Beauty Guide
Makeup Tips for Hooded Eyes
Techniques tailored to your eye shape — create a more open, lifted look with the right eyeshadow placement and blending approach.
Explore the TipsUnderstanding Your Eye Shape
Why Hooded Eyes Need a Different Approach
Hooded eyes have excess skin from the brow bone that partially or completely covers the eyelid. This means standard makeup placement — designed for a fully visible lid — can disappear once your eyes are open. The key is working with your natural shape rather than against it: placing colour higher, blending upward, and choosing formulas that resist transfer.
Whether your hooding comes from genetics, aging, or another cause, the same core principles apply. Small adjustments to placement and product choice make a significant difference.
Core Techniques
Eyeshadow & Blending Tips
Tip 01
Blend Above the Crease
Place your transition shade higher than you think necessary — above the natural crease line. When eyes are open, this creates the illusion of a deeper socket and more visible lid space.
Tip 02
Use Matte Shades to Define
Matte mid-tones in the crease area add depth without drawing attention to the hood. Reserve shimmer and highlight for the inner corner and brow bone to open up the eye.
Tip 03
Highlight the Inner Corner
A small touch of a light, shimmery shade at the inner corner instantly brightens and widens the eye — one of the most effective tricks for hooded lids.
Tip 04
Lift with the Outer V
Apply a deeper shade in a soft V shape at the outer corner, angling upward. This creates a lifted, elongated effect that counteracts the downward pull of the hood.
Tip 05
Prime Your Lids
An eyeshadow primer is essential for hooded eyes. It prevents colour from transferring onto the hood throughout the day, keeping your look crisp and defined for longer.
Tip 06
Check with Eyes Open
Always assess your blending with eyes fully open, not closed. What looks blended in the mirror with eyes shut may appear too low or too heavy once open.
Common Pitfalls
Mistakes That Make Hooded Eyes Look Smaller
Avoiding these habits can make a noticeable difference in how open and lifted your eyes appear.
- Dark liner all around the waterline — lining the entire waterline with a dark pencil closes the eye. Try a nude or white liner on the lower waterline instead.
- Heavy shimmer all over the lid — shimmer on the entire lid can emphasise the hood rather than the eye itself. Focus shimmer on the centre or inner corner.
- Blending too low — keeping all colour within the natural crease means it disappears when eyes are open. Blend upward and outward.
- Skipping primer — without a base, eyeshadow transfers onto the hood and creates a smudged, heavy look by midday.
- Neglecting the brow bone — a clean, highlighted brow bone lifts the whole eye area. A matte highlight just below the arch makes a real difference.
Ready to Go Further?
Pair your eyeshadow skills with the right eyeliner technique or explore lash options designed to open up hooded eyes even more.