This makeup for eye shapes guide helps you choose the right tutorial for your own eyes. If you have ever looked at an eye makeup tutorial and wondered why the same look does not work the same way on you, the reason might be your eye shape. Eye shape affects how eyeshadow and liner show, and where the eye needs lift, depth or light.
Most eyes are not just one exact shape. Your eyes can be deep set and slightly hooded, round and deep set, or almond-shaped with a slight hood. Choose the guide that feels closest and borrow the tips that work for your own eyes.
Makeup for eye shapes: where should you start?
- If your eyeshadow disappears when your eyes are open, start with my eyeshadow placement trick for hooded and deep set eyes.
- If your brow bone is prominent and your eyes sit deeper underneath it, first read how to tell if you have deep set eyes.
- If your outer corner turns downward, go to the downturned eyes makeup guide.
- If your eyes look round, open or protruding from the side, start with makeup for protruding and round eyes.
- If your eyes are narrower or almond-shaped and you want to make them look bigger, start with my almond eyes makeup guide.
Find your closest eye shape
Hooded eyes or deep set eyes
Hooded and deep set eyes often have the same makeup problem: the usual crease shadow sits too low and disappears when the eye is open. The easiest solution is to apply the matte contour shade with your eyes open and lift it to the place where it actually shows.
Start here: Hooded Eye Shadow Placement Trick for Visible Color. If you want a broader beginner-friendly tutorial, also read makeup for hooded and deep set eyes.
Deep set eyes
Deep set eyes sit deeper under the brow bone. There can be natural shadow around the eyes, and a crease that is too dark can make the eyes look smaller. Keep the mobile lid lighter, lift the contour and soften the lower outer corner so the eyes come forward.
First read Deep Set Eyes: How to Tell + Makeup Tips. After that, follow the step-by-step deep set eyes makeup tutorial.
Downturned eyes
With downturned eyes, the outer corner curves slightly downward. Keep liner thin and lift the eyeshadow in a soft cat-eye angle upward. Avoid pulling the outer corner down with a wing that is too heavy.
Start here: Makeup for Downturned Eyes: Lift, Liner and Eyeshadow Placement.
Protruding or round eyes
Round or protruding eyes already have beautiful openness. If you want to balance the shape, bring the eyeshadow slightly outward and upward. Keep shimmer controlled on the lid and use deeper shades to soften the shape toward a more almond-like eye.
Start here: Makeup for Protruding Eyes: How to Balance the Eye Shape.
Round and deep set eyes
This is a combination of round and deep set eyes. You can balance the roundness, but you still need to work with the heaviness created by the brow bone. The best placement usually keeps the lid lighter and brings depth to the outer corner, not too low into the crease.
Start here: Makeup for Round Deep Set Eyes: How to Balance the Shape.
Almond eyes
Almond eyes are usually narrower than round eyes, and the outer part of the eye naturally creates a beautiful elongated shape. If you want to make them look bigger, keep liner close to the lash line, add light to the lid and inner corner, and shade the outer corner to emphasize the almond shape.
Start here: Makeup for Almond Eyes: How to Make the Eyes Look Bigger.
Rules that work for every eye shape
- Sketch the shadow placement with your eyes open. That way you can see how high the color needs to go to show and do its job.
- Use matte shades to create shape.
- Add the darkest shade only where you want more depth.
- Shimmer reflects light, so place it where you want brightness.
- If liner makes your eyes look smaller, make it thinner or tightline only the upper lash line.
- Do not be afraid to place eyeshadow above your natural crease if that is where the color actually shows.
More eye-shape makeup tutorials
- Floating contour for deep set and downturned eyes – a softer option if the usual outer-corner shadow feels too heavy. It works for deep set eyes, hooded eyes and downturned eyes.
- Bold eye makeup for hooded eyes – proof that deep set or hooded eyes can absolutely wear color and sparkle.
- Video: how I do makeup on my deep set eyes – helpful if you understand eyeshadow placement best by seeing it on video.
FAQ
What products do you need?
Eye primer makes makeup last and genuinely makes application easier. The Urban Decay Primer Potions I use also have a little tint, so they create a good base for eyeshadow.
For eyeshadows, you can manage with three shades: two matte shades, one dark and one medium-dark, and one light shade that can be shimmery. I would also invest in soft brushes.
In some of the linked tutorials, I show the products I used for that exact look. Still, I would always choose products based on your own coloring and budget.
Are hooded eyes and deep set eyes the same thing?
Not exactly, but the makeup placement is often very similar. With hooded eyes, skin folds over the mobile lid. Deep set eyes sit deeper under the brow bone. You can also have both.
Can you have more than one eye shape?
Yes. Most people do. That is why it is often more useful to look at the makeup problem: does the eyeshadow disappear, does the outer corner turn down, does the eye need elongating or balance?
What if none of these feels exactly like my eyes?
Start with the closest option and test only one change at a time. Try the placement with your eyes open, take a quick photo and compare. Makeup becomes easier when your own eyes guide the look.
I share more real-life eye makeup examples on Instagram @charlottaeve.