Makeup hacks that work for your friend might not work as well for you — especially when it comes to your eyes. That's because, when applying liners and eye shadows, you really need to keep your eye shape in mind. Everyone's different, and each eye shape seems to have it's own unique set of issues. Good thing there's always a handy hack (or two) that can help you sort things out and look/feel your best.
Remember, though, that anything goes when it comes to beauty. "Nothing in makeup is a law and you should be doing whatever you want," veteran makeup artist Ulla Goudin tells Bustle. As long as it makes you happy, it shouldn't matter if it's technically right or not. If you like it, that's all that matters. And yet, on occasion, you might want to achieve a certain look, or get past a few limitations your eye shape might have.
If you don't have an eyelid crease, for example, or your lid is hooded, you might notice it's more difficult to apply eyeliner, much less keep it sticking around for the duration of the day. The good news, though, is that issues like these can be easily fixed. Read on for some great hacks from makeup artists, so you'll know just what to do the next time you'd like to highlight your peepers.
Hooded Eyes
Hooded eyes often have a droopier lid, which can make eyeliner smear and mascara fade away. Here's how to get around it...
1. Always Start Off With A Primer
As Chrissy Mahlmeister noted on Buzzfeed.com, "Those with hooded lids know better than anyone else how easily their eye makeup smears and smudges, so invest in a great primer to get things off to a stellar start." This will help keep your handiwork in place throughout the day.
2. Use Shadow To Your Advantage
Apply liner and shadow with your lid droop in mind. "Do an even line [of liner] on the lash line and blend up with an eyeshadow," Goudin tells Bustle. "It can be frustrating if your liner keeps smudging throughout the day because your lids are heavy and hang over the lash line. Blending with shadow will prevent this."
3. Apply Makeup With Your Eyes Open
Most people look down, or close one eye, when applying eyeshadow. But you should avoid doing so at all costs. According to Mahlmesiter, an open eye will help you find your crease, making it easier to apply product.
4. Finish With A Waterproof Mascara
Since your lashes are likely touching your skin all day, definitely go for a waterproof mascara to keep everything in place. "Plus, long lashes open up hooded eyes in an instant," Mahlmeister said.
Oval/Almond Eyes
As far as applying makeup goes, people with oval or almond eyes often have a pretty easy time. For example, your eyes have a prominent crease, which makes applying eyeshadow easier. Still, here are some things you should keep in mind...
1. Go For Winged Liner
According to an article on Makeup.com, winged eye liner and a cat eye work well for people with almond eyes. "Both start with thin lines at the inner corner that get thicker as they move toward the outer corner, highlighting the eye’s pretty, upturned shape." It might be worth a try.
2. Avoid Putting Liner On Your Waterline
Applying a super dark eye liner to your waterline can make your eyes appear smaller, which isn't always the desired look. According to Makeup.com, you might want to use a white eyeliner instead.
3. Try A "Windshield Wiper" Technique
Because of your crease, it's not uncommon for almond eyes to look smaller, since they don't have much visible lid. So keep that in mind during your eyeshadow application. "When applying makeup, tilt your skin upwards and use a small crease brush that's oval," makeup artist Shara Strand tells Bustle. "Dust a windshield wiper motion on the bone (very lightly)." And you should be good to go.
Monolid Eyes
Eyes with a monolid don't have a crease, and that can make applying certain types of eye makeup particularly difficult. Here are some things to keep in mind...
1. Look Online For Inspiration
If all the makeup hacks you're trying are meant for eyelids with a crease, look online for someone else to emulate. "It's best to learn your eye shape and when you're looking for makeup inspiration, to look at people with your same eye shape," California-based makeup artist Brianna Tessier-Gutierrez tells Bustle. That'll give you a great place to start.
2. Experiment With Different Liner Thicknesses
Due to your lid shape, eyeliner can easily disappear when your eyes are open. So play around until you find out which thickness works best for you. As Christa Joanna Lee said on Teen Vogue, "Make sure to take a step back from the mirror, opening your eyes after you gradually increase the thickness to see what stands out."
3. Play Up Your Lash Line
"Giving the eyes more intensity at the lash base is key and not trying to create a false crease line," Christina Choi, founder of Chistina Choi Cosmetics, tells Bustle. To do so, she suggests "stamping" eye shadow along the lash line, then gently buffing upward. Here's a how-to video from Choi herself.
If you keep these hacks in mind when applying eye makeup, you'll have an easier time working with what you have, and way better results.
Image: Pexels
