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What are the 10 eye shapes?

By: Author Color With Leo

What are the 10 eye shapes?

Eyes come in different shapes that can enhance facial features and beauty. The most common eye shapes are almond, round, hooded, deep set, prominent, upturned, downturned, close set, wide set, and monolid. Knowing your eye shape can help you learn makeup techniques to accentuate your natural eye shape.

Almond Eyes

Almond eyes are the most desirable eye shape. They are slightly elongated and angled upwards at the outer corners. The upper and lower lash lines follow the same shape. Almond eyes look sultry and feminine. Many celebrities like Zendaya, Priyanka Chopra, and Megan Fox have almond-shaped eyes.

Almond Eye Characteristics
  • Almond shape that is widest at the outer corner and angles up
  • Both upper and lower lash lines have the same shape
  • Eyes appear lifted at the outer corners

To make the most of almond-shaped eyes, use these makeup tips:

  • Apply darker eyeshadow shades to the outer corners to lift the eyes up
  • Use white or nude eyeliner in the waterline to open up the eyes
  • Curl lashes and add mascara to elongate the shape
  • Add winged eyeliner to extend the almond shape

Round Eyes

Round eyes are shaped like perfect circles with the width and length being almost equal. They tend to appear more youthful and innocent. Round eyes are common in babies and children. As adults age, the eyes take on a more almond shape. Celebrities like Emma Stone, Selena Gomez, and Amanda Seyfried have naturally round eyes.

Round Eye Characteristics
  • Circular shape
  • Width and length are equal
  • Lash line follows the circular shape
  • Appear wide open and innocent

Makeup tips for round eyes:

  • Use darker eyeshadow focusing on the outer corners to elongate the eyes
  • Create a cat eye with liquid liner to lift the outer corners
  • Curl lashes and apply mascara to open up eyes
  • Use nude eyeliner on the waterline to define eyes

Hooded Eyes

Hooded eyes have an extra layer of skin that droops over the crease, causing the lash line to appear hidden. Only a small portion of the mobile eyelid is visible. Hooded eyes can make eyeshadow application challenging. Many models and celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Blake Lively, and Zoe Kravitz have hooded eyes.

Hooded Eye Characteristics
  • Extra skin hangs over the crease
  • Conceals much of the lash line when open
  • Mobile eyelid looks smaller
  • Eyeshadow transfers easily to the hood

Makeup tips for hooded eyes include:

  • Apply darker shades above the crease since color on the lid is hidden
  • Use shimmery shades on the lid to catch the light
  • Wing out liner just past the outer corner to lift eyes
  • Curl lashes and apply waterproof mascara that won’t transfer

Deep Set Eyes

Deep set eyes have more protruded brow bones with the eyes set deeper into the skull. This causes shadows around the eyes and makes the eyes appear smaller. Deep set eyes tend to look more serious and intense. Models like Cindy Crawford and Clara McGregor have stunning deep set eyes.

Deep Set Eye Characteristics
  • Brow bone protrudes over crease
  • Eyes sit deeper under the brow bone
  • Casts shadows around the eyes
  • Can make eyes appear smaller

Makeup tips for deep set eyes include:

  • Use light, shimmery shades on lids to brighten eyes
  • Highlight brow bone to reduce shadows
  • Apply white eyeliner to waterline to open up eyes
  • Curl lashes and use volumizing mascara

Prominent Eyes

Prominent eyes protrude out more and sit outside the orbital bone. The extra protrusion makes the eyes appear bugged out or bulbous. Prominent eyes are often genetic and can’t be changed. Actress Martine McCutcheon has lovely prominent eyes.

Prominent Eye Characteristics
  • Eyeballs protrude further out from the skull
  • Appear wide, round and bugged out
  • Sit outside the orbital bone
  • Usually genetic

Makeup tips for prominent eyes:

  • Use matte shades to reduce bulging effect
  • Apply darker liner just to the outer third of eyes
  • Curl lashes focusing on the outer corners
  • Use brown mascara instead of black

Upturned Eyes

Upturned eyes angle up at the outer corners. The crease aims diagonally upwards, giving the eyes a lifted, catlike appearance. Upturned eyes look feminine, playful, and youthful. Celebs like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Jenifer Lopez have upturned eyes.

Upturned Eye Characteristics
  • Outer corners tilt up
  • Crease angles diagonally upwards
  • Look playful and feminine
  • Opposite of downturned eyes

Makeup tips for upturned eyes:

  • Apply darker shades along the upper lashline
  • Highlight the inner corners to open up eyes
  • Wing liner out and up from outer corner
  • Use top lashes only to enhance uplift

Downturned Eyes

Downturned eyes point downwards at the outer corners, which can make the eyes appear sad or tired. The crease slants down diagonally. Downturned eyes are the opposite of upturned eyes. Actress Sandra Bullock has beautiful downturned eyes.

Downturned Eye Characteristics
  • Outer corners slant downwards
  • Crease angles diagonally down
  • Can appear tired or sad
  • Opposite of upturned eyes

Makeup tips for downturned eyes include:

  • Extend wing liner up and out to lift eyes
  • Use light shimmery shades in corners
  • Apply darker colors to outer v only
  • Curl top and bottom lashes for rounder eye

Close Set Eyes

Close set eyes have less space between them. The inner corners sit closer together and the bridge of the nose appears wider. Close set eyes can cause the illusion of a wider nose. Actress Debra Messing has beautiful close set eyes.

Close Set Eye Characteristics
  • Inner corners sit close together
  • Bridge of nose looks wider
  • Less space between the eyes
  • Can appear cross-eyed

Makeup tips for close set eyes:

  • Darken outer corners and lashlines to widen eyes
  • Highlight inner corners and tear ducts
  • Use nude liner in waterline to open eyes
  • Potentially use false lashes only on outer half

Wide Set Eyes

Wide set eyes have more space between them. The inner corners are farther apart and the bridge of the nose appears narrower. Wide set eyes can look larger and more stunning. Models often have wide set eyes, like Miranda Kerr and Cindy Crawford.

Wide Set Eye Characteristics
  • Inner corners spaced far apart
  • Bridge of nose appears narrow
  • More space between the eyes
  • Can look larger and expressive

Makeup tips for wide set eyes:

  • Highlight inner corners and bridge of nose
  • Darken outer v and outer lashline
  • Draw liner across entire lashline
  • Use darker lashes only on inner half

Monolid Eyes

Monolid eyes have a smooth eyelid without a crease. Many East Asians have single monolids without a visible crease. Creating a crease with makeup can help contour monolid eyes. Actress Lucy Liu has stunning monolid eyes.

Monolid Eye Characteristics
  • Lack natural crease in eyelid
  • Eyelid appears smooth and flush to the lashline
  • Common in East Asian eyes
  • Can use makeup to contour crease

Makeup tips for monolid eyes:

  • Use matte shades to contour crease
  • Apply darker liner with a subtle flick
  • Curl lashes well before applying mascara
  • Use eye primers to prevent transfer

Conclusion

Eyes come in endless shapes and sizes that create unique beauty. The most common eye shapes include almond, round, hooded, deep set, prominent, upturned, downturned, close set, wide set, and monolid. Knowing your natural eye shape can help determine the most flattering eye makeup techniques. With the right strategies, every eye shape can be enhanced to look its best.