Every eye shape is unique and beautiful in its own way, but understanding your eye shape can help you to enhance your natural beauty. If you have almond-shaped eyes, hooded eyes, or another shape entirely, you can create the most flattering makeup looks by using techniques that work in your favor. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common eye shape types, how to identify them, and tips on how to make them stand out with the right makeup.
What Are Eye Shapes?
Eye shapes refer to the natural structure of your eyelids, their width, length, and the way your eyes are positioned on your face. There are several distinct types of eye shapes that vary based on features like the eyelid crease, the positioning of the eyes, and the prominence of the eyelid. Defining your eye shape will allow you to enhance your features, making your eyes pop and appear more expressive.
Eye Shape Types: The Basics
There are four primary eye shape types: almond, downturned, hooded, and round. While everyone’s eyes are unique, these general classifications can help you determine which category your eyes fall into. Keep in mind that you may have a combination of two shapes, and that's perfectly fine! Let’s explore each type in more detail.
Almond Eyes: The Classic Shape
- What Are Almond Eyes?
Almond-shaped eyes are oval, slightly tapered, and often considered the most versatile. The shape of almond eyes mimics the form of an almond nut, hence the name. They are wider than they are tall, with a naturally defined crease and slightly lifted outer corners. This shape is often associated with a more “feline” or elongated look, which is why it’s the most popular eye shape for winged eyeliner looks.
- How to Enhance Almond Eyes:
If you have almond eyes, this eye shape can handle a wide variety of makeup styles. To emphasize your almond eyes, experiment with bold eyeliner looks like wings, smudged liners, or voluminous mascara. You can even play with vibrant eyeshadow colors, as almond eyes provide plenty of room to create depth and dimension.
To accentuate the natural elongation of your almond eyes, focus on using dark eyeliner along the upper lash line and blend outward toward the outer corner. Applying mascara primarily to the top lashes will help open up your eyes and highlight their beautiful shape.
Downturned Eyes: Creating Lift
- What Are Downturned Eyes?
Downturned eyes are gently angled downward at the outer corners, which can create a relaxed look. Enhancing this shape can help lift and brighten the overall eye area.This shape can be easily identified by observing the corners of your eyes—if they point downward instead of up, then you have downturned eyes. Although this shape can make the eyes appear smaller, there are plenty of makeup techniques that can lift and accentuate the shape.
- How to Enhance Downturned Eyes:
To lift your downturned eyes, focus on keeping your eyeliner and eyeshadow more horizontal rather than following the natural curve of the eye. Avoid heavy dark eyeliner on the outer corners, as this can accentuate the downward angle of the eyes. Instead, apply eyeliner mainly to the outer third of your upper lash line and blend upwards.
For a more dramatic look, focus on highlighting the inner corners of your eyes to open them up. Adding some shimmer or light-colored eyeshadow to the inner corner will brighten your eyes and create the illusion of more space.
Hooded Eyes: Accent the Lid Space
- What Are Hooded Eyes?
Hooded eyes are a common eye shape where the upper eyelid is partially covered by a fold of skin, making the eyelid less visible than with other eye shapes. While some people are born with hooded eyes, others may develop this shape as they age due to the natural loss of elasticity of skin around the eyes. Hooded eyes can make applying makeup a little trickier, but with the right techniques, you can make them look absolutely stunning.
- How to Enhance Hooded Eyes:
With hooded eyes, the goal is to create the illusion of more visible lid space. Start by using matte eyeshadow shades on the lid to prevent it from looking too heavy. Avoid bold eyeliner on the lower lash line, as this can make your eyes appear smaller. Instead, apply eyeliner along the upper lash line and create a wedge that moves upward and outwards to open the eyes.
Use highlighter or a light, shimmery shadow right below the brow bone to add some lift and dimension. A good rule of thumb for hooded eyes is to focus your attention on the outer third of your eyelid for a lifted, elongated effect.
Round Eyes: Emphasizing Their Natural Openness
- What Are Round Eyes?
Round eyes are spherical in shape and are typically wider than they are tall. If you have round eyes, you’ll often notice that your eyelid’s crease is well-defined, and the whites of your eyes are more visible around the iris. Round eyes can appear larger and more open compared to other eye shapes, which makes them perfect for accentuating with makeup.
- How to Enhance Round Eyes:
If you have round eyes, it’s important to avoid emphasizing the roundness further with overly harsh eyeliner or too much mascara. Instead, apply eyeliner along the upper lash line and use a softer, more blended approach with your eyeshadow. For a more dramatic look, use darker eyeshadows on the outer corners to create depth, which helps elongate the shape of your eyes.
One trick for round eyes is to focus on your lower lashes by lightly smudging dark eyeliner along the bottom lash line. This will help create a more almond-shaped appearance, making your round eyes look more elongated.
How to Make Small Eyes Appear Larger with Makeup
If you have small eyes, you may often feel that they get lost behind your makeup or that they don't quite stand out like you'd like them to. Fortunately, there are plenty of makeup tricks and techniques that can help create the illusion of larger, brighter eyes. Here’s how you can achieve that wide-eyed, open look:
- Brighten the Waterline
One of the easiest ways to make your eyes appear bigger is by applying a light, nude pencil to the waterline. This technique instantly brightens the eye area and gives the illusion of larger eyes. Avoid using dark eyeliner on the waterline, as it can make eyes appear smaller.
- Curl Your Lashes
Curling your eyelashes is a simple yet highly effective way to create the illusion of larger eyes. Use an eyelash curler to lift your lashes, focusing especially on the outer lashes. This will give your eyes a more elongated, open look.
- Apply Mascara Strategically
When applying mascara, focus on the top lashes first. To enhance the effect, apply two or three coats to the top lashes only, and avoid applying too much mascara to the lower lashes. Over-applying mascara to the lower lashes can make your eyes appear smaller.
- Tightline the Upper Lash Line
Tightlining involves applying eyeliner to the waterline just under your upper lashes. This technique enhances the eyes without making them look too heavy, creating a more defined and wide-eyed look. Make sure to use a pencil liner that’s soft and smooth to avoid irritating your eyes.
- Use Lighter Shades for Eyeshadow
Dark eyeshadows can sometimes make small eyes appear even smaller. Instead, opt for soft, light shades for your eyeshadow, such as soft taupe, champagne, or pastel colors. These shades reflect light and open up the eyes.
With these techniques, you can easily make your eyes appear larger, more defined, and brighter—creating a stunning, wide-eyed effect that enhances your natural beauty.
Tips for All Eye Shapes
No matter what eye shape you have, there are a few makeup tips that will help enhance your natural beauty:
- Eyebrows: Well-defined brows are key to framing your eyes and lifting the entire face. Make sure to fill your brows with our Skinny Brow Pencil to help complete the look.
- Mascara: Curling your lashes and applying mascara helps open up the eyes.
- Eyeliner: Use eyeliner strategically to accentuate the shape of your eyes. For example, winged eyeliner works great for several eye shapes.
How Nikol Beauty Can Help Enhance Your Eye Shape
At Nikol Beauty, we know that every woman’s eyes are unique and deserve the best makeup products to enhance their natural beauty. Our products, like our Eye Primer, Eyeshadows, Waterproof Eyeliner and Skinny Brow Pencils, are formulated to help you create flawless eye makeup looks. We offer a range of cruelty-free, clean beauty products designed specifically for mature women, ensuring that your makeup routine is easy, effective, and beautiful.
Plus, all our products are made in Italy, the USA, and Mexico, and our formulas are trusted for their high quality and performance.
If you want to discover the perfect products to highlight your eye shape, explore our range of cosmetics made with your unique beauty in mind.
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