How to determine your eye shape

It's easy to determine your eye shape; the only things you need are a mirror and a few spare minutes! Try to identify different features to determine if your eyes have a crease, are hooded, upturned, or downturned, are round or almond-shaped, close-set or wide-set, or prominent or deep-set. All eye shapes have their own beauty, and once you know your eye shape, you'll be able to enhance your eyes' natural shape by choosing the most suitable eye makeup style.

Procedure 1: Examine different features of your eyes

Step 1: You have monolid eyes if your eyelids have no crease.

Check your eyes in the mirror if you're unsure. Look for a crease in the middle of your upper eyelid. If your eyelid has no crease, you have monolid eyes. You may also have flatter eyelids and less prominent brow bones than people with an eyelid crease. Monolid eyes are most common among people of Asian descent.

Step 2: Find out if you have hooded eyes by checking the crease on your eyelid.

With hooded eyes, the skin above the eye droops down and forms a crease, making your upper eyelid appear smaller. If you don't see a crease when your eyes are open, it indicates that you have hooded eyes. Many people are born with hooded eyes, and people's eyes often become more hooded as they age.

Step 3: Study the tilt of your eyes to find out if they are upturned or downturned.

Imagine a horizontal line extending through the center of both eyes. Then, observe closely to see if the outer corners of your eyes are above or below this central line. If the outer corners are above this line, you have "upturned" eyes. If the outer corners are below this line, you have "downturned" eyes.

Step 4: Note that you have almond eyes if you cannot see the whites around your iris.

Keep your eyes relaxed as you look in the mirror. With almond eyes, both the upper and lower parts of the iris are slightly covered by the eyelid. Almond eyes tend to be oval-shaped with narrow corners, which can make the outer corners of your eyes appear slightly upturned.

Step 5: Recognize that you have round eyes if you can see the whites below your iris.

Look straight into the mirror. If you can see any white around the upper or lower part of your iris, it indicates that you have "round" eyes. Round eyes are less tapered than almond eyes and appear more open and wide.

Step 6: Measure the distance between your eyes to determine if they are wide-set or close-set.

Measure your eye with your thumb and forefinger, then hold that space between your eyes. If the space between your eyes is less than one eye length, you have close-set eyes, but if the distance is greater than one eye length, you have wide-set eyes. If the distance between your eyes is equal to the width, your eyes are average-set.

Step 7: Check the depth of your eyes to determine if they are deep-set or prominent.

Deep-set eyes are recessed into the eye sockets, making the upper eyelid appear short and small. On the other hand, prominent eyes protrude outwards from the eye sockets and are slightly angled towards the upper lash line. Typically, monolid eyes are not deep-set. For people with deep-set eyes, your brow bone is larger and makes your eyes recede further back.

Step 8: Compare your eyes to the size of your nose and mouth to determine your eye size.

Eyes of "average" size will be similar in size to your mouth or nose, or perhaps slightly smaller. However, if your eyes are significantly smaller than your nose or mouth, you have small eyes. If they are larger than your other features, you have large eyes. Many people have one eye that is slightly larger than the other, which is perfectly normal.

Procedure 2: Choose makeup styles suitable for your eye shape

Step 1: Create a gradient for monolid eyes.

Apply a thin layer of primer to your upper eyelid area. Use a dark eyeshadow near the lash line, a soft neutral color in the middle, and a shimmery light color near the brow bone. Apply eyeshadow with your eyes open so you can see how it looks.

Winged eyeliner or cat-eye is also a great makeup style for monolid eyes. You can also create a floating eyeliner by drawing the line on the eyelid, instead of on the lash line.

Step 2: Blend eyeshadow beyond the crease for hooded eyes.

Before applying eyeshadow, lightly apply some primer and concealer to your eyelids. Then, using a medium-toned eyeshadow, blend it from your lash line up to the hooded part of your eye. Extend the eyeshadow at the outer corner to help open up the eye and create a more dramatic look.

Line your eyes with eyeliner to make your upper lashes appear thicker. Pointed eyeliner is not always suitable for hooded eyes, as the flicked-up part may be hidden by the hooded eyelid. Try to keep the tip of the eyeliner very thin and pointing outwards.

Step 3: Emphasize the upturned tilt of your eyes with smokey eyeshadow.

First, apply a primer before applying eyeshadow if you want this base to last all day. Then, lightly draw a line for the inner half of the eyelid with shimmery eyeliner and use a medium-toned eyeshadow for the outer half.

Blend the two shades together a bit in the middle where they meet for a more alluring look. Use dark eyeliner to line the outer corners of your eyes, both top and bottom.

Step 4: Try a cat-eye for downturned eyes.

You can achieve many different eyeliner techniques with downturned eyes, but a cat-eye will flatter the outer corner of your eyes. Line your entire upper lash line with a dark eyeliner and blend it upwards at the outer corner. You don't need to line the lower lash line.

Many different eyeshadow techniques look good with an upturned cat-eye liner, so experiment to find what suits you best.

Step 5: Use eyeshadow to add length to round, small, or deep-set eyes.

Use the lightest eyeliner to draw a line near the inner corner of your eye and intensify it as you move outwards. Extend the corners of your eyes by gently pulling the eyeliner outwards and upwards. Add a little more eyeshadow if you want a softer look.

Use a clean makeup brush to blend different shades of eyeshadow, creating a smooth and cohesive look for your eye makeup. Apply mascara to your upper lashes, or just concentrate on the lashes at the outer corner.

Step 6: Widen close-set eyes with matte eyeshadow to emphasize the outer corners.

Lightly apply eyeshadow to the entire eyelid, then blend a medium-toned eyeshadow onto the outer third of the eyelid. Add dark eyeshadow to the outer corner to make the eyes appear deeper. Line with eyeliner and apply a bit of mascara to the outer corner.

Step 7: Create a halo effect for almond eyes.

Almond eyes suit many different eye makeup styles, but a light halo eye will help the makeup look more harmonious. First, lightly blend a light color to create a transition effect for the crease of your eye.

Then, apply a medium color to the inner and outer third of the eye, then apply a bright color to the middle of the eyelid. Repeat this on the lower lash line and highlight the inner corner.

Step 8: Apply dark eyeshadow and primer to the inner corner of the eyes to make them appear closer together.

First, prime your eyes by applying primer to your upper eyelid with your finger. Apply a darker eyeshadow near the tear duct and on the bridge of your nose; this will create the illusion that your eyes appear closer together.

Then, brighten the outer corner with light eyeshadow. Make sure you blend and mix the color shades together. Use eyeliner in a straight line, thick or thin depending on your preference, and do not line the inner corner.

Step 9: Use darker eyeshadow for large or prominent eyes.

Prime your eyelids with primer or a neutral eyeshadow. Then, apply a dark eyeshadow over the eyelid below the crease. Blend the dark eyeshadow evenly with a medium color above the crease. A black eyeliner around the eyes will also help conceal your eyes' imperfections.

Helpful Tips

If you want your eyeshadow to last longer, use an eye primer first. Once you know your eye shape, you can look up the best eye makeup tips for you. There can be multiple makeup guides for your eyes. For example, you might have deep-set, almond-shaped, and downturned eyes.

Author: Alana Schober. Translator: Bich Ngoc.

Source: Wikihow. Copyright: Kallos Vietnam.

About the author Alana Schober

This article was co-authored by Alana Schober. Alana Schober is a professional makeup artist at Pout by Lipsticknick, which operates a full-service beauty bar in Los Angeles, California.

With over a decade of experience, Alana specializes in hair and makeup. As a licensed esthetician, she has worked for both MAC Cosmetics and Paul Mitchell. Alana's celebrity clients include Iggy Azalea, Solange, YG, and ASAP Nast.

She has worked on campaigns with Nike, Adidas, Morphe, Jaclyn Hill Cosmetics, and Quay. Alana has also worked on countless music videos and photoshoots, and her work has been featured on two billboards in Los Angeles.