Hooded Eyes
Close-up of a pair of deep-set eyes with heavy brow bones and softly draped eyelids, warm amber and charcoal tones, moody and intimate mood

Eye Shape Guide

Understand your eye shape, master makeup techniques, and explore every treatment option — from Botox brow lifts to surgical solutions.

What We Cover

01

Makeup Tips

Eyeshadow placement, blending techniques, and common mistakes to avoid for a more open, lifted look.

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02

Eyeliner Tips

Winged liner, smudge prevention, and techniques that work with hooded lids to make eyes appear larger.

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03

Botox & Surgery

Non-surgical Botox brow lifts and surgical options including blepharoplasty, explained clearly.

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04

Lash Guides

Five false lash styles suited to hooded eyes, plus curler and mascara guidance for maximum lift.

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Side profile of a closed eye showing a soft fold of skin draping over the eyelid, warm neutral tones, gentle and introspective mood

The Meaning

Hooded eyes are a natural eye shape where an excess piece of skin from the brow bone partially or completely covers the eyelid. The result can make eyes appear smaller or more tired than they feel.

This shape can be present from birth due to genetics, or it can develop over time. Known causes include aging, genetic traits, eye rubbing, body fatness, muscle structure, trauma, solar radiation, and sleep apnea.

  • Aging
  • Genetics
  • Eye Rubbing
  • Body Fatness
  • Muscle Structure
  • Trauma
  • Solar Radiation
  • Sleep Apnea
Full Explanation →

The Best Makeup Brands For Hooded Eye Tutorials

Hooded eyes have a fold of skin that partially covers the crease, so standard makeup demonstrations can be difficult to follow. A look that appears lifted on a model with a visible crease may disappear when the eyes are open. The most useful tutorials show placement with the eyes relaxed, explain where colour should sit above the natural fold, and demonstrate techniques from several angles.

The best makeup brands that specialize in hooded eye tutorials tend to share more than product instructions. They explain how to adapt eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, false lashes, and brows to different forms of hooding, including deep-set hooded eyes, mature eyelids, monolids, and uneven creases. Their education is practical because it connects a product with a specific eye-shape problem.

For Australian shoppers, accessibility matters as much as technique. Products may need to withstand a humid Brisbane day, a hot Sydney commute, or a dry Melbourne winter, while shade ranges and stock levels can differ between Mecca, Sephora Australia, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, and brand websites. A good tutorial should help you choose wisely rather than encourage an expensive drawer full of products.

What makes a hooded-eye tutorial genuinely useful

A reliable tutorial begins by showing the eye open and relaxed. This reveals whether the crease is visible, how much lid space remains, and where the brow bone sits. Demonstrations filmed only with closed eyes can make a technique look impressive while hiding the practical issue: the makeup may vanish as soon as you look straight ahead.

Look for educators who explain “fake crease” placement, soft wing direction, and the difference between lid colour and transition colour. For hooded eyes, a matte transition shade is often placed slightly above the natural fold so it remains visible. Shimmer usually works best on the mobile lid rather than directly beneath the heaviest fold, where it can transfer or create unwanted texture.

The strongest brands also address movement. Hooded eyelids can rub against liner and shadow, particularly in warmer weather or during an active day. Tutorials should cover primer, thin layers, setting methods, tubing mascara, and waterproof formulas without suggesting that every person needs a full-coverage or heavily powdered look.

Brands with clear education and adaptable products

MAC remains a useful starting point because its artists regularly explain eye-shape correction, brush control, and liner placement. The brand’s broad colour range makes it easier to practise with neutral mattes before moving to stronger shades. MAC tutorials often suit beginners who want a classic smoky eye, a soft pencil line, or a lifted outer corner without following a rigid trend.

Bobbi Brown is especially helpful for people who prefer polished, wearable makeup. Its approach generally favours soft definition, tightlining, neutral shadow, and carefully curled lashes. Those methods translate well to hooded eyes because they create structure without placing a thick block of dark colour across the fold. The brand’s counter demonstrations can also be useful for shoppers who want to see the technique in person.

Urban Decay has long been associated with eyeshadow education, particularly smoky looks and long-wearing formulas. Its tutorials can help hooded-eye wearers understand how to build depth gradually. Start with a small amount of matte colour at the outer corner, keep the deepest shade close to the lash line, and blend upward only as far as the open eye requires.

For Australian customers, these brands are often easier to investigate through local counters and retailers rather than relying on overseas tutorials. A Mecca consultation, a MAC store appointment, or a Sephora Australia product demonstration can reveal whether a formula creases on your eyelid before you commit to the full size. Stock can vary, so checking the local shade range is worthwhile.

Brands that teach soft, lifted eyes

Charlotte Tilbury’s tutorials are popular with people who want a softly sculpted, glamorous finish. Its signature techniques usually emphasise a lighter lid, a deeper outer corner, and a lifted shadow shape. Hooded-eye wearers should modify the placement rather than copy the printed palette diagram exactly: keep the outer colour visible with the eye open and avoid dragging the darkest shade too far into the fold.

Viseart is a strong choice for learning controlled blending because its palettes are organised around coordinated colour stories and buildable textures. The brand’s professional background makes its education particularly useful for understanding transition shades, tonal depth, and brush pressure. A small, tapered brush can place colour precisely, while a clean fluffy brush softens only the edges that need diffusing.

Natasha Denona tutorials are helpful for people who enjoy more dimensional eyeshadow. The brand often demonstrates multiple finishes, including matte, metallic, and sparkle textures. With hooded lids, apply metallic shades with a fingertip or flat brush to the centre of the visible lid, then check the result with the eyes open. Keep sparkle away from areas where repeated contact causes transfer.

For a detailed explanation of how placement changes on deeper-set hooded eyes, use this deep-set placement guide before copying a palette look. It can help distinguish between a genuinely deep socket and a fold that simply sits lower over the lid.

Tutorial-led choices for eyeliner and lashes

Many hooded-eye tutorials fail at the eyeliner stage by drawing a thick, straight line across the entire lid. Brands such as Stila, Inglot, and KVD Beauty are useful for learning fine-line control, but the technique matters more than the label. A slim line along the upper lashes usually preserves more lid space than a broad graphic strip, and a small lifted flick can be extended only after the eye is open.

Gel pencil is often more forgiving than liquid liner for beginners. It allows the line to be smudged before it sets and can be concentrated at the outer third. If your eyelid folds over the line, look for a quick-drying, transfer-resistant formula and allow it to set while the eye remains gently lowered. Waterproof products can be particularly practical for humid coastal areas, though they require a proper oil-based remover.

Lashes can create lift without adding much shadow. Curl at the base, middle, and tip rather than clamping once at the end. A lengthening or tubing mascara may keep the fringe visible, while a very heavy volumising formula can weigh down straight lashes. Half lashes or individual clusters placed at the outer corner often suit hooded eyes better than a dense strip that presses against the fold.

Australian heat changes the equation. A makeup look that lasts through a cool Adelaide morning may need a stronger primer and lighter cream layers for a summer wedding in Perth or a humid afternoon in Cairns. The local beauty aisle is full of long-wear claims, but testing a thin application is more useful than layering several products at once.

Tools and formulas that make demonstrations easier

Brush education is one reason professional brands remain valuable. A small flat brush places pigment, a short tapered brush adds depth near the lash line, and a soft domed brush blends above the fold without spreading colour across the whole brow area. Too-large brushes can make a hooded eye look muddy, particularly when the socket is deep or the eyes are close-set.

The right tools also reduce pressure. Pressing pigment onto the lid generally creates more intensity and less fallout than sweeping repeatedly. For blending, use light circular movements at the edge of the colour rather than scrubbing the entire eyelid. The recommended blending brush guide offers more detail for deeper-set shapes.

Formula selection should follow the eyelid rather than a trend. Matte shadows can define a fold without highlighting texture, satin finishes add gentle light, and large glitter particles may migrate into creases. Cream shadows can be convenient, but they need a compatible powder or a long-wearing base if your eyelids become oily. Applying less product is often the simplest way to reduce creasing.

Australian retail habits can support this process. Priceline and Chemist Warehouse make it easier to compare affordable mascaras, primers, and eye pencils, while Mecca and Sephora Australia provide access to prestige formulas and staff advice. Use testers hygienically, ask about return policies, and remember that a product’s performance in an air-conditioned shop may differ from its wear during an outdoor arvo.

Choosing tutorials for mature or uneven hooded eyes

Mature hooded eyes benefit from tutorials that respect texture instead of trying to erase it. A softly diffused matte shade, a thin satin highlight, and a curled lash can look more flattering than a sharp cut crease. Avoid pulling the outer eyelid tightly while applying liner, as releasing the skin can change the shape and create a broken-looking line.

Uneven hooding is also normal. One eye may have more fold coverage, a lower brow, or a slightly different crease direction. Apply the makeup with both eyes open, adjust each side separately, and use the more covered eye as the guide for the visible height of the shadow. Symmetry usually comes from balancing the open-eye appearance rather than measuring identical closed-eye shapes.

Tutorials should also acknowledge that makeup is optional. If hooding affects peripheral vision or creates persistent irritation, a consultation with a qualified medical professional is more appropriate than trying increasingly strong cosmetic techniques. Information about treatment options can help readers understand procedures such as a brow lift or blepharoplasty, including preparation, aftercare, and possible risks, without treating surgery as a beauty requirement.

The most useful educators show alternatives at several skill levels: a five-minute pencil-and-mascara routine, a softly defined shadow look, and a more elaborate evening style. That flexibility matters in Australia, where everyday makeup may need to move from an office in Melbourne to dinner outdoors, or from a school run to a long summer event.

Choose brands that teach you how to adapt, not simply what to buy. Begin with one neutral palette, a reliable primer, a fine liner or pencil, and a mascara that holds your curl. Practise with your eyes open, photograph the result in natural light, and build your routine around the techniques that remain visible, comfortable, and wearable through real Australian conditions.

Plastic Surgery

For those seeking a more lasting result, plastic surgery — including blepharoplasty — is covered as a treatment option for hooded eyes. Surgery addresses the excess skin directly and is considered an alternative to non-surgical approaches like Botox.

The site's surgery guide explains the procedure, what to expect, and how it compares to non-surgical routes, helping readers make informed decisions about their options.

Read the Surgery Guide →

Celebrities with Hooded Eyes

Hooded eyes can enhance facial expressions and contribute to a distinctive, memorable look. These ten well-known figures all share the eye shape.

Jennifer Aniston

Leonardo DiCaprio

Solange Knowles

Taylor Swift

Michelle Williams

Robert Pattinson

Blake Lively

Selena Gomez

Gigi Hadid

Benicio del Toro

See All Profiles →

Hooded vs Non-Hooded

Hooded Eyes

  • Less visible crease due to extra skin draping over the lid
  • Eyes can appear smaller or more tired
  • Makeup techniques require adjusted placement and blending
  • Can result from genetics, aging, trauma, or solar radiation
  • Addressed with makeup, Botox, or surgery

Non-Hooded Eyes

  • Clearly defined, visible crease above the lid
  • Eyes appear more open and awake at rest
  • Standard makeup techniques apply more directly
  • Aging effects on the lid are typically less pronounced
  • Fewer treatment considerations needed

Full Comparison →

Best Lashes for Hooded Eyes

01

Wispy Lashes

Varied length spikes create texture and the illusion of depth without weighing down the lid.

02

Flared / Cat-Eye

Longer outer-corner lashes draw the eye outward and upward, counteracting the hood effect.

03

Natural Length

A uniform, moderate length that adds definition without overwhelming a hooded lid.

04

Half / Outer Corner

Applied only to the outer half, these open up the eye shape and are easier to manage on hooded lids.

05

Lifted Curl (D or L)

A strong upward curl (D or L curl) lifts lashes away from the hood, keeping them visible throughout the day.

The guide also covers lash curlers, mascara recommendations, and step-by-step instructions for fixing false lashes on hooded eyelids.

Full Lash Guide →

Hooded Eyes & Makeup Help

Whether you are just beginning your makeup journey or have been experimenting with different looks for years, we are glad you are here.

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