I’ve had a soft, round nose since middle school. Cute in family photos. Not so cute under harsh bathroom lights. You know what? I used to tilt my head in every selfie, just so the tip looked less wide. I’m not mad at my nose now. But I did try a bunch of little tricks to make it look smaller when I want. Some worked. Some were a waste of time. Let me explain. I even binge-read CoverMaker’s own write-up on the topic—“I tried making my nose look smaller. Here’s what actually helped.”—before I picked up a single brush.
Makeup that worked (and didn’t melt at my cousin’s outdoor wedding)
I was scared of contour at first. I thought it would look fake. Turns out the trick is tiny amounts and good blending. For a clear, beginner-friendly roadmap, I watched this MasterClass on how to contour your nose; seeing the shadow and highlight placement in motion demystified the whole thing.
What I used:
- NYX Wonder Stick (Light/Medium)
- e.l.f. Putty Bronzer (Tan Lines)
- Real Techniques Setting Brush
- Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder (Fair-Light)
- A tiny bit of cream highlighter (no glitter)
How I do it on busy mornings:
- Two thin shadow lines: I draw soft lines where the nose bump meets the eye socket. Not straight down the bridge—just on the sides near the top.
- Blend up, not out: I use the Real Techniques brush and blend toward the center a touch. If I blend out, it widens my nose. Ask me how I know.
- Brighten the center: A small line of concealer down the bridge. I stop before the tip. Then I tap, tap, tap.
- Set it: A whisper of powder so it doesn’t slide off.
- Tiny highlight: One dot on the bridge high point. No shimmer on the tip for me. That made it look rounder.
Real moment: In July, at my cousin’s barn wedding (90°F and cake for days), I used this exact mix plus Urban Decay All Nighter. My contour stayed put through sweaty dancing and one very long “Cha Cha Slide.” My aunt said, “Your face looks so smooth today.” I’ll take it.
What didn’t work for me:
- Heavy nose highlight: It made the tip look bigger.
- Warm orange bronzer: It read like a blush line. Cool or neutral tones were better.
Side note: I also bookmarked Huda Beauty’s roundup of nose-contouring tricks for every nose type; their advice about cutting the highlight short of the tip convinced me to skip the disco-ball shine I kept getting.
Funny enough, the lesson echoed what I discovered while testing ways to downplay my chest in this experiment—strategic, cool-toned shadows beat heavy color every time.
Hair, glasses, and brows—sneaky helpers
It’s funny. Sometimes it’s not the nose; it’s the stuff around it. That revelation clicked while I was steeping rosemary water to rescue my hair—yes, the exact potion I documented here—because framing matters as much as the feature you’re fussing over.
- Curtain bangs: When my stylist cut soft curtain bangs, my face looked more balanced. Less focus on center, more on eyes.
- Frames: My black cat-eye glasses from Warby Parker lift the eye. Thinner, round frames made my nose look wider in my DMV photo. That picture lives in my wallet and my nightmares.
- Brows: I used to bring my brows in too close. Now I leave a tiny gap by the bridge. It opens the middle of my face. Quick change, big effect.
Camera fix: Use the right lens, and boom, less distortion
Wide lenses make the center of your face pop forward. So yes, noses get louder.
What I do:
- On my iPhone, I step back and tap 2x zoom. No 0.5 wide lens for selfies.
- Hold the camera at eye level or a touch higher.
- Turn slightly, like a three-quarter angle, and tilt the chin down a bit.
- Stand by a window. Side light softens edges.
I once FaceTimed my sister using the wide camera by mistake. My nose looked like a friendly potato. We laughed, I switched to 2x, and suddenly it looked like…my nose again. Messing with angles felt a lot like the afternoon I toyed with a nostalgic heart-locket GIF maker—tiny tweaks completely changed the vibe. Before you snap, you can even upload a quick photo to CoverMaker and preview subtle contour or lighting tweaks in seconds.
De-puff tricks for mornings when allergies win
I don’t do anything wild here. Just small things that help with swelling.
- Cold tool: I keep the ESARORA ice roller in my freezer. I roll it over my cheeks and sides of my nose for a minute. It calms puff and wakes me up.
- Saline spray: When spring hits and my nose feels stuffy, a quick rinse with Arm & Hammer Simply Saline helps me breathe and, oddly, my face looks less puffy overall.
- Water and a gentle walk: If I ate a salty dinner, a morning walk plus water makes a difference. Simple, but real.
PS: A warm mug of properly brewed green tea (my exact method lives here) also keeps my hydration on track and sneaks in a little antioxidant calm.
Side note: I’ll happily swap the ice roller for a cast-iron skillet when I’m making weekend waffles—yes, I tested that hefty waffle maker—but the sodium from maple-bacon toppings does show up on my face the next day, so moderation counts. Same story with my recent whipped-honey escapade; tasty, but extra sugar means extra puff.
Note: I’m not a doctor. This is just what helped me feel less puffy. If you have sinus pain or swelling that sticks around, talk to a pro.
Nose “exercises”? I tried them so you don’t have to
I did the nose push-ups I saw on Pinterest for 30 days. Pinch. Lift. Hold. Repeat. My nose didn’t change size at all. My thumbs got strong, though, so there’s that. If you see those, skip them. Save your time. Spare that time for something more productive—like letting an AI study-guide maker do your flashcards while you sip coffee.
The only upside? My persistence rivaled the dedication it took to coax a perfect crust from my sourdough bread maker. Sadly, the dough rose—my nose did not shrink.
The filler chat I had—and why I passed
I met with a board-certified derm about “liquid nose” filler. He said filler can smooth a bump and make a profile look straighter. But it doesn’t make a nose smaller. It can even add volume. Cost was a lot, and it lasts less than a year. I thanked him and kept walking. For me, not worth it. Honestly, it reminded me of my DIY dairy phase; smoothing cottage-cheese curds with a spoon was easier than sculpting cartilage—read the cheesy saga here.
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Surgery thoughts (short and honest)
I did a consult for nose surgery once. The surgeon was kind. He showed me digital edits and talked about healing, swelling, and risk. It’s real surgery with real downtime and cost. I chose not to do it. If you’re thinking about it, please meet a qualified facial plastic surgeon. Ask every question. Take your time. Your face, your call.
Elective tweaks are personal, of course. I pass on plenty of trending “fixes”—be it the slightly awkward boric acid tightness test or my home experiment with [DIY essential oils](https