Hooded or droopy eyelids are one of the most common concerns as we age — and you can visibly reduce their appearance with makeup, no surgery required. Nikol Johnson shares a fast, affordable approach to minimizing hooded eyes and creating a more lifted, open look.
Key Takeaways
- Hooded eyes can be minimized with technique alone.
- Eyeshadow placement is the key to creating lift.
- A defined lash line and curled lashes open the eye.
- Matte transition shades create the illusion of more lid space.
What are hooded eyes?
A hooded eye is when a fold of skin from the brow bone drops over the crease, covering part or all of the mobile lid. It's extremely common with age as skin loses firmness — and while it's completely normal, a few makeup techniques can make the eye look more open and lifted.
How do you make hooded eyes look lifted?
Placement and definition. Deepen a matte shade slightly above the natural crease (so it shows when the eye is open), keep the lid itself lighter, and define the lash line with a Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil kept close to the roots. Curl the lashes and add a coat of VOLUME UP Mascara to lift and open the eye further.
What should you avoid with hooded eyes?
Heavy shimmer on the hood and thick liner. Lots of shimmer across the fold catches light and emphasizes the hood, and a heavy line can close the eye down. Keep shimmer to the center of the lid or inner corner and build liner thin. It's the same lift-and-open thinking in Nikol's mature-skin makeup guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of hooded eyes with makeup?
You can't remove the hood, but you can minimize it: place a matte transition shade slightly above the natural crease so it shows when the eye is open, keep the lid lighter, define the lash line thinly, and curl the lashes with mascara. This creates a more lifted, open look.
Where do you put eyeshadow on hooded eyes?
Place the crease/transition shade slightly higher than your natural crease so it's visible with the eye open, keep the mobile lid lighter, and put any shimmer only in the center of the lid or inner corner — not across the hood.
Can you fix hooded eyes without surgery?
You can dramatically improve their appearance without surgery using eyeshadow placement, thin liner, curled lashes, and mascara. Lid tapes or strips are another non-surgical option some people use for extra lift.
What eyeliner is best for hooded eyes?
A waterproof, smudge-resistant liner kept thin and close to the lash roots works best — a thick line can get hidden by the hood or make the eye look smaller. Tightline the upper lash line for definition without taking up lid space.
