Best makeup tips for hooded eyes

The very first point on any eye makeup agenda: determine your eye shape. This step is key because, while many techniques work for most eyes, some do not. Still, there are techniques geared specifically towards highlighting certain eye shapes, including the tricky hooded lid. Hooded lids, like Blake Lively's, for instance, are characterized by extra skin under the brow and have a hidden crease. Both details make the eye look smaller and create a canvas that does not work for standard makeup methods. It’s good, then, that top pros have developed plans just for the hooded eye.
With generic makeup moves, hooded lids can still look droopy or tired, but they no longer have to. Use the right combination of shadows, primers, highlighters, and eyeliners in all the right places to brighten and open them. Most of the tools are likely already in any basic makeup bag, but knowing where and how to use them is what matters most. These simple tricks of the trade demonstrate how to best apply makeup when you have hooded eyes.
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How to know if you have hooded eyes
The main characteristic of a hooded eye is extra skin below the brow that droops over the crease. This causes the crease to be either very subtle or even non-existent. The result is often that eyes look small and tired.
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Hooded lids lack surface area, which often means that shadows and liners run and smudge. To avoid unwanted smearing, learn the right way to apply eye shadow, as shown in the picture above. Get the full tutorial here.
Invest in a good primer
Hooded eyes call for sturdy and good quality primers. Not only will they prevent shadows and liners from fading into the fold or falling off, but they also make application smoother and make colors pop. This is not a step to be skipped. Get the full tutorial here.
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Bring your shadow up higher
Create a crease with shadow above the natural crease as a base for makeup application. Apply shadow starting above this crease, and blend toward the brow. Matte shadows, like the ones used here from Soap and Glory, tone down the appearance of the brow, while shimmery shades used on lower part of lid, like the ones from NYX Cosmetics, are reflective and make eyes look bigger.
Keep your arches up
Combat the droopy lids of hooded eyes by drawing attention up and away from them. Shape brows in a gentle arch just above outside of the iris. Then use highlighter, like one from Hean Cosmetics, to further define the arch.
Apply makeup with eyes open
Keep eyes open when applying makeup to hooded eyes in order to see the natural crease of lids. When eyes are open, the majority of the lid disappears, so keeping them open during application gives a clear picture of what makeup will be visible. Otherwise, a pretty application might actually be lost under the fold. Get the full tutorial here.
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Use matte shades
Matte shades don't attract too much attention to a droopy lid and can be used multiple ways, from a nude base, to highlighting to overall coverage. Get the full tutorial here.
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Cat eye makeup
Make the perfect cat eye with a combination of eye pencil and liquid liner, like one from Anastasia of Beverly Hills. This technique to fill, plan, and swipe is failsafe. Get the full tutorial here.
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