How to Make a Big Nose Look Smaller

Many people feel worried about the size of their nose, and think it's all people see when they look at their face. Although you can't work miracles, there are several ways to make your nose appear smaller, or at least stop it from looking any bigger.

 Steps

    Hairstyle. Sometimes when you feel self-conscious you just want to cover up your face, but this is a bad idea - hair in your face will merely cast unflattering shadows on your nose. It also gives your face less "surface area", and the smaller your face appears the bigger your nose will seem in contrast. When thinking about hairstyles -

        Try and keep your hair back from your face, possibly by using clasps
        Get big hair, as your nose will look smaller in comparison
        Combine both these ideas by pulling back the front of your hair into a high-ponytail that will sit on top of your head, but leaving the rest of your hair down. This gives your hair both height and width
   
    Makeup: It's an oft-believed myth that loud eye and lip make-up will draw attention away from your nose, but this really isn't the case - you'll just look like a big-nosed person who uses too much make-up. When doing your makeup keep it very natural and feminine, or else you could end up looking a bit drag queen-y -

        Keep your foundation light, in shade and amount
        Avoid heavy eyeliners, and opt instead for neutral eye shadows and clear mascaras
        Bring colour to your face with light red lipsticks, but avoid lip liner as you don't want to bring any more harshness to your face
   
    Contouring: This can be a little tricky, and doesn't work well for some people, but for others it can really help improve the appearance of the nose. Contouring is the act of creating the effect of shadows around your face to give you the look of, say, cheek-bones. This is how to use it to give yourself a smaller looking nose -

        Using a darker shade of foundation than usual, apply two lines to the sides of your nose, at the width you would like your nose to be, and blend well
        If you feel your nose is a bit too long, do the same to the bottom of your nose, remembering that subtly is key
        Take a lighter shade of foundation than usual, and apply it down the middle of your nose, starting from between your brows
   
    Skin: Nothing draws more attention to a nose, big or small, than shine. It seems like nobody else has the problem, but no matter what lighting you're in, it's always directed at your nose. There are several things you can do to stop this -

        Switch face cleaning products, preferably to a set that specifies it "gets rid of shine". However, always remember to be very gentle with your skin - stripping all the oil of your skin will only make you glands produce more and more. Sometimes when you're desperate this seems okay for a short-term gain, but you will spend a long time regretting it.
        Use plenty finishing powder on your nose, and top up throughout the day - this will stop the oil getting through
        Buy some oil-blotting papers, which can be found at most chemists or supermarkets. They are small pieces of tissue-like paper, that can fit in a pocket or bag, that you can dab on your nose and forehead to soak up excess oil. Don't have too high expectations, as they seldom remove all shine, but they do a good enough job and are worth getting.
   
    Some other hints. Although I've told you the main things you can do for your nose, there are some other things to remember -

        Don't be too neat. If you have your hair perfectly slicked back, and sharp clothing, it can often draw attention to an out of place, misshapen nose. However, don't be too scruffy either, as this is just as unflattering.
        If you wear glasses, try getting contacts. They can seem impossible to put in at first, but after a month or so it'll take you only a moment. Glasses can really draw attention to a big nose.
        Have confidence. Of course, many people, especially teenagers, roll their eyes at this, but it really is true - try not to worry about it, as it genuinely isn't a big issue.


Tips

    Keep your eyebrows well shaped, not too thick or too thin - well shaped brows frame your whole face better, including your nose.
    Keep the rest of yourself in tip-top condition and you'll feel a lot better about having just one flaw. This includes skin and hair, but most importantly diet and exercise. A slimmer face, which will bring out your bone structure and give you less width, is more feminine and flattering, and you'll be able to show off a nice body when you're not too confident about your face.
    Another skin concern for the nose is blackheads - you just can't get rid of them!  You could also try using the contouring tips to fix other "flaws" in your face - creating cheekbones, smaller chins and smoother jawlines. Anything to make your face more feminine.
    Try to accentuate your cheekbones by using blusher and perhaps subtle bronzer. By doing this, it makes your nose appear smaller as less attention is being drawn to it.

Warnings

    Don't buy nose-shaping products, especially Nose Right. The pictures on their website have been taken from a plastic surgery before-and-after site. When you're really desperate you can get sucked into these scams, even if you're intelligent, but stop for a minute and think about how silly it really sounds. It's basically like putting a clothes peg on your nose!
    Lighting is everything when it comes to looks. Your nose may simple look big because of the way the shadows are falling on you. Flattering, warm lighting will give you a lot more self confidence.
    The contouring idea is quite difficult - if you have trouble with it, I'd recommend finding another website with more detailed information on it.