Facial Structure Prompts: Jawline, Skin Texture, Hair Detail, and Makeup That Looks Real

Why portraits go wrong (and what we fix here)

Most “AI-looking” portraits fail for the same reasons: facial structure is described too vaguely, skin is over-smoothed, hair lacks strand-level detail, and the eyes don’t carry believable emotion. This chapter gives you a repeatable system to describe jawline/cheekbones/proportions, skin finish, hair specifications, and makeup style so your portrait reads as intentional and human.

The master formula (copy/paste)

[subject identity],
[facial structure + proportions],
[skin finish + micro-texture],
[hair length + texture + bangs + color + hairline],
[eyes + gaze + emotion],
[makeup look + 3–5 details],
[camera + shot size + lens],
[lighting + background + color grade]

Safe defaults (starter settings)

Use these defaults whenever you want “realistic and flexible”:

• Face structure: “balanced facial proportions, natural cheekbone definition, realistic jawline, subtle asymmetry”
• Skin: “natural skin texture, subtle pores, realistic specular highlights, no heavy smoothing”
• Hair: “defined strands, natural volume, clean hairline, subtle flyaways”
• Eyes: “soft catchlights, relaxed eyelids, natural gaze direction”
• Makeup: choose one look system (no-makeup / glam / editorial / K-beauty) and stay consistent
• Avoid: “perfect/flawless skin,” “beauty filter,” “porcelain,” “doll-like,” “plastic”

1. Facial Structure & Proportions

Instead of abstract “face shape,” describe what a viewer actually sees: jawline, chin, cheekbones, brow/forehead, and overall angularity.

A) Jawline keywords (pick 1–2)

• square jaw
• strong jawline
• rounded jawline
• soft jawline
• sharp jaw angle
• tapered jaw
• narrow jaw
• wide jaw

B) Chin keywords (pick 1)

• defined chin
• rounded chin
• pointed chin (use lightly)
• slightly recessed chin
• prominent chin

C) Cheekbones (pick 1–2)

• high cheekbones
• subtle cheekbone definition
• pronounced cheekbones
• soft cheek fullness
• lean cheeks

D) Proportions (pick 1–3)

• balanced facial proportions
• slightly short midface / slightly long midface
• soft facial asymmetry
• natural facial asymmetry
• realistic facial geometry
• gentle nasolabial folds (subtle, if appropriate)
• mild under-eye hollows (subtle, if appropriate)

E) Nose and lips (optional, pick 1–2)

• straight nose bridge
• soft rounded nose tip
• narrow nose bridge / wide nose bridge
• defined cupid’s bow
• full lips / medium lips

Quick recipe (face structure)

[jawline] + [chin] + [cheekbones] + [1–2 proportion notes] + [subtle asymmetry]

Prompt snippets (face structure)

1) Strong jaw, clean structure

square jaw, strong jawline, defined chin, high cheekbones, balanced facial proportions, subtle asymmetry

2) Soft jaw, candid realism

rounded jawline, soft jawline, rounded chin, soft cheek fullness, slightly short midface, natural facial asymmetry

3) Angular editorial structure

sharp jaw angle, tapered jaw, pronounced cheekbones, defined chin, realistic facial geometry, subtle asymmetry

Troubleshooting (face structure)

• If the face looks too perfect → add “subtle asymmetry, natural facial asymmetry,” and remove “perfect/flawless.”
• If the face looks warped → reduce descriptors; keep to one jawline, one chin, one cheekbone statement.
• If features look over-stylized → add “realistic facial geometry, natural proportions,” and avoid extremes (e.g., “tiny nose,” “huge eyes”).

2. Skin: Clean Finish vs Natural Micro-Texture (pores/freckles)

Skin is where portraits most often become “plastic.” Decide upfront whether you want a clean beauty finish or natural micro-texture.

Skin finish vocabulary (choose 1–2)

• clean finish / polished skin
• natural skin texture / realistic micro-texture
• dewy / satin / matte
• realistic specular highlights
• subtle under-eye texture
• faint freckles / sun-kissed freckles
• slight redness / natural flush

Two skin presets (copy/paste)

A) Clean finish (still realistic)

clean skin finish, even complexion, gentle specular highlights, minimal texture, no heavy smoothing

B) Natural micro-texture

natural skin texture, subtle pores, faint freckles, slight peach fuzz, mild under-eye texture, realistic specular highlights

Avoid / negative (skin)

plastic skin, waxy skin, overly smooth, porcelain doll skin, airbrushed to perfection, heavy beauty filter

Troubleshooting (skin)

• If skin looks waxy → add “subtle pores, natural micro-texture, no heavy smoothing.”
• If skin looks over-sharpened → add “gentle detail, soft micro-contrast,” and avoid “ultra sharp.”
• If freckles look stamped on → use “faint freckles, uneven distribution, subtle density.”

3. Hair Catalog (length · texture · bangs · color)

Hair realism comes from structure: length + texture + bangs + color + hairline + flyaways.

Hair length

• pixie / cropped
• bob / blunt bob / textured bob
• lob (long bob)
• shoulder-length
• long hair (mid-back / waist-length)

Hair texture

• straight, sleek
• wavy (loose waves / beach waves)
• curly (defined curls)
• coily (tight coils)

Bangs / fringe

• curtain bangs
• wispy bangs
• blunt bangs
• side-swept fringe
• micro bangs

Color / dye styles

• natural black / dark brown / chestnut / auburn / copper / blonde / platinum
• balayage / highlights
• subtle pastel tint (use lightly for realism)

Hair realism boosters (add 2–3)

• defined strands
• natural volume
• clean hairline
• subtle flyaways
• baby hairs at the hairline
• soft frizz (subtle) for curls/coils

Hair prompt snippets

1) Long waves + curtain bangs

long wavy hair, curtain bangs, chestnut brown, defined strands, natural volume, subtle flyaways, clean hairline

2) Sleek blunt bob

blunt bob haircut, sleek straight hair, deep black, sharp silhouette, clean hairline, soft shine

3) Defined curls

shoulder-length curly hair, defined curls, subtle frizz, baby hairs, warm brown highlights, natural volume

Troubleshooting (hair)

• If hair looks helmet-like → add “defined strands, subtle flyaways, natural volume.”
• If bangs look painted → specify bangs type + “soft strand separation.”
• If hairline looks too perfect → add “baby hairs, slight irregular hairline.”

4. Eyes, Gaze, and Emotion

Eyes read as “alive” when you specify gaze direction, eyelid/brow tension, and catchlights.

Core eye keywords (use 2–4)

• soft catchlights
• relaxed eyelids
• subtle brow tension
• relaxed brow
• gentle smile in the eyes
• focused gaze
• looking slightly off-camera (candid)
• downward gaze (reflective)
• direct eye contact (intimate/strong)

Emotion pack (12 reusable tones)

• calm, warm, joyful, playful
• shy, reflective, melancholic, dreamy
• determined, intense, curious, mysterious

Emotion recipe

[gaze direction] + [eyelid/brow tension] + [catchlights] + [emotion tone]

Prompt snippets

• “looking slightly off-camera, relaxed eyelids, soft catchlights, calm expression”
• “direct eye contact, subtle brow tension, bright catchlights, determined mood”
• “downward gaze, relaxed brow, gentle catchlights, reflective mood”

Troubleshooting (eyes)

• If eyes look flat → add “catchlights” and specify lighting style (soft directional, window light, etc.).
• If emotion looks over-acted → reduce intensity words and add “subtle, gentle.”
• If gaze looks confused → explicitly state “looking off-camera to the left/right.”

5. Makeup Looks (no-makeup / glam / editorial / K-beauty)

Makeup should match skin and lighting. Pick one makeup system and describe 3–5 details (not 10).

A) No-makeup makeup (natural)

no-makeup makeup look, skin-like base, minimal coverage, subtle blush, natural lip tint, light mascara, softly groomed brows

B) Glam (polished)

glam makeup look, defined eyeliner, volumized lashes, contoured cheeks, glossy lip, polished complexion

C) Editorial (fashion-forward)

editorial makeup look, graphic eyeliner, high-contrast shadows, sculpted cheekbones, fashion editorial styling

D) K-beauty (clean, luminous)

K-beauty makeup look, dewy luminous base, soft gradient lip, straight brows, subtle under-eye highlight, fresh youthful styling

Troubleshooting (makeup)

• If makeup looks painted on → reduce coverage words; add “skin-like finish.”
• If the result looks over-beautified → add micro-texture, soften lighting, remove “flawless.”
• If makeup clashes with lighting → glam/editorial works well with directional/harder light; no-makeup/K-beauty works best with softer light.

Starter prompts (complete, ready-to-run)

1) Natural, realistic portrait (safe baseline)

portrait of a woman in her late 20s,
rounded jawline, soft jawline, defined chin, subtle cheekbone definition, balanced facial proportions, subtle asymmetry,
natural skin texture, subtle pores, faint freckles, slight peach fuzz, realistic specular highlights,
long wavy hair, curtain bangs, chestnut brown, defined strands, natural volume, subtle flyaways, clean hairline,
looking slightly off-camera, relaxed eyelids, soft catchlights, calm expression,
no-makeup makeup look, skin-like base, subtle blush, natural lip tint, light mascara,
85mm lens, close-up portrait, soft directional light, neutral background, natural color grade

2) Clean luminous (K-beauty leaning)

portrait of a woman in her early 20s,
tapered jaw, soft jawline, rounded chin, high cheekbones, balanced facial proportions, natural facial asymmetry,
clean skin finish, even complexion, gentle specular highlights, minimal texture, no heavy smoothing,
straight shoulder-length hair, wispy bangs, dark brown, clean hairline, soft shine,
direct eye contact, gentle smile in the eyes, soft catchlights, warm mood,
K-beauty makeup look, dewy luminous base, soft gradient lip, straight brows, subtle under-eye highlight,
50mm lens, half-body portrait, soft light, bright airy background, clean modern color grade

3) Editorial beauty (high fashion)

beauty portrait of a woman in her 30s,
square jaw, sharp jaw angle, defined chin, pronounced cheekbones, realistic facial geometry, subtle asymmetry,
skin with controlled texture, subtle pores, soft micro-contrast, realistic highlights,
sleek blunt bob haircut, deep black, sharp silhouette, clean hairline,
direct eye contact, subtle brow tension, bright catchlights, intense mood,
editorial makeup look, graphic eyeliner, high-contrast shadows, sculpted cheekbones,
85mm lens, tight close-up, hard directional light, dark minimal background, high-contrast color grade

Mini checklist (publish-quality portraits)

• Facial structure uses jawline/chin/cheekbones language (1–2 key traits each).
• Skin explicitly states clean finish or natural micro-texture.
• Hair includes structure + realism boosters (strands/hairline/flyaways).
• Eyes specify gaze direction and catchlights.
• Makeup is one coherent system with 3–5 details.
• Avoid “AI-beauty triggers”: flawless, perfect, porcelain, doll-like.