What Is a “Fairy Face”? All About This Enchanting Look

What is a “fairy face”?

A “fairy face” is a face with ethereal, pixie-like features. The specific characteristics of fairy faces can vary slightly, but they usually include delicate bone structure, enchanting almond-shaped eyes, slightly pointy noses and chins, and an overall youthful and spritely vibe. Long story short, if someone says you have a “fairy face,” they’re basically saying you look like a magical fairy out of a storybook, which is a pretty high compliment! Examples of celebrities with “fairy faces” include: Anya Taylor-Joy, Elle Fanning, Zendaya, Björk, Liv Tyler, Emma Stone, Lupita Nyong'o, Ashley Greene, Jenna Ortega, Cara Delevigne, Lucy Hale, Phoebe Dynevor, Dove Cameron, Lily-Rose Depp, Taylor Swift, David Bowie, Timothee Chalamet

Characteristics of a Fairy Face

Large, almond-shaped eyes People with fairy faces tend to have big, enchanting almond-shaped eyes with a special twinkle to them. These eyes often have a playful and slightly mischievous look—think Tinker Bell from Peter Pan, for example. If your eyes are large, sparkling, and more almond than round, this would be one major sign that you’ve got a fairy face!

High cheekbones Fairies are known for having super high, prominent cheekbones, which gives them an otherworldly, ethereal look. If your cheekbones really stand out on your face and create an uplifted, almost elven appearance, this is another indication that you have a fairy face.

Smaller, slightly pointy nose One of the most recognizable traits of a fairy face is a smaller, slightly pointy nose that may also be upturned. This look is undeniably pixie-like, to the point that someone might say you have a fairy face even if this is the only facial feature you have out of this list! Ashley Greene, who played Alice Cullen in the Twilight series, and singer/actress Dove Cameron are great examples of this facial feature.

Slightly pointy chin The delicate bone structure of a fairy face often tapers down to a small, slightly pointy chin. This feature can be seen on fairy-faced stars like Anya Taylor-Joy, Zendaya, and Jenna Ortega, for example.

Full lips Plump, full lips are another hallmark of a fairy face, lending even more grace and femininity to this enchanting look. Many fairy-faced people also have a prominent cupid's bow (think of Taylor Swift, Lupita Nyong’o, and Emma Stone).

An overall ethereal vibe This characteristic is a little bit harder to quantify, but it’s basically a whimsical and mythical vibe. Fairies are known for having otherworldly beauty, so people with “fairy faces” tend to have seriously ethereal energy. They seem like they just stepped out of a fairy tale, and they can enchant and captivate you with just one look!

How to Get the “Fairy Face” Look with Makeup

Start with a shimmery, glowy complexion. A natural, glowy base with a touch of shimmer is key. To achieve this, a tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation are great options, but feel free to skip foundation and just apply moisturizer if you prefer. Finish off with a shimmery highlighter along your cheekbones, down the ridge of your nose, at the tip of your nose, and at the tip of your chin. Applying your highlighter in these areas draws attention to your cheekbones and makes your nose and chin look pointier, and all of these are key features of a fairy face! If you want to go the extra mile, you can also apply a bit of highlighter along your collarbones to create an even more shimmery look.

Contour your cheekbones, nose, and chin. Fairy faces tend to have high cheekbones and pointier noses and chins, but if you don’t naturally have these features, contouring can help create the appearance of them. Just apply a cream or powder contour along the hollows of your cheeks right under your cheekbones, along your jawline tapering down to your chin, and along the sides of your nose.

Try out a shimmery eyeshadow look with winged liner. Enchanting eyes are a major part of the fairy face look, so feel free to get creative here! In general, shimmery and colorful eyeshadows are perfect to draw attention to your beautiful eyes, and winged eyeliner is key to accentuate that fairy-like almond eye shape (or create a more almond appearance for rounder eyes). Soft colors like pale pink, baby blue, lavender, or sage green have especially fairy-like vibes, but feel free to go with the palette that complements your unique eyes best. If you want to step things up a notch, consider adding a few stick-on flowers or gems!

Line your lips and finish with a shiny or glittery lip gloss. Line your lips with a softer color, like rosy pink, mauve, or peach (rather than a bold red or vibrant hot pink). Accentuate your cupid’s bow with your lipliner if you have one naturally, or draw a slight cupid’s bow shape if you don’t. Finally, apply your favorite shimmery or glittery lip gloss, and voila! You’ve created the fairy face look. Consider finishing your look off with a soft, whimsical hairstyle. Loose waves, braids, and wispy bangs are all fun options that suit the fairy aesthetic. Floral clips or shimmery barrettes are great accessories to finish the look off.

Terms Related to “Fairy Face”

Here are a few other terms that have similar meanings or vibes to “fairy face”: Delicate features: When someone has “delicate features,” this usually means that they have small, fine, feminine, and graceful facial characteristics. There’s a lot of overlap between the “fairy face” look and the more general description of someone with delicate features. Pixie-like: Oftentimes, someone is described as “pixie-like” when they have an ethereal or otherworldly vibe, complete with a pointy, upturned nose, pointy chin, and overall youthful look. This aesthetic is super similar to the “fairy face” look. Elven appearance: Those with “elven” appearances look like elves, just like people with “fairy faces” look like fairies. The elven look typically includes sharp, delicate bone structure, pointier features, and a youthful energy. Fairycore: Fairycore is a fashion and makeup aesthetic inspired by fairies. If you naturally have a fairylike appearance, this style of clothing and makeup may suit you especially well! Check out our guide to the Fairycore aesthetic for more info.