Buzz
Identifying your eye shape is quite straightforward—all you need is a mirror and a few minutes of free time! Look for various features to determine if you have double eyelids, single eyelids, upturned or downturned eyes, round or almond-shaped eyes, close-set or wide-set eyes, and whether your eyes are protruding or deep-set. Every eye shape is beautiful, and once you know yours, you can explore makeup techniques to enhance your natural eye shape.
Steps
Examine Different Features
Recognize that you have monolids if there is no crease on your eyelid. If unsure, observe your eyes in the mirror. Look for a crease in the middle of the upper eyelid. If no crease is visible, you have monolids. Your eyelids may also appear flatter, and your brow bone might be less prominent compared to those with a crease.
- Monolids are most common among people of Asian descent.
Check if you have hooded eyes. Hooded eyes have excess skin on the upper eyelid that droops over the crease, making the eyes appear smaller. If you cannot see the crease when your eyes are open, you likely have hooded eyes.
- Many people are born with hooded eyes, but some develop drooping eyelids as they age.
Observe the slant of your eyes to determine if they are upturned or downturned. Imagine a straight line running horizontally across the center of your eyes. Check whether the outer corners of your eyes are above or below this line.
- If the outer corners are above the imaginary line, you have "upturned" eyes.
- If the outer corners are below the line, your eyes are "downturned."
Identify almond-shaped eyes if you cannot see the white around the iris. Look in the mirror and relax your eyes. Almond-shaped eyes have a small portion of the iris hidden under the eyelids at the top and bottom. These eyes are typically oval with narrow corners.
- The outer corners of almond-shaped eyes may have a slight upward tilt.
Recognize round eyes if you can see the whites above and below the iris. Look in the mirror and gaze straight ahead. If you can see a bit of the white above and below the iris, you have "round" eyes. Round eyes do not taper like almond-shaped eyes and appear more open.
- Even a thin line of white below the iris qualifies as round eyes.
Measure the distance between your eyes to determine if they are close-set or wide-set. Use your thumb and index finger to measure the length of one eye, then measure the space between your eyes. Your eyes are close-set if the distance is shorter than the length of one eye, and wide-set if the distance is longer.
- You have balanced spacing if the distance between your eyes equals the length of one eye.
Assess the depth of your eyes to determine if they are deep-set or protruding. Deep-set eyes are recessed further into the eye socket, making the upper eyelid appear shorter and smaller. In contrast, protruding eyes extend outward toward the lash line.
- Monolids are typically not deep-set.
- Deep-set eyes can make the brow bone appear more prominent, as the eyes are set deeper into the socket.
Compare the size of your eyes to your nose and mouth to gauge eye size. "Average" sized eyes are roughly the same size as your nose and mouth or slightly smaller. If your eyes are significantly smaller, you have small eyes. You have large eyes if they are bigger than other facial features.
- It’s common for one eye to be slightly larger than the other.
Apply makeup that complements your eye shape
Create a gradient look for monolids. Apply a primer to your upper eyelid before adding eyeshadow. Use a darker shade near the lash line, a neutral tone in the middle, and a shimmery highlight near the brow. Keep your eyes open while applying to see how it looks.
- Winged or cat-eye liner also works beautifully with monolids.
- You can try floating eyeliner above the eyelid instead of along the lash line.
Extend eyeshadow beyond the crease for hooded eyes. Start by applying a light-colored eye primer or concealer to the lid. Next, use a medium-dark shade from the lash line up to the hooded area above the crease. Extend the shadow outward at the outer corner to create a winged effect, making the eyes appear larger.
- Use kohl eyeliner to thicken the upper lash line.
- Winged eyeliner may not always suit hooded eyes, as the wing can be hidden under the drooping lid.
Enhance the slope of upturned eyes with a smoky eye look. Apply an eye primer if you desire long-lasting eyeshadow throughout the day. Next, sweep a light-colored eyeshadow on the inner half of the eyelid and a medium shade on the outer half. Blend the two shades seamlessly in the middle to achieve the smoky eye effect.
Experiment with a cat-eye look for downturned eyes. While various eyeliner techniques suit upturned eyes, the cat-eye style beautifully accentuates the outer corners of downturned eyes. Use a dark eyeliner pencil to line the upper lash line, then flick it upwards at the outer corner. There's no need to line the lower lash line.
Elongate round, small, or deep-set eyes with a gradient eyeshadow technique. Apply the lightest shade near the inner corner of the eye, gradually transitioning to darker shades towards the outer corner. Extend the eyeshadow slightly upwards and outwards at the corners. Soften the eyeliner for a more diffused look if desired.
Widen the gap between close-set eyes using a smoky eye technique to emphasize the outer corners. Apply a light eyeshadow across the entire lid, then add a darker shade to the outer third. Use an even darker shade on the outer corner to create depth and lift. Line the outer corner with eyeliner and apply mascara to the outer lashes.
Try the halo eye style for almond-shaped eyes. Almond eyes suit various eyeshadow techniques, but the halo style adds a unique twist. Start by applying a light transition shade on the brow bone, then use a medium shade on the inner and outer thirds of the lid. Highlight the center of the lid with a light shade. Repeat this process on the lower lash line, emphasizing the inner corner.
Apply dark eyeshadow and eyeliner at the inner corners if your eyes are wide-set. Start by using a finger to dab primer onto the upper eyelid. Use a darker shade of eyeshadow near the inner corners and along the nose bridge to create the illusion of closer-set eyes. Next, highlight the outer corners with a lighter shade. Blend the colors seamlessly. Apply eyeliner in a straight line, adjusting thickness as desired, but avoid winged tips.
Opt for darker shades with large or protruding eyes. Begin by applying an eye primer or neutral-toned eyeshadow to the lids. Then, use a darker eyeshadow on the upper lid, just below the crease. Blend the darker shade with a medium tone above the crease. Finish with black eyeliner to define the lash line.
Advice
- For longer-lasting eyeshadow, always apply a primer first.
- Your eyes may have multiple characteristics described above. For example, you might have deep-set almond-shaped eyes that are also downturned.
- Once you know your eye shape, you can explore additional makeup tips tailored to your features.
