Have you ever scrolled through social media, admiring a celebrity’s perfectly sculpted features, and wondered, “How do they do that?” We often see celebrities like Ariana Grande effortlessly flaunting a ‘button nose’ look, a highly sought-after aesthetic that appears subtly refined and charming. In the video above, Ariana herself gives us a playful peek into her personal method, specifically mentioning her “little button nose trick” and her choice of R.E.M. Beauty’s Miss Mercury highlight. This brief glimpse, while intriguing, leaves us eager for the detailed steps behind achieving such a coveted nose shape with makeup.
Replicating celebrity makeup can feel daunting, yet many techniques are surprisingly accessible once broken down. Ariana’s signature button nose effect isn’t magic; it’s a clever application of contouring and highlighting that creates an illusion of a shorter, slightly upturned nose. This guide will delve deep into the mechanics of this particular makeup trick, ensuring you can confidently apply these principles to your own beauty routine.
Unpacking the “Button Nose” Aesthetic: Why It’s Popular
The term ‘button nose’ typically refers to a nose that is relatively short, slightly upturned at the tip, and often has a delicate, rounded appearance. This shape is widely considered youthful and aesthetically pleasing, contributing to a softer, more approachable facial symmetry. Its popularity has soared, partly due to its prevalence among beloved public figures like Ariana Grande, who often exemplify a sweet yet sophisticated image.
Achieving this look without surgery is entirely possible through strategic makeup application. Contouring and highlighting, when used correctly, can dramatically alter perceptions of facial structure. We are not fundamentally changing your nose; instead, we are manipulating light and shadow to create an optical illusion, making specific features appear more prominent or recessed.
The Science of Illusion: Contouring and Highlighting Fundamentals
At its core, makeup for nose shaping relies on the fundamental principles of light and shadow. Darker shades, or contour products, create the illusion of recession and depth, effectively “carving out” areas. Conversely, lighter, often shimmery shades, known as highlights, bring areas forward, making them appear more prominent and reflective.
For the button nose makeup trick, this means using contour to create a perception of a narrower bridge and a shorter length, while highlight is strategically placed to lift and define the tip. Understanding this interplay is crucial for mastering not just Ariana’s trick, but any facial sculpting technique. Furthermore, the choice of product texture – cream, liquid, or powder – plays a significant role in the blending and natural finish of the look.
Mastering Ariana Grande’s Button Nose Makeup Trick
The essence of the Ariana Grande button nose trick lies in a precise, almost surgical application of contour and highlight. This technique focuses on minimizing the bridge and emphasizing the tip, creating that desired delicate, upturned appearance. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to guide you through this popular makeup hack.
Step 1: Preparing Your Canvas
Begin with a clean, moisturized face, having already applied your foundation and concealer. A smooth base ensures that your contour and highlight products will blend seamlessly without clinging to dry patches or uneven skin. This preparatory step is vital for achieving a professional and natural-looking finish.
Step 2: Selecting Your Contouring Product
Choose a contour shade that is two to three shades darker than your skin tone and has a cool, ash-toned undertone. Warm, orange-toned bronzers will look unnatural and muddy for this specific technique, as they mimic tan rather than shadow. Cream or liquid contours often offer more blendability for precise lines, while powders are excellent for setting and building intensity.
Step 3: Defining the Nose Bridge
Using a small, flat brush or a precise contour stick, draw two fine, parallel lines down the sides of your nose. Start these lines from the inner corner of your eyebrows and extend them straight down, stopping just before the very tip of your nose. The key here is to keep these lines very close together, creating the illusion of a narrower bridge. Avoid bringing the lines too far down, as this can make the nose appear longer.
Step 4: Creating the “Button” Effect
This is where the ‘button nose’ truly takes shape. Apply a small amount of contour horizontally across the very tip of your nose, creating a subtle ‘U’ shape or a short, flat line. This step visually shortens the nose and gives it that slightly rounded, upturned appearance. Moreover, some artists also apply a tiny dot of contour directly underneath the tip, further enhancing the illusion of lift.
Step 5: Blending for Seamlessness
Blending is paramount to ensure the contour looks natural and not like harsh stripes. Use a small, fluffy brush, a damp beauty sponge, or even your finger to gently blend the contour lines. Blend outwards and slightly downwards from the bridge lines, and blend the horizontal line on the tip softly, ensuring there are no visible edges. The goal is a soft shadow, not a defined line.
Step 6: Introducing the Highlight (Ariana’s R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury)
Now, it’s time for the magic of highlight, as mentioned by Ariana Grande with her R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury highlight. Select a luminous, reflective highlight, ideally with a slightly champagne or cool-toned shimmer, depending on your skin tone. Miss Mercury, known for its celestial glow, is an excellent choice for this purpose. Using a small brush or your fingertip, apply a very thin line of highlight down the center of your nose, starting from between your brows and stopping just above the horizontal contour line on the tip. Do not extend it all the way to the end, as this would elongate the nose.
Step 7: The Final Touch: Highlighting the Button Tip
This step truly seals the button nose effect. Take a tiny dot of your highlight and place it precisely on the very center of the nose tip, right where the contour line from Step 4 ends. This creates a focal point that draws light and makes the tip appear more prominent and rounded. Furthermore, a tiny tap of highlight on the philtrum (the area between your nose and upper lip) can also add to the overall lifted appearance.
Step 8: Setting the Look
To ensure your button nose makeup trick lasts all day, lightly dust a translucent setting powder over the contoured areas. Be careful not to disturb the blended product. If your highlight is a cream or liquid, you might set the surrounding areas and then re-apply a powder highlight on top for extra longevity and impact.
Product Spotlight: R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury Highlight and Its Alternatives
Ariana Grande’s explicit mention of her R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury highlight immediately puts it on the radar for anyone attempting this trick. This product is designed to impart a radiant, almost ethereal glow, often described as ‘celestial’ or ‘interstellar.’ Its fine shimmer particles and smooth texture make it ideal for precise application, creating that focused point of light on the nose tip without looking glittery or chunky.
However, if R.E.M. Beauty isn’t readily available or if you prefer alternatives, there are many excellent options to achieve a similar effect. Look for finely milled powder highlights or creamy liquid highlighters that don’t emphasize skin texture. Shades like champagne, pearly white, or soft gold work well for a wide range of skin tones. Brands like Fenty Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Dior offer high-quality highlighters with a similar luminous finish. The key is a product that provides a soft, diffused glow rather than an overtly metallic sheen.
Beyond Ariana: Adapting the Trick for Your Nose Shape
While Ariana’s button nose makeup trick is effective, it’s essential to remember that everyone’s nose shape is unique. The core principles of light and shadow remain, but slight adjustments can optimize the trick for you. For instance, if you have a very long nose, extending the contour lines slightly further down but keeping the highlight shorter will still help to visually shorten it. Conversely, if your nose is already quite short, you might focus more on creating definition around the tip rather than significant shortening.
Consider the width of your nose as well. For wider noses, keeping the contour lines on the bridge closer together will enhance the narrowing effect. For a very narrow nose, you might even skip the bridge contour and focus solely on the tip highlight. Experimentation is key to discovering what works best with your individual facial features. Remember, makeup is about enhancing your unique beauty, not transforming it entirely.
Common Mistakes to Avoid for a Flawless Button Nose
Even with the right technique, a few common pitfalls can hinder the desired button nose effect. Being aware of these can save you from an unnatural or unflattering outcome.
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Using the Wrong Contour Shade: A contour that is too warm, too dark, or too light will not create a believable shadow. Always opt for cool, ash-toned browns for contouring.
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Not Blending Enough: Harsh, unblended lines are the quickest way to make your makeup obvious and unnatural. Invest time in thoroughly blending every edge until it looks like a soft shadow.
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Applying Too Much Product: A little goes a long way, especially with contour and highlight. Start with a small amount and build up if necessary. Over-application can make your nose look muddy or overly shimmery.
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Extending Highlight Too Far: Applying highlight down the entire length of your nose will make it appear longer, counteracting the button nose effect. Keep the highlight concentrated on the upper bridge and the very tip.
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Using Glittery Highlight: While a luminous highlight is desired, chunky glitter can draw unwanted attention to texture. Opt for finely milled, reflective formulas for a seamless glow.
Pro Tips for a Flawless Finish and Longevity
Achieving that perfect button nose look involves not just the application, but also the finishing touches and ensuring its durability. A few professional tips can elevate your makeup game.
Firstly, consider using a translucent powder very sparingly around the contoured areas after blending. This helps to set the cream or liquid products, preventing them from moving or fading throughout the day. However, avoid powdering directly over your highlight, as this can diminish its luminosity and impact. Secondly, always ensure your brushes and sponges are clean. Dirty tools can lead to patchy application and dull colors, making blending more challenging. Fresh tools allow for smooth, even distribution of product.
Furthermore, if you’re aiming for extra dimension, try layering your products. After applying a cream contour and blending, you can lightly dust a powder contour in a similar shade on top to intensify the shadow and add longevity. The same principle applies to highlight; a cream highlight followed by a touch of powder highlight (like the R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury) can create a truly striking and long-lasting glow. Lastly, step back and check your work from different angles and in various lighting conditions. What looks perfect in your bathroom mirror might appear different in natural light, allowing you to catch and correct any imbalances before you head out the door. The Ariana Grande button nose trick, when executed with precision and care, can truly transform your look.
