There is no right or wrong eye shape, only variation. The shape of your eyes depends on the lid, the crease, the set of the eyes and the angle of the outer corners, and each combination changes how makeup sits. This guide explains the common eye shapes, shows you how to find yours with a mirror and gives eyeliner and eyeshadow placement tips for each.
The mirror test for your eye shape
Pull your hair back, face a mirror in daylight and look straight ahead with a relaxed face. Check five things:
- Iris and white of the eye. Is the white visible above or below the iris? If it shows above and below, the eye looks round. If it shows only at the sides, it looks almond.
- The crease. Is it visible when your eyes are open? A crease that disappears under the brow bone points to hooded eyes. No visible crease is common with monolids.
- Outer corner. Compare the inner and outer corners. If the outer is higher, the eye is upturned. If it is lower, it is downturned. The canthal tilt guide explains this angle in detail.
- Spacing. The gap between the eyes is usually about one eye width. A narrower gap means close-set, a wider one means wide-set.
- Depth. Do the eyes sit forward or back under the brow bone? Deep-set eyes sit back, and protruding eyes sit forward.
Common eye shapes
- Almond: the iris touches the upper and lower lids, with slightly pointed corners. Most makeup works.
- Round: white shows above or below the iris, and the eye looks open and full.
- Monolid: a smooth lid with little or no crease, common in many East and Southeast Asian eyes.
- Hooded: the brow bone skin folds over the crease, so the lid shows little when open.
- Upturned: the outer corner sits higher than the inner corner.
- Downturned: the outer corner sits lower than the inner corner.
- Deep-set: the eyes sit back under a prominent brow bone.
- Close-set and wide-set: the spacing is narrower or wider than one eye width.
- Protruding: the eyes sit forward, so the lids show a curve.
Many people have a mix, such as hooded almond eyes. Use the advice for each trait that applies.
Eyeliner for each of the eye shapes
- Almond: a thin line along the upper lashes, with a small wing if you want one.
- Round: extend the liner outward past the corner to elongate, and keep the lower line light.
- Monolid: line close to the lashes with a thin or gradient line, because a thick line disappears when the eye is open.
- Hooded: draw the line with the eye open, and angle it up and out, since a line drawn with the eye closed can vanish.
- Upturned: a straight line along the lashes, without a heavy wing.
- Downturned: thicken slightly at the outer corner and angle upward.
- Deep-set: use a thin line and avoid very dark shades on the lower lid.
- Close-set: start the liner at the middle of the eye, not the inner corner.
- Wide-set: line from the inner corner to bring the eyes together visually.
Eyeshadow placement for different eye shapes
- Almond: place a mid-tone across the lid and a deeper shade in the outer corner.
- Round: blend darker shades toward the outer third to add length.
- Monolid: use a gradient from the lash line up, with color above the lid bone.
- Hooded: put a light shade on the lid and a deeper one slightly above the crease, so it shows when the eye is open.
- Deep-set: use lighter shades on the lid and mid-tones in the crease.
- Close-set: concentrate depth on the outer corner.
- Wide-set: focus on the inner third of the lid.
Eyeshadow colors look best when they work with your coloring. If you want help choosing, the color analysis guide covers shades by season.
Eye shapes and eyebrows, glasses and lashes
Your brow shape frames the eye. Lifted brows suit hooded and downturned eyes, while a softer curve suits round eyes. See the eyebrow shapes guide. Glasses frames can sit above the brow line for hooded eyes. Mascara and curled lashes open any shape. Choose what makes you feel comfortable, since every eye shape is a normal variation.
Check your whole face
Eyes are one part of a face. Upload a selfie to the free face shape detector to see your face shape and measurements, then pick brows, glasses and hair that suit it.
Related reading: eyebrow shapes, canthal tilt and facial proportions.
FAQ
What are the different eye shapes?
Common shapes are almond, round, monolid, hooded, upturned, downturned, deep-set, close-set, wide-set and protruding. Many people have a combination.
How do I know what eye shape I have?
Look straight ahead in a mirror. Check whether white shows around the iris, whether the crease is visible, where the outer corners sit and how far apart the eyes are.
What is the most common eye shape?
There is no reliable global data. Almond and round eyes are often described as common, but eye shape varies widely across people.
What eyeliner is best for hooded eyes?
A thin line applied with your eyes open, angled slightly up and out. A thick line can disappear under the fold.
