shape – has harsh angles, is fairly robust, and has strong cheekbones.
• Oval face shape – high cheekbones, sharp contours, and balanced forehead and cheek proportions.
• Round face shape – full cheeks where fat is stored in the cheeks, making them round, but they can easily become hollow cheeks when the fat is gone.
• Diamond face shape – a rare face shape with wide, dramatic, and high cheekbones and a narrow chin and forehead.
• Oblong face shape – there are no protruding bones, has a square chin, and the cheekbones are symmetrical and round.

Due to the round jawline and chin, the round face shape doesn’t have particularly pronounced cheekbones. That makes it the face shape with the lowest cheekbones. On the other hand, the square and diamond face shapes are considered to have the highest cheekbones.

Having High Cheekbones Is Believed to Indicate Positive Human Traits

Coming back to what we said at the beginning, we can easily see why cheekbones can indicate some human traits. They tend to portray honesty and trust, give our faces a youthful appearance, and show that we are sexually mature.

Youthful Appearance

No matter which part of the world you come from, high cheekbones are considered a universal sign of a youthful appearance. Shallow cheekbones have come to represent gravity’s effect on aging.

Those wondering what causes the double chin, who are experiencing volume loss and looking to fix the problem, have many options available. Mewing is a nonsurgical option that can advise on how men can improve their jawline, as well as women. Other options include cheek implants, cheek lifts, plastic surgery, and dermal fillers.

High Estrogen Levels

High cheekbones are a sign of high estrogen levels, which in turn determines the reproductive state of the woman’s body. Shaping a perfect female jawline to complement those high cheekbones is a great way to accentuate the aesthetic appearance and justify this universal beauty symbol. Practicing the proper tongue posture with the mewing technique is one method to achieve this.

Trustworthiness

It may seem unreasonable, but somehow having high cheekbones may lead others to see you as trustworthy. According to a New York University study, subjects unconsciously link trustworthiness with high cheekbones.

The amygdala in the brain, responsible for social and emotional regulation, responds by making the correlation of people with high cheekbones trustworthy.

Sexual Maturity

High cheekbones are often considered a sign of sexual maturity. Fuller cheeks are often associated with children because they are linked to a child’s maturity regardless of gender.

Higher cheekbones, however, are not associated with children because they appear in the later stages of our lives. The round, childlike faces take on an elongated facial structure once puberty hits both genders.

So how are cheekbones indicators of sexual maturity? The testosterone boost during puberty is what gives men’s cheekbones their adult shape. On the other hand, once a woman starts getting the right cheekbone structure during puberty, it means that she has entered adulthood.

Honesty

Since the brain assumes that people with high cheekbones are trustworthy, this also means that it considers them honest. It seems that people tend to trust those with pronounced cheekbones and high eyebrows.

We can’t really say if this is true or not because it takes more than just cheekbones to predicate a person’s traits. But as we have mentioned before, some studies have shown this result.

How to Tell If You Have High Cheekbones

High cheekbones are located directly underneath the eyes and are in line with your nose bridge. Low cheekbones are aligned with the nostrils and can be found in the lower part of the face. The best indicator you have high cheekbones is if the area below your eyes is the widest part of your face.

When contouring, makeup artists usually make cheeks slightly dip below the cheekbone, but if you have the effect occurring naturally, then you are blessed. How does one determine where the cheekbone is located? Try the following.

Look in the mirror and place the thumb on top of the cartilage piece of the ear. Place your index finger along the nostril. The cheekbone is the hard piece you feel below the outstretched finger. Use a bright light to help you find it.

Bottom Line

There are no good and bad cheekbones.; there are just different face shapes that have their own charm and beauty. Not everyone is blessed with the facial structure as per societal norms, but that doesn’t mean we cannot do something about it.

Hyaluronic acid filler treatment may temporarily solve the issues with lost volume. Another option is mewing, an alternative to surgery and other treatments. It helps in achieving a defined jawline and cheeks and a more attractive face shape. You can also use the mouth vs. nose breathing technique to improve your breathing.

To get the best results, you can try out our Mewing.Coach app. Download it for free and keep track of your mewing progress. This in-app coach will also tell you when it is time for your daily exercise so that you can get the desired high cheekbones as soon as possible!