High Cheekbones vs Low Cheekbones: Attractiveness and What They Signal

The cheekbones (zygomatic bones) form the prominent bony arches on either side of the face, directly below the outer corner of each eye. 'High' and 'low' cheekbones refer to the vertical position of the maximum projection point of the zygomatic arch relative to the total face height.

High cheekbones: the maximum projection point sits close to the lower eyelid — roughly level with or just below the outer corner of the eye. This creates a defined shadow beneath the cheekbone and a visible highlight on the cheekbone itself, even in flat lighting. The face appears to have more structure in the midface.

Low cheekbones: the maximum projection point sits lower on the face, typically closer to the nose tip level. The face looks fuller through the middle, with less visible shadow-and-highlight structure. The transition from cheek to lower face is smoother and less defined. Neither position is inherently unattractive — low cheekbones create a softer, fuller facial appearance that has its own aesthetic qualities.

Face a mirror in good, even light — ideally a window facing you. Find the widest point of your cheek by pressing gently across the cheekbone from temple to nose. The widest, most prominent point is your cheekbone maximum projection.

Now mark its vertical position: is it at or above the level of the bottom of your eye socket (the outer corner of your eye)? If yes, you likely have high cheekbones. Is it significantly below that level, closer to the middle of the nose? You likely have low or medium cheekbones.

A second method: look for the natural highlight and shadow pattern on your cheeks in direct light from one side. High cheekbones create a distinct horizontal shadow line below the prominence and a clear highlight above it. If your cheek transitions smoothly without a pronounced shadow line, your cheekbones sit lower on the face.

Multiple studies in evolutionary and social psychology have found that prominent (high) cheekbones are positively associated with attractiveness ratings across cultures. The primary proposed evolutionary explanations involve two signals: sexual dimorphism and facial structure indicating developmental health.

In women, high cheekbones are associated with oestrogen influence during development — they are considered a femininity marker. In men, cheekbone prominence combined with facial breadth is associated with testosterone-influenced development and is rated as dominant and masculine. Both associations are cross-cultural and appear in research using standardised facial ratings across diverse populations.

A 1998 study by Perrett and colleagues found that composite 'feminised' female faces — which include high cheekbone placement as a dimension — are consistently rated as more attractive than non-feminised versions. The effect size is moderate, not overwhelming: cheekbones are one of several structural features that together determine attractiveness, not a single determinant.

High cheekbones have a structural ageing advantage that goes beyond aesthetics. The lateral cheek fat compartment — which deflates and descends with age — sits directly on top of the zygomatic arch. When cheekbones are high and prominent, the fat compartment is supported at a higher position for longer as the underlying skeletal support is closer to the surface. The descent is slower and the visual impact is less dramatic.

Conversely, low cheekbones provide less structural support for the overlying fat compartment, which tends to descend and thin earlier, creating earlier nasolabial fold deepening and jowl formation. This is one reason why people with prominent high cheekbones are often perceived as ageing more gracefully — the structural scaffold maintains the face's geometry longer.

This mechanism also explains why the Guess My Age tool scores cheekbone definition as part of the Youthful Energy Score. Visible, defined cheekbones are not just an attractiveness signal — they are a structural indicator of maintained facial volume and skeletal support, both of which read as youth.

AI face analysis using Google MediaPipe's 478 facial landmarks can measure cheekbone prominence with high precision. The relevant landmarks are those defining the zygomatic arch and the malar region — the system calculates the horizontal and vertical position of maximum cheekbone projection relative to total face height and width.

This measurement feeds into face attractiveness scoring as part of the midface definition component. The Rate My Face tool calculates facial thirds and cheekbone prominence as part of its overall assessment, giving you an objective numerical picture of where your cheekbone structure sits relative to proportional ideals.

What AI measurement adds beyond a mirror assessment is precision and consistency. It measures the same thing every time regardless of lighting variation, and it gives you a number you can track over time — useful if you are monitoring changes from ageing, lifestyle interventions, or photography setup differences.