The unique shape of each person’s eyes contributes to their individual beauty, with hooded eyes often celebrated for their enigmatic charm. However, this eye shape can complicate the process of applying makeup. The upper eyelid’s dominance over the lower one reduces the area available for eye shadow and eyeliner, making many popular makeup styles like smoky eyes and winged eyeliner less effective and often invisible when the eyes are open.
The natural aging process, which introduces sagging skin and fine lines, further exacerbates these challenges. Despite these hurdles, individuals with hooded eyes need not shy away from eye makeup.
The key lies in discovering techniques tailored to enhance this particular eye shape. Makeup artists have developed methods to highlight the eyes, ensuring they stand out even with hooded lids. We consulted with celebrity and professional makeup artists to gather four straightforward eyeshadow tips designed to make hooded eyes appear larger and more striking this fall.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Kerrin Jackson, celebrity, film and television makeup artist and creator of The Makeup Refinery blog, Oscar Velasquez, professional makeup artist and beauty expert and Jenny Stokes, beauty expert and founder/ CEO of MinimalJapan.
4 Essential Eye-Opening Eyeshadow Tips From The Pros
1. Opt For Satin Finish Shadows
When it comes to the type of shadow to look out for, satin finish eyeshadows boast a subtle hint of radiance, lending a dimension that is neither completely flat like matte nor too flashy like shimmer. As a result, they are an excellent choice for women who want to open up their eyes and who desire a moisturized and smooth appearance.
Velasquez notes that when it comes to eyeshadow colors for mature beauties, looking at your natural eye color and then finding "shades on the opposite side of the color wheel" is a great place to start. As Jackson stresses, skipping red colors and anything that is too shimmery is essential (we'll get more into this below), as these could inadvertently highlight wrinkles and fine lines.
2. Try Neutral Matte Shadows
Since metallic or sparkly shadows can "cause lines and wrinkles to look more pronounced" than they actually are, Jackson says that the best bet for mature beauties is to "avoid these products and stick with neutral colors and matte eyeshadow types instead."
"If you must use a shimmer eye shadow, try a cream-based product that you can blend in softly," she advises. This will be "far more flattering and flexible on your skin" than a powdery metallic or shimmery eyeshadow.
3. Contour Eyes with Shadow Just Like Your Cheekbones
While you may typically associate contour makeup with accentuating the cheekbones, it's important to note that the same principle can be applied to enhancing the appearance of the eyes. "To put it simply, the contour trick means creating the illusion of depth on a part of your eyelid that doesn’t naturally have depth. ie. your hooded eyelid," Jackson explains.
"By using the right product and the right brush," she adds, "you can very quickly and easily create this look on your own hooded eyelids." According to Jackson, contouring hooded eyelids can aid in achieving a youthful appearance through enhancing the definition and form of your eye shape.
Additionally, it can help in reducing the impact of loose skin that often leads to the formation of hooded and/ or aging eyelids. "By using a shade that’s slightly darker than the skin on your eyelid, you can help make that skin recede," Jackson notes. Good to know!
4. Skip Red Shades
One eye makeup color Jackson suggests skipping if you want your eyelids to look less hooded is a red, scarlet or crimson one. "Red eyeshadows can add years to your face simply by making your eyes look tired, irritated and generally giving a look of being unwell."
There is very little that is flattering about a red eyeshadow, Jackson stresses, and she always advises "avoiding red on the eyes altogether. I generally avoid red eyeshadow because it is such a tricky shade to get right on the eyes," Jackson points out. This, she says, is purely because of the "color of our blood," which is red.
"What happens when we cry, or have an allergic reaction to something, rub our eyes, or get a bruise? Our skin and eyes go red," she adds. This, she emphasizes, is why using a red eyeshadow can inadvertently look like "you have been crying, have allergies or something unpleasant altogether is going on. It’s not a very appealing or flattering look."
The Bottom Line
Overall, Stokes concludes that eyeshadow “can emphasize your best features and when done right, it can take years off your face.” She acknowledges that “eye makeup can feel quite tricky” at first, “especially if you have areas you need to correct, but with these hacks, you’ll be applying eyeshadow like a pro.”
