Makeup tips based on different eye shapes

As the focal point of the face, your eyes can say a lot about you. And they have the power to make a beautiful first impression. They are also as diverse as the individuals behind them: almond shaped, wide set, hooded, big, small, upturned or downturned.

With so many different types of eyes, you’re probably wondering: What eye makeup is best for me? Rick DiCecca, creative director of makeup design for the Artistry™ line in North America, helps answer that question with advice on choosing an eyeliner for different eye shapes and the eye shadow and style to help you put your best face forward. Read on for suggestions!

Monolids

Monolids are smaller eyes without any crease in the lid or only a minimal crease. Your goal is to add definition. Keep makeup simple to make a single eyelid appear more open and prominent.

Sweep a medium-toned eyeshadow shade across two-thirds of the eyelid from outer eye to inner eye. Apply an accent color in the same way but extend it at the outer eye corner. Finish with a strong highlighting shade of eye shadow on the brow bone.

Apply Artistry Go Vibrant Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner to the entire eye; focus more on the inner corner. (Either a liquid liner or a pencil will work for you.) Keep your line on the thinner side and very close to your lashes.

Double-lidded eyes

These eyes have a thin second lid above the upper lash line. Your goal is to maximize the appearance of that lid. Use a matte, medium eyeshadow shade to fill in the contour from outer eye to inner eye. Avoid shimmer or metallic colors.

Apply a lighter shade to fill in the lash line from the outer to the inner corner. Apply the same shade along the bottom lash line. Use a strong highlighter shade on the brow bone. Finish by lining the upper lash line two-thirds of the way from the outer corner and the bottom lashes halfway.

Bigger eyes, round eyes

If your eyes are on the larger side, apply a shimmery eyeshadow shade in the center of your eyelid and under the center of your brow to highlight. Opt for a thicker line when applying your liner – either liquid or pencil – and focus the liner and shadows on the outer eye area to create a more balanced shape. This will help define the eye and make your lashes appear thicker and fuller. Bigger and rounder eyes also look amazing with a “smoky eye” look.

Small eyes

These eyes appear small because they either have a shortened or more prominent brow area, so you may want to make them appear bigger. To make small eyes appear larger, apply a light color of eyeshadow to the entire lid. Apply a darker color of shadow to the crease, focused on the outer edges.

The darker color in the crease and the highlight on the lid bring the lid forward, making the eyes appear larger. Keep your liner thin and close to your lashes. Too thick of a line can come across raccoon-like and cause the eyes to appear smaller than they actually are.

Hooded eyes

With hooded eyes, the eyelid is pronounced, folding over the crease and sometimes shadowing the eye. Your goal is to minimize the appearance of the eyelid. Apply a light-color eyeshadow shade to the entire lid.

Keeping the eyes open, apply a darker color of eye shadow to the hooded area above the eyelid. The darker color minimizes the appearance of the hooded area and the lighter color brings the lid forward, opening up the eye.

Deep-set eyes

Deep-set eyes are set back beneath a prominent brow bone. When applying makeup, your goal is to bring the eyes forward.

Line the upper and lower lid with a medium shade of Artistry Go Vibrant Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner. Apply a shimmer shade of eye shadow on the lid and into the crease. The shimmer in the formula creates the illusion of bringing the eyelid forward, minimizing the depth under the brow.

Alternatively, instead of using a black or brown liner, try your “complementary” color. If you have green eyes, try violet. If you have brown eyes, blues or violets look great. And bronze looks amazing with blue eyes.

Wide-set eyes

Apply your deepest eyeshadow shades in the center and inner area of the eyelids, blending it out toward the outer edges of the eye.

When it comes to applying eyeliner, any form will work for you: pencil, liquid or powder. Be sure to start the liner from the inside corners of your eyelid, begin lining with a thicker line and thin it out toward the outer edge. Cat-eye is not your best look, so end the liner where your lashes end.

Close-set eyes

Apply an extra dab of your perfect shade of Artistry Exact Fit™ Perfecting Concealer to inner eye area to cover any darkness. Be sure and create a gradient effect with shadows on the eyelid from light to dark starting from inner corner.

Apply shimmery eyeshadow to the inner third of eyelid, with medium shadow the middle of eyelid and darker shades blended on the outer corner of eyes. When applying eyeliner, start the liner at the midpoint of your upper lash line, not all the way at the inner corner of the lid. Work the liner outward. You can also lift it at the outer corner to create a winged effect.

Downturned eyes

With downturned eyes, the outer corners of the eyes take a downward dip. You want to lessen that dip. Apply a darker eyeshadow shade at the outer corner where the eye begins to droop.

Blend this color up and around into the crease to add a lift. Apply Artistry Go Vibrant Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner to upper lids only; at outer corners, wing the eyeliner up slightly rather than follow the natural downward slope.

Upturned eyes

For upturned eyes, prep your lids with Exact Fit Perfecting Concealer. Always use a neutral eyeshadow shade to set the concealer. Apply your darkest shade onto outer corners of the eyelid and into the crease.

Blend a medium shade onto the center of eyelid and into the crease. Apply a darker eye shadow to the lower lash line.

Almond-shaped eyes

Almond-shaped eyes have the most even proportions and offer great angles. You want to play them up by emphasizing an upswing at the corners and highlight their shape, which is why the cat-eye look was made for these types of eyes. Apply a medium to dark shade of eyeliner on the outer half of the top and bottom lashes, extending it to a subtle (or non-subtle!) wing at the end.

Layer a dark eyeshadow shade across the upper lash line — including over the liner — from inner to outer corner. Sweep a medium shade of eye shadow across lid and into crease.

Extra eyeliner tip

In addition to your eye shape or size, you should also consider the texture of your eyelids when choosing eye makeup, especially eyeliner, DiCecca said.

“If your eyes have texture on the eyelid, such as crepey skin, are puffy or sensitive, you should choose a longwearing pencil eye liner,” DiCecca said. “And for eyes that are smooth and not sensitive, choose either a long wearing pencil or a liquid eye liner.”

Looking for more makeup tips and tricks? Check out the additional makeup stories on Amway Discover.