Helmet fit

Never had to buy an ATV helmet before now… The circumference of my head fits a size Large on all helmet fitment charts, my wife a Medium. But when we put on the appropriate sized helmet, and it fits great on top, it crushes our faces. I would say that I have a round face and maybe that’s why, but my wife has a slender face and a medium helmet crushes her cheeks. It’s not "painful" per se, but pretty damn uncomfortable. Is that how helmets are supposed to fit when they are brand new? I went to an ATV store and tried on 3 different brands.. been a size Large my whole life and had to put on XL’s so they weren’t so tight on my cheeks, but then they looked way too big and had a little wiggle room. I’ve read all of the safety suggestions and fitment recommendations, I just want to hear it from a human. Do the cheek pads compress more and fit less snug once broken in? Do I just quit whining and suck it up because thats how they are supposed to be? Thanks.