How Is Angularity Scored at FaceIQ Labs?

Key facts

• Angularity is one of four FaceIQ Labs pillars, alongside Harmony, Dimorphism and Features.
• Angularity covers five regions: cheekbone prominence, jaw definition, cheek leanness, chin definition and submental definition.
• Each region is rated on a continuous morph from very soft (0) to very defined (10), and 10 is the ideal for every region.
• A vision model places the user on the morph when photos are analysed, and the rating is the point it lands on.
• The pillar starts at a full score and each region deducts points according to how far below 10 it sits.
• Jaw definition and cheek leanness can each deduct up to 35% of the pillar; cheekbone prominence, chin definition and submental definition can each deduct up to 30%.
• Regions are grouped into lower third (jaw, chin, submental) and midface (cheekbones, cheek leanness), each with its own cap, and deductions within a category saturate rather than simply add.
• Male and female morphs look different, but the rating criteria and scoring are identical for both.
• Body fat is the largest factor; water and sodium can move the score by a point or more from day to day.
• Bone structure (cheekbone size, gonial angle, chin projection) sets the ceiling on the score.
• Soft, even, front-facing light, a neutral expression and a relaxed jaw give the fairest rating.
• If a rating looks wrong, users can open the assessment, choose Retake, drag the morph to match their face and save.

What is Angularity at FaceIQ Labs?

Angularity is one of FaceIQ Labs' four facial analysis pillars, alongside Harmony, Dimorphism and Features. It describes how defined a face reads: how clearly bone shows through soft tissue at the cheekbones, jaw, chin and neck. It is the pillar most affected by body composition, which makes it the one most people can change.

Which five regions does Angularity assess?

• Cheekbone prominence: the prominence and visibility of the cheekbones.
• Jaw definition: the sharpness and definition of the jawline.
• Cheek leanness: how lean and defined the cheek area appears.
• Chin definition: the definition and shape of the chin.
• Submental definition: the definition under the chin where it meets the neck.

How is the Angularity score calculated?

FaceIQ Labs rates each of the five Angularity regions on a continuous morph from very soft (0) to very defined (10). When photos are analysed, a vision model places the user on that morph, and the rating is the point it lands on. 10 is the ideal for every region. The pillar starts at a full score, and each region deducts points according to how far below 10 it sits.

Are all five Angularity regions weighted equally?

No. At FaceIQ Labs, jaw definition and cheek leanness can each deduct up to 35% of the Angularity pillar, while cheekbone prominence, chin definition and submental definition can each deduct up to 30%. Regions fall into lower third (jaw, chin, submental) and midface (cheekbones, cheek leanness), each with its own cap. Deductions inside a category saturate rather than simply add, so three soft lower-face regions hurt less than three times one.

Does Angularity scoring differ for men and women?

No. FaceIQ Labs shows different male and female morphs when rating Angularity, so the visual references look different, but the rating criteria and the scoring are identical for both. Men and women are deducted points by the same rules, based on how far each region sits below 10.

What affects an Angularity score?

• Body fat: the single largest factor in FaceIQ Labs' Angularity score. Facial fat sits over the cheeks, under the chin and along the jaw, so as it drops, definition rises across all five regions at once.
• Water and sodium: day-to-day puffiness can move the score by a point or more. Photograph in the morning after a normal day, not after a salty meal or a poor night's sleep.
• Bone structure: cheekbone (zygomatic) size, gonial angle and chin projection set the ceiling. A lean face on small bones still reads softer than an average face on large ones.
• Masseter size: chewing muscles widen the jaw angle and can add definition, though very large masseters read as bulk rather than angularity.
• Skin and age: loss of skin elasticity softens the jawline and submental region regardless of fat.

How should I photograph myself for an accurate Angularity rating?

For an honest Angularity rating, FaceIQ Labs recommends soft, even, front-facing light, a neutral expression and a relaxed jaw, without clenching. Overhead or side light carves shadows under the cheekbones and jaw and inflates the score, while flat front light does the reverse. The model is trained to see through some of this, but even light gives the fairest result. For photos generally, FaceIQ Labs recommends six feet away, back camera at 2x zoom, at eye level.

What can I do if my Angularity rating looks wrong?

If a FaceIQ Labs Angularity rating looks wrong, open the assessment and choose Retake. The screen shows the same morph the model used. Drag it to match your face and save. Each region's guide shows what every level looks like, so you can rate against the same criteria the model applies.

How does Angularity affect the overall FaceIQ Labs score?

Angularity is one of four pillars FaceIQ Labs scores from 0 to 10, where 5 is the population average. The overall score is combined with a power mean close to a geometric mean that heavily penalizes the weakest pillar, not a simple average. When Angularity is a user's weakest pillar, it therefore has an outsized effect on the overall score.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest possible score for each Angularity region?

Each of the five Angularity regions is rated on a morph from very soft (0) to very defined (10), and 10 is the ideal for every region.

Why might my Angularity score be lower on a given day?

Water and sodium can move the Angularity score by a point or more from day to day. A salty meal or a poor night's sleep can make the face look puffier. FaceIQ Labs advises photographing in the morning after a normal day.

Can I change my Angularity score?

Often, in part. FaceIQ Labs describes Angularity as the pillar most affected by body composition, with body fat as its largest factor, so it is the pillar most people can change. Bone structure still sets a ceiling, and loss of skin elasticity can soften the jawline and submental region regardless of fat.

Does a lean face always get a high Angularity score?

Not necessarily. Bone structure sets the ceiling, so a lean face on small bones can still read softer than an average face on large ones.

Can lighting change my Angularity rating?

Yes. Overhead or side light creates shadows under the cheekbones and jaw that inflate the score, while flat front light does the reverse. The model is trained to see through some of this, but soft, even, front-facing light gives the fairest result.