Beauty
How to apply eyeliner for your eye shape
Illustration by Laura Gulshani Image by: Illustration by Laura Gulshani
Beauty
How to apply eyeliner for your eye shape
Eyeliner is personal. Some women like it thick, some like a flick and some prefer vibrant colours. There is no single right way to apply eyeliner. That said, certain styles of eyeliner appear more flattering on certain eye shapes.
That’s where CoverGirl makeup pro Veronica Chu comes in. She has the goods to ensure that your makeup flatters every inch of you— especially your eyes. Find your eye shape, then discover what Chu has to say about applying eyeliner to make your eyes pop.
Almond
Defining characteristics: Almond is the “ideal” shape because it has a visible eyelid and is not too deep set. Almost any kind of eyeliner will flatter this shape.
How to apply eyeliner for almond eyes: To make your eyes appear more open, start applying your upper-lash eyeliner where your lashes naturally start to grow (usually, about a quarter of the way in). Keep the eyeliner thin and tight to the lash line for a natural look. To achieve a tight line, use small strokes to gradually build the liner, says Chu.
Colour and formula matters: For a soft, natural look, choose brown tones. Skip liquid and marker formulas, unless you want an intense look.
Product recommendation: CoverGirl Bombshell POW-der Brow & Liner in Medium Brown, $10, well.ca.
Round
Defining characteristics: A rounded eye with prominent whites.
How to apply eyeliner for round eyes: To accentuate the roundness of your eyes for a doll-like effect, trace from inner to outer corner of your upper lash line, thickening the liner at the middle (directly above your pupil, when you look straight into the mirror). If you want to minimize the roundness of your eyes, starting at the inner corner of the upper lash line, draw a thin line, then thicken the liner for the final quarter of the lash line. Trace the bottom lash line as well, smudging it out slightly to soften it.
Colour and formula matters: Choose a soft blendable eye pencil with a creamy formula.
Product recommendation: Stila Kajal Eye Pencil in Tiger’s Eye, $24, murale.ca.
Hooded
Defining characteristics: Generally, hooded eyes don’t have a visible lid when open. The crease sits very close to the upper lash line.
How to apply eyeliner for hooded eyes: Hug your eyeliner along your top lash line, then rim your upper waterline (the skin on the underside of your upper lashes) with the same pencil. Skip liner on the bottom lash line, but bulk up mascara on both top and bottom lashes.
Colour and formula matters: Choose waterproof formulas in black or navy.
Product recommendation: Lise Watier Smokey Kohl Velours in Noir Velours, $21, lisewatier.com.
Monolid
Defining characteristics: A flat, creaseless eyelid characteristic of Asian eyes.
How to apply eyeliner for monolids: Press your eyeliner directly into your top lash line, from inner to outer corner. Keeping it close to the lash line will allow the liner to be visible even when the eye is open. Thick liner can look messy, so maintain a thin line. Draw a subtle flick by pressing a dot of liner where you want the wing to end, then connect the dot to the outer corner of your eye.
Colour and formula matters: Stick with black. “Typically, a monolid doesn’t show liner as much,” says Chu, “so it needs as much colour intensity as possible.” Also, use a waterproof formula, as eye makeup on monolids has a tendency to smear.
Product recommendation: CoverGirl Ink It! By Perfect Point Plus in Black Ink, $7, well.ca.
Downturned
Defining characteristics: An eye shape where the outer corner sits lower than the inner corner.
How to apply eyeliner for downturned eyes: Create the illusion of your eye turning upward (instead of down) by drawing a graphic cat eye. Start tracing your line at the inner corner. About three-quarters of the way across the eye, flick upward and draw toward the end of your brow. Connect the outer corner of your eye to the end of the flick and fill in the elongated triangle. You will have a thick graphic wing. Skip eyeliner on the bottom, as you want to accentuate the openness of the eye.
Colour and formula matters: Try darker colours, such as black, brown, plum or navy. Light hues will only accentuate the downturned shape.
Product recommendation: Make Up For Ever Artist Liner in Matte Plum, $23, sephora.ca.
Deep set
Defining characteristics: Deep-set eyes sit farther back in the skull. They typically have a lot of visible eyelid.
How to apply eyeliner for deep-set eyes: Lightly trace your top lash line from inner to outer corner, keeping your liner close to your lashes. Trace the bottom lash line as well, then smudge it with your finger or a brush. Pile a lot of mascara on the top lashes.
Colour and formula matters: A blendable, smudgy formula is best. Jewel tones will brighten your eyes.
Product recommendation: Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Cult, $24, sephora.ca.
Read more:
5 amazing new mascaras
Smoke show: The perfect smoky eye starts here
Eye creams for every age and skin type
That’s where CoverGirl makeup pro Veronica Chu comes in. She has the goods to ensure that your makeup flatters every inch of you— especially your eyes. Find your eye shape, then discover what Chu has to say about applying eyeliner to make your eyes pop.
Almond
Defining characteristics: Almond is the “ideal” shape because it has a visible eyelid and is not too deep set. Almost any kind of eyeliner will flatter this shape.
How to apply eyeliner for almond eyes: To make your eyes appear more open, start applying your upper-lash eyeliner where your lashes naturally start to grow (usually, about a quarter of the way in). Keep the eyeliner thin and tight to the lash line for a natural look. To achieve a tight line, use small strokes to gradually build the liner, says Chu.
Colour and formula matters: For a soft, natural look, choose brown tones. Skip liquid and marker formulas, unless you want an intense look.
Product recommendation: CoverGirl Bombshell POW-der Brow & Liner in Medium Brown, $10, well.ca.
Round
Defining characteristics: A rounded eye with prominent whites.
How to apply eyeliner for round eyes: To accentuate the roundness of your eyes for a doll-like effect, trace from inner to outer corner of your upper lash line, thickening the liner at the middle (directly above your pupil, when you look straight into the mirror). If you want to minimize the roundness of your eyes, starting at the inner corner of the upper lash line, draw a thin line, then thicken the liner for the final quarter of the lash line. Trace the bottom lash line as well, smudging it out slightly to soften it.
Colour and formula matters: Choose a soft blendable eye pencil with a creamy formula.
Product recommendation: Stila Kajal Eye Pencil in Tiger’s Eye, $24, murale.ca.
Hooded
Defining characteristics: Generally, hooded eyes don’t have a visible lid when open. The crease sits very close to the upper lash line.
How to apply eyeliner for hooded eyes: Hug your eyeliner along your top lash line, then rim your upper waterline (the skin on the underside of your upper lashes) with the same pencil. Skip liner on the bottom lash line, but bulk up mascara on both top and bottom lashes.
Colour and formula matters: Choose waterproof formulas in black or navy.
Product recommendation: Lise Watier Smokey Kohl Velours in Noir Velours, $21, lisewatier.com.
Monolid
Defining characteristics: A flat, creaseless eyelid characteristic of Asian eyes.
How to apply eyeliner for monolids: Press your eyeliner directly into your top lash line, from inner to outer corner. Keeping it close to the lash line will allow the liner to be visible even when the eye is open. Thick liner can look messy, so maintain a thin line. Draw a subtle flick by pressing a dot of liner where you want the wing to end, then connect the dot to the outer corner of your eye.
Colour and formula matters: Stick with black. “Typically, a monolid doesn’t show liner as much,” says Chu, “so it needs as much colour intensity as possible.” Also, use a waterproof formula, as eye makeup on monolids has a tendency to smear.
Product recommendation: CoverGirl Ink It! By Perfect Point Plus in Black Ink, $7, well.ca.
Downturned
Defining characteristics: An eye shape where the outer corner sits lower than the inner corner.
How to apply eyeliner for downturned eyes: Create the illusion of your eye turning upward (instead of down) by drawing a graphic cat eye. Start tracing your line at the inner corner. About three-quarters of the way across the eye, flick upward and draw toward the end of your brow. Connect the outer corner of your eye to the end of the flick and fill in the elongated triangle. You will have a thick graphic wing. Skip eyeliner on the bottom, as you want to accentuate the openness of the eye.
Colour and formula matters: Try darker colours, such as black, brown, plum or navy. Light hues will only accentuate the downturned shape.
Product recommendation: Make Up For Ever Artist Liner in Matte Plum, $23, sephora.ca.
Deep set
Defining characteristics: Deep-set eyes sit farther back in the skull. They typically have a lot of visible eyelid.
How to apply eyeliner for deep-set eyes: Lightly trace your top lash line from inner to outer corner, keeping your liner close to your lashes. Trace the bottom lash line as well, then smudge it with your finger or a brush. Pile a lot of mascara on the top lashes.
Colour and formula matters: A blendable, smudgy formula is best. Jewel tones will brighten your eyes.
Product recommendation: Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Cult, $24, sephora.ca.
Read more:
5 amazing new mascaras
Smoke show: The perfect smoky eye starts here
Eye creams for every age and skin type
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