What Are the Differences Between Monolids, Double Lids, & Hooded Eyes?

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Why each eyelid shape is beautiful & how to flatter them
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Eyelids come in all different shapes and sizes, with monolids, double lids, and hooded eyes being the most common kinds. But, if you’re not sure what sets these eyelid shapes apart, we’re here to help! In this article, we spoke with makeup artist Cordelia Frost and beauty expert Joseph Harwood to learn what each eyelid shape is , what causes them , and how to best flatter them with makeup . We’ll also discuss cultural differences between each eyelid shape. Keep reading to learn more!

Monolids vs Double Lids: What's the Difference?

Monolids do not have a visible eye crease between the upper lash line and eyebrow. Instead, the lid is completely smooth. Double lids do have a distinct and visible eye crease. People with hooded eyes have an eye crease, but the skin below their brow covers it up.

Section 1 of 6:

Monolid vs Double Lid vs Hooded Eyes

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  1. 1
    Monolids do not have a visible eyelid crease. Monolids are a common eyelid shape that means the skin between your upper lash line and eyebrow is smooth. There is no arc-shaped crease that separates the upper eyelid into 2 parts. [1]
    • Many people who have monolids also have an epicanthic fold, which is a fold of skin that covers the inner corner of the eye.
    • Monolids tend to be more common in people of East Asian descent. However, not all people of East Asian descent have monolids. Additionally, people of other ethnic backgrounds can have monolids.
    • Celebrity examples : Lucy Liu, Karen Fukuhara, Sandra Oh, Simu Liu, Daniel Dae Kim, Seulgi (Red Velvet)
  2. 2
    Double lids do have a visible eyelid crease. Double lids are another common eye shape that means there is a distinct fold between your upper lash line and eyebrow. This crease divides the eyelid into 2 separate parts. [2]
    • People with double lids can have many different eye shapes , like almond , round, downturned, or upturned.
    • Celebrity examples : Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan, Michael B. Jordan, Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Jenna Ortega
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  3. 3
    Hooded eyes have excess skin that covers the eyelid crease. According to Frost, having hooded eyes means your eyelid crease is partially or fully covered by excess skin below your eyebrow. The skin folds down onto your upper lash line, making your eyelid crease less visible.
    • People with hooded eyes do have an eyelid crease, unlike people with monolids. Hooded eyes just mean that the crease is covered by skin.
    • Celebrity examples : Sarah Snook, Samira Wiley, Barry Keoghan, Chris Hemsworth, Dua Lipa, Blake Lively
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Section 2 of 6:

Why do people have certain eyelid shapes?

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  1. 1
    Monolids are a genetic trait. Monolids are a common eyelid shape that is primarily determined by your genes—it’s likely that someone in your family passed on their monolids to you. This eyelid shape tends to be more common in people who have East Asian ancestry, as nearly 50% of people of East Asian descent have monolids. [3]
    • That means that nearly 50% of people who have East Asian ancestry do not have monolids and instead have double lids; both eyelid shapes are equally common.
    • While monolids are more common in people of East Asian descent, they are not a uniquely East Asian trait. For instance, people with Nordic, Russian, Indigenous American, and Pacific Islander ancestry can have monolids. [4]
  2. 2
    Double lids are caused by genetics. Like monolids, whether you have double lids simply comes down to your genes. Having a distinct crease between your eyelids is determined by your DNA and whether or not your ancestors had this eyelid shape. [5]
    • Double lids are not unique to any ethnicity and are a common eyelid shape in most cultures around the world.
    • Double lids are considered a dominant gene while monolids are considered recessive. So, if you have 1 parent with double lids and 1 with monolids, you’re more likely to have double lids. [6]
  3. 3
    Hooded eyes can be caused by genes, aging, or fat distribution. Hooded eyes are another common eye shape that is usually determined by your genetics. For the most part, people are born with hooded eyes. However, they can develop from a few other factors, like: [7]
    • Aging : As you age, your skin loses its elasticity. So, the skin under your eyebrow might start to sag and hang over your eyelid crease.
    • Fat distribution : Some people carry more fat around their eyelid area. So, if they gain weight, they might notice more skin folding onto their eyelid crease.
    • Eye rubbing : Constantly rubbing the eyes can stretch and loosen the skin around your eyelids, causing it to hang over your crease.
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Section 3 of 6:

Makeup Tips for Each Eyelid Shape

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  1. 1
    Monolids Monolids are a gorgeous eyelid shape that can make eyes appear smaller or sleepy-looking. Because this eye shape lacks a crease, you use different techniques to flatter monolids than to flatter double lids. Using these makeup tips can help open up your eyes and make them pop, or accentuate the alluring, sleepy look. For instance:
    • Layer your eyeshadow vertically to define your eyes . First, apply lighter shades all over your lid and closer to your brow bone. Then, place mid-toned shades along the center of your lid. Focus darker shadows on your upper lash line. [8]
    • Use liquid eyeliner to help prevent smudging . Smudging and transferring eyeliner onto your lids can be an issue with monolids, so use a pen eyeliner or liquid eyeliner. These eyeliners dry quickly and tend not to smudge. [9]
    • Apply a thin line of eyeliner to open up your eyes . Aim to keep your eyeliner on the thinner rather than the thicker side to help your eyes appear larger and brighter. This still defines your eyes while helping to prevent any smudging. [10]
    • Curl your lashes and apply mascara . Curling your lashes also helps to make your eyes pop. Simply use an eyelash curler and then sweep on your favorite mascara, brushing it from the base of your lashes to the tips.
  2. 2
    Double lids Double lids are another beautiful eyelid shape. There are different makeup techniques for double lids than monolids to help this eye shape pop and appear bigger and brighter. To help flatter your unique eyes:
    • Apply darker eyeshadows in the crease to intensify your eyes . After you apply a lighter base shade all over your lid, sweep a darker shadow along the crease to define your eyes. Focus the color on the outer corner of your eye and blend it out well. [11]
    • Apply highlight in the inner corners to make your eyes brighter . To help your eyes pop and appear bigger, dab a matte or shimmery shade in a very light color onto your inner corners. [12]
    • Play around with different eyeliner looks to define your eyes . Most double lids look great with thin or thick eyeliner. For a more subtle look, keep your liner thin. For a more dramatic look, thicken up the line. Opt for a dramatic wing or subtle cat-eye, too.
  3. 3
    Hooded eyes Hooded eyes are stunning, too, and can make eyes look smaller or give them a sultry, sleepy look. Since this eye shape has less lid space, you use different techniques to complement your eyes. So, to help open up your eyes and accentuate their shape, try these tips:
    • Apply light eyeshadow on the center of your lid to widen your eyes . To help open and brighten your eyes, concentrate lighter shades on the center of your lids. [13]
    • Sweep darker shadows above your crease to define your eyes . Place your darker eyeshadow along the outer corner and slightly above your eyelid crease. This makes the darker shade visible, helping to emphasize and open your eyes. [14]
    • Apply a thin line of eyeliner using a liquid product to open your eyes . Like monolids, hooded eyes are prone to eyeliner smudging. Harwood suggests using an eyeliner pen or liquid liner and keeping the eyeliner thin along your upper lash line. This defines your eyes and helps them appear wider.
    • Brush your brows upwards to lift up your eye area . To give the appearance of a more lifted eye, comb your brows up. Simply set them with a bit of brow gel . [15]
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Section 4 of 6:

Eyelid Shape and Beauty Standards

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  1. Some cultures consider monolids beautiful while others think double lids are. Both monolids and double lids are beautiful eyelid shapes—neither is “better” to have than the other. What’s considered conventionally beautiful is different in different places, though. For instance, in some East Asian countries, double lids are seen as a sign of attractiveness. Because of this, some people with monolids get treatments and surgeries to get double eyelids. [16]
    • While getting double lids is a personal choice, it’s important to remember that monolids are beautiful and don’t mean anything negative about you. Beauty is entirely subjective and looks different to different people!
    • There are medical reasons why people with monolids might want double eyelids. Monolids can sometimes interfere with vision or cause ptosis, which is when your upper eyelid droops over your eye. [17]
Section 5 of 6:

Ways to Create an Eyelid Crease

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  1. 1
    Eyelid tape According to Frost, applying eyelid tape is an easy way to create a crease and get a double eyelid look . Simply grab a piece of eyelid tape with a pair of tweezers and place it on your eyelid, slightly above your upper lash line. Push the tape into your eyelid and then open your eye. [18]
    • When you open your eyes, the tape sticks onto your skin below your brow, creating a crease.
    • Feel free to put on makeup before or after you apply eyelid tape.
  2. 2
    Eyelid glue Harwood says eyelid glue is another way to create an eyelid crease. Simply apply the glue in a semicircle shape where you want your crease to start. Wait for the glue to get tacky and then use the provided plastic tool to push your eyelid in. [19]
    • It’s typically easier to apply your makeup before you use eyelid glue.
  3. 3
    Double eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) The only permanent way to get an eyelid crease is with surgery. There are several different ways a surgeon can create a crease. In one method, they add sutures along your eyelid to mimic the look of a crease. In another method, they cut away excess skin on your eyelid and then close the incision. [20]
    • Suture-only surgery is generally less invasive, takes quicker to heal, and does not create a scar. However, the results are often more subtle, and there’s a slight chance the sutures can become undone.
    • The incision-based surgery is more invasive, takes longer to heal, and can leave a faint scar. However, this is a good option for people who have excess skin around their eyelids, or their eyelids are impacting their vision.
  4. 4
    Epicanthoplasty For people who have an epicanthal fold, this surgical procedure can also help create a crease. During this surgery, a surgeon cuts into the epicanthal fold along the inner corner to help open up the eye. [21]
    • Many people get an epicanthoplasty when they get double eyelid surgery.
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Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    Are monolids or double lids better? Neither monolids nor double lids are “better” than the other. Both of these eyelid shapes are beautiful in their own unique ways.
    • Remember, what’s considered beautiful is entirely subjective and differs from person to person.
  2. 2
    Are double eyelids rare? No, double lids are not rare. They are a common eyelid shape in people of all ethnic backgrounds, all over the world. Double eyelids are also considered a dominant genetic trait, so they’re usually more common than monolids. [22]
  3. 3
    Are certain ethnicities known for having double eyelids? People of all different ethnicities can have double eyelids. So, they aren’t specifically unique to any one group or culture.
  4. 4
    What is the rarest eye shape? Generally, some of the rarer eye shapes include monolids, prominent eyes, and downturned eyes. Almond-shaped eyes and round eyes are some of the more common eye shapes.
  5. 5
    Are certain genetic syndromes associated with eyelid shape? People with genetic syndromes often share physical features, like the shape of their eyes. For instance:
    • Epicanthal folds can be a shared feature between people who have Williams syndrome and Down syndrome. [23]
    • Almond-shaped eyes can be a shared trait in people who have Prader-Willi syndrome or Baker-Gordon syndrome. [24]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/eyelids
      2. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2884917/
      3. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2884917/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/WxTnVWgOGLc?si=t3bDBKbVEM0V5YbC&t=121
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10049822/
      6. ↑ https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/59046
      7. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-best-options-for-droopy-eyelids-circles-and-sags
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/qOxDKasCzHQ?si=sI58kVg8nIq3MwcG&t=323
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/qOxDKasCzHQ?si=P8qwpSfPFVGrmKM0&t=555
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/qOxDKasCzHQ?si=KF-DZZaUr9ycx0uZ&t=528
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/bdT-jg_WnWg?si=SIw_o8-JAAqOTHCN&t=289
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/yvFriTVy5AM?si=Epm0YWk0j5Kcg8jI&t=211
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC87Ecfjlfw&t=140s
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC87Ecfjlfw&t=102s
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQNg9WCkTWk&t=135s
      7. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/11/17/363841262/is-beauty-in-the-eye-lid-of-the-beholder
      8. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14418-ptosis-droopy-eyelid
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/7hHuw7Cn-5A?si=V00iI13mQah6LiUh&t=69
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/yvd8mmgVBwc?si=-U3iAvTeU2k-z1yf&t=353
      11. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2884917/
      12. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11845064/
      13. ↑ https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/59046
      14. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15174-williams-syndrome
      15. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prader-willi-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355997

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