Our Best Tips For Applying Eyeshadow To Hooded Eyes

It's no secret that doing makeup with hooded eyes can be a frustrating challenge. But before we go into that, you might wonder what hooded eyes look like, as this eye shape frequently comes up when talking about eye makeup. So, what's the hooded eye shape? People with this eye shape typically have prominent brow bones and ultra-low eyelid creases (via Today). Plus, your eyes are likely to become more hooded with time.

Since the eyelid crease is so deep and low on hooded eyes, it can be difficult to apply eyeliner and eyeshadow without smudging or losing the look in that intense crease. But don't let that stop you! If having hooded eyes doesn't stop iconic celebrities like Blake Lively, Jennifer Aniston, and Cate Blanchett from flaunting stunning makeup looks, that beautiful yet sometimes inconvenient eye shape shouldn't stop you either. Believe it or not, you can still nail winged liner on hooded eyes, and we have some tips for rocking eyeshadow, too.

Before you put on your eyeshadow, you should apply a primer. According to L'Oréal Paris, smudging is a frequent eye makeup issue for people with hooded eye shapes because of the less-than-average amount of space. That tendency for makeup to smudge is one of the most significant reasons why people with hooded eyes often get frustrated when applying eyeshadow. People with all eye shapes can wear a primer to serve as a base for the eyeshadow to latch onto and prevent smudging or messiness, per Makeup.com. Since hooded eyes are prone to those issues, everyone with this eye shape should use a primer.

One well-liked eyeshadow primer is the Urban Decay Mini Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion, available at Sephora for $16. This long-lasting primer has 4.2 stars and an 83% recommendation rate at the time of writing, making it an excellent option for makeup enthusiasts with hooded eyes. But if you don't want to spend on primer, you have another option. "You can also use concealer as a primer if you like," Jaleesa Jaikaran, a makeup artist, told Byrdie. Whether you use a specific eyeshadow primer or concealer, applying one of those products before putting on your shadow is a good idea for those with hooded eyes.

The cut crease look is perfect for anyone with hooded eyes, helping you create a more defined eyelid. "A cut crease is an eye technique of applying eyeshadow that clearly defines and separates the upper lid from the mobile lid by creating a sharp definition right in the contour of the eye," Eddie Duyos, a pro makeup artist and the Senior Manager of Pro Education & Artistry for Make Up For Ever in North America, told InStyle. So, to transform your hooded eye shape with makeup, you should explore the cut crease.

You'll have fun experimenting with the cut crease look, as you can find many examples and tutorials online. For instance, a TikToker with the username @makeupeducation shared a video explaining how to create a cut crease on hooded eyes. First, you should put on concealer and loose powder or use an eyeshadow primer. Then, add eyeshadow above rather than beneath your natural eyelid crease, and add a darker shadow in the same hue under that layer. Remove any shadow that got in or under the crease, then "cut" the look by adding concealer slightly on top of and in the crease. If you want, finish off the look with liner and mascara. There are many variations of the cut crease strategy, so don't be afraid to try different techniques and see what you enjoy.

People with all eye shapes should consider highlighting the inner corner of their eyes for a cute accent, but this technique is super beneficial for hooded-eye beauties. If you have hooded eyes, your heavy, low eyelid crease won't interfere with the inner corner of your eye, so you should focus on this area of the eye if you genuinely want to avoid any frustration when doing your makeup. A TikTok user with the username @gizmozay_ _ posted a video explaining how to create a striking inner corner highlight using a light, shiny highlighter. First, you should apply your highlighter to the tear duct and higher than it rather than below that area. Next, blend it up and into the other eyeshadow for a glamorous effect.

While people traditionally create the inner corner highlight with a light, shiny neutral, gold, or silver hue, some makeup enthusiasts have fun using bolder colors for this look. "When adding a pop of color in the inner corners of the eye, pick a shade that is bright, fun, and within your comfort," Denika Bedrossian, a celebrity makeup artist and global makeup ambassador for BareMinerals, told POPSUGAR. While we don't recommend using a super dark shadow, you can explore any color you want for this look, from sleek white to pastel pink to vibrant orange.

Of course, you should wear whatever eyeshadow color makes you feel most confident. However, light eyeshadows tend to be more flattering on hooded eyes than darker shades. Since hooded eyes already have that deep, heavier-than-usual eyelid crease, ultra-dark shadow hues might draw more attention to the low crease, and lighter colors can make your eyelids appear lighter (via L'Oréal Paris). Luckily, there are many ways to create stunning looks with light shadows.

There are a plethora of light eyeshadows and palettes, so you should have fun exploring as you figure out what's best for your hooded eyes. One eyeshadow palette featuring light pinks, blues, and purples is the In a Trance Shadow Palette, available at ColourPop for $14. The vegan, cruelty-free palette has a near-perfect rating of 4.8 stars with over 270 reviews, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants to experiment with colorful light eyeshadow. Moreover, the "Barely There" Palette sells for $21 at Juwel Cosmetics and is a great option for people who want super subtle light neutral shadows.

Everyone already knows that waterproof mascara is the perfect solution for anyone who wears makeup to a beach or pool — or for people who cry a lot. But waterproof mascara is also helpful for people with hooded eyes. "The biggest struggle for hooded eyes is finding one [mascara] that won't smudge all around. ... I would avoid any glossy or creamy eyeshadows that don't set. Those can cause your mascara to melt due to the hooded eye shape, and therefore transfer mascara to your crease and under-eye areas fairly easily," Vincent Oquendo, a celebrity makeup artist, told Marie Claire. Thus, waterproof mascara can prevent that annoying smudging for longer-lasting enhanced lashes.

One well-liked waterproof mascara is the No7 Mascara Stay Perfect Waterproof Long Wear Tubular Black, available for about $9 at Target. This ultra-long-lasting waterproof mascara isn't hard to take off despite being so reliable and has 4.2 stars with more than 200 ratings. Another excellent option is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara Makeup, selling for around $10 at Walmart. The product has 4.2 stars with over 2,000 reviews.