Eyeliner for Different Eye Shapes: Tips & Recommended Eyeliner Looks
One of the most beautiful things about makeup is how many different looks and styles there are. And one area in particular where you can really push the boundaries is the eyes. Because eyes are so unique– they vary in shape, size, color, etc., it can be super fun to play around and try different eyeliner looks. For some, that may mean tightlining with eyeliner and for others, trying a bolder color than they’re used to. With so many options, though, it can be difficult to choose which look is right for you, but paying attention to one simple thing can help: your eye shape. Once you identify which shape you have, whether your eyes are hooded, round, close set, or downturned eyes, Maybelline New York has plenty of tips to help you pick the best eyeliner style.
How to Determine what Eye Shape You Have
Do you know what eye shape you have? No worries if not, there are lots of indicators that can pinpoint which shape closest resembles your own– you may even have a combination of a few of them. Read on for the unique characteristics of each eye shape, then you’ll be ready to rock the eyeliner style that looks best on them!
Hooded Eyes
As the name implies, hooded eyes refer to there being a “hood” of skin on the lid. Essentially, there is excess skin below the brow bone, so it hovers over the eyelid.
Almond Eyes
If you think of the shape of an almond, that’s what this type of eye looks like. They’re oval but with elongated corners. The outer corner often lifts upwards for a cat-eye effect.
Round Eyes
Being the round eyes are more circular, there’s less definition on the corners like in almond-shaped eyes. Instead, round eyes tend to have a well-defined crease and appear bigger than other-shaped eyes.
Monolid Eyes
They’re the opposite of hooded eyes; a monolid eye essentially has no crease and the lid appears to be smooth rather than segmented. This eye shape is common in people of Asian descent.
Oval Eyes
An oval eye shape is similar to almond, but it may be softer and less defined on the corners. Where almond eyes tend to come to a distinct point, oval eyes are essentially round but stretched out.
Deep-set Eyes
Having deep-set eyes means that your eyes are set deeper into the socket. Because of this, it may give the appearance of a more prominent brow bone.
Close Set Eyes
This means that there’s less space between your eyes, making them closer together than other people’s eyes tend to be.
Wide Set Eyes
Conversely to close-set eyes, wide-set eyes have more space between them. In particular, the space should be wider than the size of one of your eyes to be considered wide set.
Downturned Eyes
If you have downturned eyes, that means that the outer corners point downwards.
Upturned Eyes
The opposite of downturned eyes– having upturned eyes means that the outer corners of your eyes point upwards.
Hooded Eyes
As the name implies, hooded eyes refer to there being a “hood” of skin on the lid. Essentially, there is excess skin below the brow bone, so it hovers over the eyelid.
Almond Eyes
If you think of the shape of an almond, that’s what this type of eye looks like. They’re oval but with elongated corners. The outer corner often lifts upwards for a cat-eye effect.
Round Eyes
Being the round eyes are more circular, there’s less definition on the corners like in almond-shaped eyes. Instead, round eyes tend to have a well-defined crease and appear bigger than other-shaped eyes.
Monolid Eyes
They’re the opposite of hooded eyes; a monolid eye essentially has no crease and the lid appears to be smooth rather than segmented. This eye shape is common in people of Asian descent.
Oval Eyes
An oval eye shape is similar to almond, but it may be softer and less defined on the corners. Where almond eyes tend to come to a distinct point, oval eyes are essentially round but stretched out.
Deep-set Eyes
Having deep-set eyes means that your eyes are set deeper into the socket. Because of this, it may give the appearance of a more prominent brow bone.
Close Set Eyes
This means that there’s less space between your eyes, making them closer together than other people’s eyes tend to be.
Wide Set Eyes
Conversely to close-set eyes, wide-set eyes have more space between them. In particular, the space should be wider than the size of one of your eyes to be considered wide set.
Downturned Eyes
If you have downturned eyes, that means that the outer corners point downwards.
Upturned Eyes
The opposite of downturned eyes– having upturned eyes means that the outer corners of your eyes point upwards.
Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes
Since a hooded eye can overpower a lid, you’re going to want to go for something bold. A classic cat eye or winged eyeliner look is perfect, but the trick is to lay your liner on thick in order to see it. Try using a long-wearing liquid liner like Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Black Liquid Eyeliner for bold precise lines. This intense liquid eyeliner pen is waterproof, smudge-proof, flake & fade-resistant, so it won’t wind up transferring where you don’t want it.Tattoo Studio® Ink Pen Eyeliner Makeup, Up To 24 Hours Of Wear
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Eyeliner for Almond Eyes
Almond eyes are super versatile, so you can essentially wear any eyeliner look you want. But for the sake of doing something fun, we encourage you to think outside the box and try a double-liner look. Trace your lash line with a classic black liquid liner such as Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Black Liquid Eyeliner and then, in your crease, create a floating line in a more daring shade such as Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Cobalt Blue. Play around with different colors and see which you like best– black and white are great for a mod vibe.Master Precise® All Day Liquid Eyeliner Makeup
Eyeliner for Round Eyes
The whites of the eyes tend to be more prominent in round eyes, so playing up that contrast is a great idea. Go for a smokey eye look with extra shading on the outer corners and in the crease, which can help to elongate the appearance of your eyes. Try Color Tattoo Eye Stix. This shadow-liner combo glides smoothly with a 24-hour crease-proof finish. Apply along the upper lid and lower lash line for intensity, then use a smudge brush or your finger to smoke out the look.Color Tattoo® Eye Stix Multi-Use Eyeshadow Stick, Liner, & Primer
Eyeliner for Monolid Eyes
Because a monolid doesn’t have a pronounced crease, it’s best to extend your liner outside of your eye. Go for a super exaggerated winged look for intense shape and definition. We recommend using an all-day liquid eyeliner like Eyestudio Master Precise Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner. In just one stroke, this long-wearing, water and smudge-proof eyeliner delivers ultimate matte intensity with 12-hour wear. Draw smooth, even lines starting at the inner corner of the upper eyelid and move the precision felt tip outwards. Bonus: you can get the inner corner involved, too, either by creating a reverse or siren eye look which means extending your liner past the inner corner or instead of liner, you can dab some highlighter to brighten up your eyes, making them appear larger.Master Precise® All Day Liquid Eyeliner Makeup
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Eyeliner for Oval Eyes
Oval eyes are another shape where anything goes, really, so you can get creative. Rather than going for a classic black winged liner look, try spicing it up and use a daring color instead. With Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil comes in 22 shades, so there’s no shortage of colors to choose from. Can’t decide? Let your eye color be your guide. If you have green eyes, play them up with purple or if you have brown, reach for emerald. Whatever you choose, make sure to line both the top and bottom lash lines for extra impact.Tattoo Studio® Sharpenable Gel Pencil Longwear Eyeliner Makeup
Eyeliner for Big Eyes
If you have big eyes, you don’t necessarily want to make them appear smaller, but you don’t have to worry about wearing darker colors that can have a shrinking effect. Because of that, we say go for a smokey eye look with a deep black or brown shade of Color Tattoo Eye Stix. The creamy pigment glides on smooth and offers some dry time for you to smudge out with a brush or your finger before setting for 24-hour crease resistant wear.Color Tattoo® Eye Stix Multi-Use Eyeshadow Stick, Liner, & Primer
Eyeliner for Small Eyes
The goal is to make your eyes look bigger, so a classic trick to do that is by applying white eyeliner on your waterline. Try Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil in Polished White, which is a super stark white color that will help extend the whites of your eyes for a bigger appearance. Then, on your lid, select a shade that’s on the lighter side to smudge along your lash line. Brown is less harsh than black and won’t make your eyes appear any smaller. In fact, but smudging it into your lash line, it can help make your lashes look fuller, which can have an opening effect on smaller eyes.Tattoo Studio® Sharpenable Gel Pencil Longwear Eyeliner Makeup
Eyeliner for Deep Set Eyes
Deep set eyes tend to look set back, so you want to make them appear bigger and more at the forefront. To do this, you’ll want to be light-handed, going for a small line of liner on the lash line. Pro tip: don’t apply your liner too close to the inner corner as that can make eyes appear smaller. In fact, rather than starting your liner at the inner corner, it can help to start it midway on your lid. We like Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner for keeping your line tight and precise– its tapered point makes it easy to glide and keep the line size uniform.Master Precise® All Day Liquid Eyeliner Makeup
Eyeliner for Close Set Eyes
To make eyes appear farther apart, the emphasis should be put on the outside of the eye. To do this, start your eyeliner in the middle of the eye and move it outward. Try an all-day liquid eyeliner like Eyestudio Master Precise Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner. It’s a water and smudge-proof eyeliner that delivers precise definition with 12-hour wear. Draw smooth, even lines starting from the middle of the lid and move the brush tip outwards. The longer the wing, the bigger your eyes will look.Master Precise® All Day Liquid Eyeliner Makeup
Eyeliner for Wide Set Eyes
A clean line of eyeliner on top and bottom with a short upward wing is ideal for those with wide-set eyes. Try a waterproof gel liner like Tattoo Liner Smokey Gel Eyeliner Pencil. This long-lasting smudge-proof liner delivers a tattoo matte finish for a smokey, blurred look for up to 36 hours. Apply along the upper lid and lower lash line, then use the blender to smudge out the look.TATTOO STUDIO® AUTOMATIC GEL PENCIL EYELINER EYE MAKEUP
Eyeliner for Downturned Eyes
To create the appearance of more upturned eyes, you’ll want to do a thick winged look. The rich black shade and 24-hour finish of Tattoo Studio Ink Pen is perfect for this. Start on the inner corner to emphasize your eye shape and then, when you get about ⅔ of the way on your lid, start drawing your wing upwards rather than tracing the actual shape of your eye downwards. You’ll have a bolder wing, yes, but it’ll totally change the shape of your eye and help you to look more wide awake.Tattoo Studio® Ink Pen Eyeliner Makeup, Up To 24 Hours Of Wear
Eyeliner for Upturned Eyes
If your eyes are upturned, you basically have a built-in wing look. Whether you want to draw attention to that or not is up to you. Instead, you can simply trace your lash line with a gel pencil like Tattoo Liner Smokey Gel Eyeliner Pencil. Because your eyes are already upturned, it can be complementary to trace your bottom lash line, too, and get a feline shape without even having to draw a wing.TATTOO STUDIO® AUTOMATIC GEL PENCIL EYELINER EYE MAKEUP
Eyeliner for Asymmetrical Eyes
Having asymmetrical eyes is totally normal, but to make them look more symmetrical, eyeliner can help. After lining your larger eye, apply eyeliner to the smaller eye and mirror the look to make it appear wider and more symmetrical to the other eye. Try using a long-lasting eyeliner like Unstoppable Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil. This waterproof and smudge-resistant eyeliner delivers natural or bold color that lasts all day and has a point that always stays sharp.Unstoppable® Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil
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