The Best Eyeliner Style for Your Eye Shape

Have you ever felt like no matter how many eyeliner application tutorials you’ve read (or watched), you just can’t seem to nail the perfect winged eyeliner look? The issue may not lie in your makeup skills—it could just be that you haven’t been taking your eye shape into consideration. Just as you should tailor your brows to your face shape, you should base your eyeliner style on your eye shape. If you think about it, it really doesn’t make any sense to line your lids without taking the shape of your eye into consideration, does it?

Luckily, the solution is simple. Find the eyeliner styles that best suit every eye shape with our handy guide below. We’re starting with the basics to help you figure out what your eye shape is and what eyeliner look is the most flattering. Grab your eyeliner and get ready to find your eyeliner style match.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE ALMOND-SHAPED EYES

Do you have oval-shaped eyes with slightly upturned outer corners? Then you have almond-shaped eyes! If this sounds like you, consider yourself lucky because just about every eyeliner style will be seriously flattering on you. Almond-shaped eyes are very well-proportioned and symmetrical, which is why most eyeliner techniques suit you.

THE BEST EYELINER STYLE FOR ALMOND-SHAPED EYES

Even though you can rock every eyeliner look in the book, there is one that stands out the most. Here’s how to do it: Start by drawing a very thin line from the inner corners and intensifying the thickness as you reach the outer corners of your lids. If you have this eye shape, you can get away with lining your lower lash line as well. Get a soft, subtle look by slightly smudging both the top and bottom outer corner. To keep things simple, opt for an eyeliner with a built-in smudger, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Never-Fail Eyeliner.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE HOODED EYES

Hooded eyes are very similar to, and sometimes confused with, monolids because both have a lack of lid space to apply makeup on. If you have hooded eyes, your eyelids are covered up by skin on the brow bone. That can make it hard to pull off some eye makeup looks since your makeup is effectively hidden when your eyes are open. For this reason, you should stay away from thin eyeliner styles.

THE BEST EYELINER STYLE FOR HOODED EYES

Don’t let your makeup disappear into your lid or even worse, smear! Opt for a bold look with a thick, bold wing—this will help to add definition to your eyes. Choose an eyeliner that is waterproof to give yourself some peace of mind. Try the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Liquid Eyeliner, which has a long-lasting, waterproof formula.

Another way you can make your eyes look larger is by tightlining your upper lash line and adding a couple of swipes of mascara.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE DOWNTURNED EYES

Think of downturned eyes as almond-shaped, with a slight downward tilt at the outer corners. The downward angle makes your upper eyelids look much longer than the lower lids. Finding the right eyeliner look is key in order to help give your eyes a lifted, open look.

THE BEST EYELINER STYLE FOR DOWNTURNED EYES

So, what’s the trick to faking a more lifted eye look? Creating an upward flick with your eyeliner! Use an eyeliner pen with a precise applicator, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner, to create a flick at the outermost corner of your eyes.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE UPTURNED EYES

Upturned eyes are one of the most common eye shapes. They are quite similar to almond-shaped eyes because they are oval in shape and have a natural upward lift at the outer edges. The difference lies in the fact that the lower lid is more prominent and appears much longer than the top eyelid.

THE BEST EYELINER STYLE FOR UPTURNED EYES

An easy way to enhance the symmetry of upturned eyes is, drumroll please...eyeliner! Eyeliner will help even out your eye’s upper and lower proportions so they look like they’re the same size. Grab an eyeliner in the color of your choice—we love bright blues, like the L’Oréal Paris Matte Signature Liquid Dip Eyeliner, Waterproof in Blue—and thinly line the upper and lower lash line before applying a thicker line at the outer corner of your lower lid.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE ROUND EYES

Round eyes are the easiest to decipher. First of all, you know you have round eyes if you’ve heard everyone compliment you on your big, doll-like eyes. And second, you’ll know you have round eyes if you can see the white around the top or bottom of your iris.

THE BEST EYELINER STYLE FOR ROUND EYES

With round eyes, the goal of using eyeliner should be to elongate the width of your eye shape to create a balance. A cat eye can help to create the illusion of length. The easiest way to achieve it? With the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner, of course! For a touch of drama, smudge black eyeliner along your upper and lower lash lines.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE SMALL EYES

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. If you have small eyes, don’t get disheartened, though. There are many ways you can make your small eyes look larger than life!

THE BEST EYELINER STYLE FOR SMALL EYES

One way you can make your eyes look bigger is by lining your waterline at the base of your lower lashes with a nude liner. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Nude.  

Editor’s tip: If you have small eyes, away from using black eyeliner on your waterline—it can make your eyes look even smaller!

By the way, don’t forget, it isn’t just your eye shape you should take into consideration when it comes to your eye makeup. Look to your eye color, too, and consult our article on The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Every Eye Color.