How to Do Eyeliner on Hooded Eyelids

Co-authored by Joseph Harwood and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: July 21, 2023 References

Eyeliner can be a tricky skill to master if you have hooded eyes, which feature a pronounced brow bone and deep-set eyelid crease. ^{[1]
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Research source} Don’t worry. With a little patience and practice, you can create a sleek, sharp, and smudge-free look that will leave heads turning. We’ve tackled all your frequently-asked questions and concerns, so you can make the most of your eye makeup routine!

Question 1 of 6:

When do you apply eyeliner?

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1
Use eyeshadow primer first. Unlike traditional primer, eyeshadow primer goes directly on your eyelids, and helps provide a smooth canvas for your eye makeup. Tap a dot of primer over each eyelid, buffing the product onto your skin. Apply the primer from your lashes to your brows, so your eye makeup looks really smooth and consistent. ^{[2]
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- If you’d like to apply eyeshadow or liner along your lower lid, spread some primer there as well.
- Feel free to apply the primer with your fingertip, or with a flat eyeshadow brush.
2
Apply your eyeliner before the rest of your eyeshadow. Hooded eyes are a bit smaller than other eye shapes, so it can be tough to strike the right balance with your eyeliner. ^{[3]
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Research source} Apply a thin line of product along your upper and lower lashlines—this will give your eyes some extra definition without being too over-the-top. ^{[4]
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Research source} Then, go over the eyeliner with an angled makeup brush to buff out the product. ^{[5]
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- The “apply liner first” rule works best when you use a pencil or gel liner. If you use liquid liner, apply it after your eyeshadow. ^{[6]
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Question 2 of 6:

What type of eyeliner is best?

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1
Pick an eyeliner that dries quickly. Unfortunately, hooded eyes don’t offer a lot of lid space, so there’s a good chance your eyeliner will smudge at some point. ^{[7]
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Expert Source

Joseph Harwood
Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert

Expert Interview. 16 March 2022.} Choose an eyeliner with “quick-drying” on the label, like a gel liner, so your makeup looks as fresh and fabulous as possible. ^{[8]
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Research source}
- Waterproof products are great for hooded eyes. ^{[9]
 X
 Expert Source
 
 Joseph Harwood
 Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
 
 Expert Interview. 16 March 2022.}
- Think about using a pen eyeliner—these resist the oils that naturally build up on the eyelid, and don't imprint on the hood. ^{[10]
 X
 Expert Source
 
 Joseph Harwood
 Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
 
 Expert Interview. 16 March 2022.}
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2
Pick an eyeliner that complements your eye color. According to makeup experts, copper, gold, and navy liners look great with blue eyes, while plum, olive, and gold liners pair well with hazel eyes. Mahogany, garnet, and amethyst eyeliners are a great option for green eyes, while amber and dark blue liners really complement brown eyes. ^{[11]
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- Black eyeliner isn’t a great option if you have really light skin. Unfortunately, it can make your eyes look smaller than they actually are. ^{[12]
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Question 3 of 6:

How do you create a bold eyeliner look?

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1
Create a dramatic wing. Dip an angled makeup brush into an eyeshadow that matches your eyeliner color. Then, sketch out the flick of your wing with this eyeshadow brush. Finish sketching out the wing with your actual eyeliner, filling it in completely. ^{[13]
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- With hooded eyes, it’s actually easier to draw the wing first.
- If the wings on your eyeliner aren't as precise as you'd like, dip a cotton swab in a little makeup remover, then use that to clean up the line! ^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Daniel Vann
  Licensed Aesthetician
  
  Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.}
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2
Try the “floating eyeliner” makeup hack. For this look, apply the eyeliner around ¹ ⁄ ₂ in (1.3 cm) or so above your upper lash line. Your “floating” eyeliner might look a little out of place when your eyes are closed, but it’ll look really sharp and dynamic when your eyes are open. ^{[15]
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- Always apply your floating eyeliner on top of your existing eyeshadow.

Question 4 of 6:

What’s a subtle eyeliner look I can try?

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Tightlining is a great option. This is a fancy term for applying liner over your inner lashline , instead of creating a wing. Gently pull up your eyelid with 1 hand, so you can easily reach your inner lashline. Then, apply the eyeliner with your pencil, brush, or liquid product of choice. ^{[16]
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- Tightlining can be tricky at first! Feel free to take it slow as you adjust to the technique.
- Work quickly as you do this—if your eye starts to water, the product won't set. ^{[17]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Daniel Vann
  Licensed Aesthetician
  
  Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.}
Expert Answer

Q

How do I keep my tightline from smudging?

Daniel Vann
Licensed Aesthetician
Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator.

EXPERT ADVICE

Answer from Daniel Vann :

Apply your tightline swiftly to prevent smudging. If you go too slowly, your eye will start watering. This can cause running and will prevent your product from setting.

Question 5 of 6:

What are some good eyeshadow tips for hooded eyes?

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1
Create a balanced look on your upper lid with light and dark shades. Spread a light, neutral-toned shade over your eyelid first, which will help your eyes seem a little bigger. Then, blend a medium-toned, glittery shadow along the center of your eyelid. As a finishing touch, blend a darker shade along your outer corners, working toward the upper center of your eye. ^{[18]
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- You might apply a cream-colored shadow as a base and spread a shimmery blue shadow overtop. Then, you could blend a darker blue on your lid to make a tasteful gradient.
- Smokey eye looks also work great with hooded eyes.
2
Apply shadow to your inner corner and lower lashline. Pick out a bold shadow that matches the rest of your eye makeup look. Spread this color along your lower lid, stopping about halfway through your eye. Then, change to a lighter, highlighting shade, working from the middle of your eye to your inner corner. ^{[19]
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- When picking a highlight color, you might pick a light, skin-toned shadow, or use a lighter shade of your statement color.

Question 6 of 6:

How do I apply mascara to hooded eyes?

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When you apply mascara to your bottom lashes, you tend to widen your eyes in the process. If you already applied mascara to your top lashes, this may smudge the product around your brows. Instead, spread the mascara over your bottom lashes first, and then move onto your upper lashes. ^{[20]
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Question

Does eyeliner look good on hooded eyes?

Joseph Harwood
Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
Joseph (JoJo) Harwood is a Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert, Artist, CEO of Joseph Hartwood Ltd, and Creative Director of Team Baron Group. With over 15 years of experience, they specialize in all aspects of beauty, digital media production, and supporting diversity and inclusion efforts in businesses. JoJo has pioneered YouTube content and branding, with over 100 million views on their YouTube tutorial content and was the first and only winner of Simon Cowell's You Generation Competition. They studied an MSc in Cosmetic Science from the London College of Fashion, combining a technical understanding of cosmetics with beauty expertise.

Joseph Harwood

Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert

Expert Answer

Absolutely! The key is using a waterproof product, which won't smudge onto the hood of your eye.

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Question

How do you fix bad eyeliner?

Daniel Vann
Licensed Aesthetician
Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator.

Daniel Vann

Licensed Aesthetician

Expert Answer

You can remove just the bad eyeliner by dipping the tip of a cotton swab in some makeup remover. Gently remove the bad eyeliner, then touch up the area before trying again.

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If your eyeliner smudges, clean it up with a makeup wipe or cotton swab. ^{[21]
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How to Do Eyeliner on Hooded Eyelids

Steps

When do you apply eyeliner?

What type of eyeliner is best?

How do you create a bold eyeliner look?

What’s a subtle eyeliner look I can try?

What are some good eyeshadow tips for hooded eyes?

How do I apply mascara to hooded eyes?

Expert Q&A

Tips

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