How to Determine Your Eye Shape

Makeup isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that’s especially true when it comes to eye makeup. There are several different eye shapes, and finding the most flattering eye makeup look for you hinges on identifying yours. Knowing whether you have upturned eyes or downturned eyes, for example, can help determine what techniques you should use to best highlight your gorgeous, unique shape. If you’re wondering how to know what eye shape you have (or what that means for your makeup routine), keep scrolling. Ahead, we’re explaining the characteristics of six different types of eye shapes and sharing tips on creating a flattering eye makeup look.

6 Types of Eye Shapes

The different eye shapes are usually labeled as monolids, round eyes, almond-shaped eyes, downturned eyes, upturned eyes, and hooded eyes.

Monolid eyes

Monolids are characterized by a lack of a defined crease. If you have this eye shape, you’ll likely see very little (or none) of your eyelid when your eyes are open.

Round eyes

Round eyes are—unsurprisingly—relatively round in shape (think: doe eyes). They’re often on the larger side and generally feature a visible, defined crease.

Almond eyes

If you have an almond eye shape, your eyes will be elongated, often in an almost cat-like way. The crease is typically well-defined, and the eyelid is clearly visible.

Downturned eyes

You have downturned eyes if the outer corners of your eyes angle downwards. If you can’t quite tell whether or not yours do, imagine drawing a straight line across your eye. If your outer corners dip down beneath the line, your eyes are downturned.

Upturned eyes

If you have upturned eyes, the outer corners of your eyes flick upwards. To determine if you have this type of eye shape, use the same approach as you did when checking for downturned eyes to test it out. If your outer corners turn upwards above the line, then you have upturned eyes.

Hooded eyes

Your eyes are likely hooded if your upper eyelid “disappears” (partly or completely) when your eyes are open. Hooded eyes can be upturned, downturned, or almond-shaped, and occasionally develop with age—though your eyes can also be hooded from birth.

How To Determine Your Eye Shape

The easiest way to determine your eye shape is to look at an eye shape chart and see which shape looks most like your eyes. But if that’s not helping and you’re still wondering “What eye shape do I have?,” we can help.

First, remove any eye makeup you may be wearing and get in front of a mirror (ideally, in a well-lit space). Then, take a good look at your eyes and follow these three steps:

1. Assess how much of your eyelid and crease you can see. If you see little to no crease, you likely have a monolid. If your crease is hidden, you likely have hooded eyes.

2. Pretend to draw a straight line across your eyes from corner to corner (or you can grab a credit card or ruler to visually “mark” the line). Look at the corners of your eye and see where they fall. If the outer corners of your eyes peek up above the line, you have upturned eyes. If they dip below it, your eyes are downturned.

3. Then, take a look at your irises and the whites of your eyes. With round eyes, you can often see the whites around the top and bottom of your iris.

Makeup Tips for Different Eye Shapes

While we believe that everyone can wear almost any beauty look, you can tailor your makeup for your eye shape to help enhance your natural features. Ahead, learn some of the best techniques to complement different eye shapes.

Makeup for monolid eyes

A soft, diffused shadow wing is the perfect way to play up monolid eyes. To help enhance your eyes’ natural shape, grab the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Brown Abyss in the shade of your choosing. Apply the creamy shadow to your eyelid, dragging the pigment out as if you were drawing a graphic wing shape. Use your fingers or an eyeshadow brush to soften the borders a bit, then use the same eyeshadow to trace along your lower lash line. The elongated shadow is ultra-flattering on its own, but for a standout look, we recommend curling your lashes and adding a few swipes of mascara. Try the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara—the flexible formula delivers corner-to-corner panoramic volume and wears for up to 24 hours without clumping or flaking.

Makeup for round eyes

Round eyes often have the space to create intricate eyeshadow looks, such as a halo eye. Apply a neutral color eyeshadow to your eyelids as a base, then grab the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Magnetic Bronze and sweep it from the outer corner of your eye to the inner corner, following the contour of your natural crease. Be sure to blend it well for a soft, smokey effect. Then, pat a lighter-colored, shimmery shadow, such as the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Twinkly Rose onto the center of your lids and blend well to make sure the two shades have a natural transition. The pop of shimmer in the center of your eye will help emphasize your eyes’ natural round shape.

Makeup for almond eyes

We love the way a siren eye accentuates almond-shaped eyes. It’s incredibly flattering and—bonus—very easy to achieve. Start by tracing your upper lash line with a long-lasting liquid eyeliner, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner, starting from the center of your lash line rather than the inner corner. Once you get to the outer corner, drag the line slightly upward and outward to create an elongated cat eye shape. Then, use the same eyeliner to line your inner corner as if you were creating a reverse cat eye (be sure to keep the line thin—this inner corner liner should be pretty subtle).

After allowing your liquid liner adequate time to dry down, grab a long-lasting pencil eyeliner (we suggest the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner). Use it to tightline both your upper and lower waterlines for a sultry effect. Finish the look with a volumizing mascara for added definition.

Makeup for downturned eyes

Techniques that help create the illusion of more open-looking eyes are great for those with downturned eyes. An easy way to give your eyes a more wakeful appearance is to use a lifting mascara. First, curl your lashes, then apply the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara to draw attention upwards. Brushing up your brows can have a similar eye-opening effect—use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Brow Lamination for a full, lifted look that’ll hold up all day long.

Makeup for upturned eyes

To complement the naturally lifted shape of upturned eyes, try creating a winged eyeliner look with the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner. The longwear liquid eyeliner has a felt tip for precise application, so you can get very close to your lash line without the fear of irritating your eyes. For a softer (but similarly flattering) look, create a shadow wing with L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Noir Cest Noir and an angled eyeliner brush.

Makeup for hooded eyes

The key to doing makeup on hooded eyes is to ensure your products don’t smear or transfer due to the fold on your eyes. To ensure your mascara doesn’t smudge against your top eyelid, opt for a waterproof mascara like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, which adds volume and length to the lashes and stays put all day. And always be sure to set your eyeshadow (and the rest of your makeup) with a long-lasting setting spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist.

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