How To Determine Your Eye Shape In 2 Easy Steps

So you’ve watched your favorite beauty bloggers create makeup masterpieces, wielding eyeliner and mascara in one hand, while the other thumbs through an array of gorgeous eye shadows. No matter how quickly they work or which products they use, the outcome is an eye makeup look that perfectly suits their eye shape. Seriously, how do they do it? Well, beyond their innate skill and all the practice they get, they actually have an understanding of their eye shape. If you’ve ever stared into the mirror, wondering why your statement eye looks more like a disaster than a dreamy blend job, chances are you aren't tailoring your makeup to your eye shape. Eyes, like eyebrows, lips, and just about every other part of a person’s body, come in many different shapes and sizes. And when you know which shape and size you are, you’ll have a much better chance of creating a look that flatters your specific form. So, who’s ready to find out once and for all what their eye shape is? Before you know it, you’ll be able to tailor all your favorite makeup tutorials to your face for a gorgeous eye makeup look that’s sure to turn a few heads.

HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR EYE SHAPE

There are six common eye shapes to consider when determining what your eye shape is: monolids, round eyes, almond eyes, downturned eyes, upturned eyes, and hooded eyes, When determining your eye shape, you have to ask yourself two questions: Do you have a crease and can you see it?

First and foremost, if you answered no to the first question, you don’t have to move on to the second. That’s right, if you don’t have a crease on your lid, then you have monolids. When you have monolids, the best way to recreate your favorite makeup looks is to create a faux crease. If you answered yes to the first question, it’s time to take the next step in determining what your eye shape is.

Your eye shape is round if…you have a visible crease in your eyelid and the iris of your eye is surrounded by just a touch of white, disconnecting it from your top and bottom eyelid.

Your eye shape is almond if…you have a visible crease in your eyelid and, unlike those with round eyes, your iris touches both the top and bottom of your eyelid.

Your eye shape is downturned if…the outer corners of your eyes turn downwards. If you can’t quite tell, imagine drawing a straight line across your eye. If your outer corners turn down beneath the line, you can guess what that means.

Your eye shape is upturned if...the outer corners of your eyes flick upwards. Not sure about that? Use the same approach as you did when checking for downturned eyes. If your outer corners turn upwards above the line, there you have it.

Your eye shape is hooded if...you have a crease, but it isn’t visible because it’s hidden beneath a flap of skin. While hooded eyes regularly occur as you get older and your skin begins to lose its elasticity, it’s also possible to be born with hooded eyes. In fact, if you take a scroll through your social media feeds, you may even see that some of your favorite celebrities rock this eye shape.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP LOOK FOR YOUR EYE SHAPE

Now that you can be confident in your eye shape, it’s time to learn how to enhance your natural features with some of your favorite eye makeup. No matter your eye shape, the essential first step of any eye makeup routine is to dot your lids with eye shadow primer. Once you’ve dabbed on a tiny bit of primer, it’s time to get down to business.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP FOR MONOLIDS

As we mentioned earlier, the perfect eye makeup look for anyone with monolids involves creating a faux crease. Here’s how to do it:

STEP 1: Apply your base

Apply a neutral eye shadow color, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Endless Pearl, all over your lid.

STEP 2: Create your crease

To fake your crease, start by taking a lighter eyeshadow shade, such as the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Paris Beach, and apply it from the inner corner of your eye to the center of your lid. Then, apply a darker shade, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Cafe Au Lait, where you want your faux crease to fall, from the outer corner of your eye to the middle of your eyelid.

STEP 3: Amp up the drama

To finish the look, add an even darker shade from the outer corner of your eye to the middle of your lid, going over the shadow you just applied lightly. This will accentuate and define your fake crease. Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Bottomless Java.

STEP 4: Apply mascara

Finish the look with your favorite mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara in Black.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP FOR ROUND EYES

Eye makeup for round eyes is all about elongating your eye shape. Here’s how to do it:

STEP 1: Create your base

Start by using either medium brown shade from the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Boudoir Charme on your eyelid.

STEP 2: Define your crease

Use the darkest brown shade in the palette and apply it in your crease from the center of your lid to slightly past the outer corner of your eye.

STEP 3: Wing it

Use a liquid eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Liquid Eyeliner in Black and line from the inner corner of your eye to slightly past the outer corner of your eye, creating a wing.

STEP 4: PUMP UP YOUR LASHES

To complete this eye makeup look, apply a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP FOR ALMOND SHAPED EYES

Almond eyes are super symmetrical, so rather than focusing on creating a specific shape with your eye makeup, simply use your makeup to accent your natural eye shape!

STEP 1: Apply eyeshadow to your lid

Use either medium shade from the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Quads in What Happens in Vegas eyeshadow palette on your eyelid.

STEP 2: Highlight your eye

Use the lightest shade in the palette to highlight your eyes, applying it to your inner corner and below the arch of your eyebrows.

STEP 3: Accentuate your crease

Use the palette’s dark brown shade, applying it along your crease from the inner corner to the outer corner of your eye.

STEP 4: Grab your mascara

Once your eyeshadow is done, finish the look with the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara in Deep Burgundy for striking (and trendy) lashes.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP FOR DOWNTURNED EYES

The goal with eye makeup for downturned eyes is to emphasize their shape while creating a pretty, wide awake look. Here’s how to do it:

STEP 1: Grab your eye shadow

To start, use the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Enchanted Scented Eyeshadow Palette. Apply the coral pink shade to your eyelid, followed by a dark brown shade in the crease of your eye. Extend the dark brown eye shadow slightly past your outer corner and upward toward your eyebrow. Use the lightest shade in your inner corner and along your lower lash line to give yourself a bright-eyed look.

STEP 2: Wing your liner

Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Brown to create an extended wing. Start from the inner corner of your eye and continue past the outer corner of your eye, creating a flick that sticks straight out. A straight wing might not be what you're used to seeing beauty gurus create, but this technique is key if you want to highlight your eye shape rather than hide it.

STEP 3: Apply mascara

Complete your look by applying a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara in Black Brown.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP FOR UPTURNED EYES

The best eye makeup look for upturned eyes involves using your makeup to play up your sultry shape.

STEP 1: Grab your eye shadow

Start by applying the bright medium purple shade from the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Violet Amour to your eyelid. Then, apply the dark purple shade all the way from the inner corner to the outer corner of your eye.

STEP 2: Apply eyeliner

Use a pencil eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner in Grey, and line your waterline from the inner corner of your eye all the way to your outer corner. If you really want to draw attention to the striking shape of your eyes, add a wing!

STEP 3: Coat your lashes

Use the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Mystic Black to add volume and length to your eyelashes. Focus the majority of the mascara on the outer half of your eyes, since this is where you'll want the most fullness.

THE BEST EYE MAKEUP FOR HOODED EYES

Since hooded eyes cover your crease, you want to use your eye makeup look to accentuate it.

STEP 1: Highlight your eye

To begin this eye makeup look, use the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Petite Perle on the inner corner of your eye.

STEP 2: Finish your eye shadow

Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Amber Rush on your eyelid, bringing it up on your hooded lid and towards your eyebrow. Make sure to blend well. Apply the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Midnight Blue to the crease of your eye, then extend the shadow slightly outwards.

STEP 3: Grab your eyeliner

Line your upper lash line with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Black, completing your eyeliner look with a flick.

STEP 4: Use mascara

Finish the look with a few coats of a volumizing and lengthening mascara.

Next, learn how to take your face shape into consideration for an important step in your beauty routine: blush. Here's How to Correctly Apply Blush for All Face Shapes.