Why Tightlining Is The Best Move For Hooded Eyes

Applying makeup on hooded eyes is no easy feat, especially when it comes to eyeliner. Lining the eyes is tricky enough when you have a lot of lid space, but hooded eyes don't have that luxury, as their skin folds over the lids and hides their natural crease. Hooded lids can be caused by aging or genetics, so it's pretty much out of one's control. That said, there's nothing wrong with having hooded eyes, and they can still have a beautiful beat. Just look to famous faces with them, like Renée Zellweger and Gabrielle Union. While hooded eyes don't detract from one's beauty, they do make eyeliner application tricky, which is why tightlining is the best answer.

Lining the top lid can seem futile when you open your eyes and the makeup all but disappears. Additionally, applying heavy liner on the top lids can make your eyes look smaller. However, if you use a liner on the insides of your lids, called the waterline, you can have the same eye-opening effect. This is precisely what tightlining means. How do I know? Well, during my 15 years as a professional makeup artist, I've seen all types of hooded eyes. I know they come in various shapes and sizes, but the one thing they all have in common is that applying dark liner to the waterline is the best way to make them pop. Oh, and it's much easier to do than you might think.

You'll need specific tools to tightline your eyes depending on your preferences. You can use a pencil or a gel liner, but one rule of thumb is that they have to be waterproof. I suggest staying away from liquid eyeliner, as it can run upon application and irritate your eyes. If you've opted for gel, you need a thin, slanted brush to apply the product.

Before you start, curl your lashes so that your waterline is visible. This also helps open up the eyes, which is essential for hooded lids. If you're using a freshly sharpened pencil, give the point a swipe along a piece of tissue to get rid of any debris that might enter your eyes. The same goes for gel: After you've deposited the product onto your brush, wipe off excess clumps before application.

Now that you have your products ready, gently lift the skin above your eyelid with your finger to expose the pink line under your lashes. Using the pencil or slanted brush, swipe the product across your waterline until the whole area is filled. Wait a few seconds for the liner to dry, and then blink a couple of times. If you see some transferred onto your lower lids, wipe it off with a cotton swab. The result should be a subtle look without any obvious-looking eyeliner, but if you want to do a cat eye, the method takes a bit more dexterity.

It's frustrating when you extend your eyeliner on your hooded eyes only to find that the finished result looks wonky. This happens when you look down to draw the line and the excess skin above your eyelids alters the shape of the liner when you open your eyes. That's why it's best to look straight ahead into your mirror as you apply the liner. Instead of lining your eyes from the inner corners, I like to start with the wing. Using a waterproof liquid liner, draw a thin line from the very outer edge of your eye. Next, make an elongated triangle by bringing in the liner toward your lash line, and fill in the blank space with your liner.

Don't worry if the triangle looks a bit like a bat wing. Clean up the shape by going over it with your eyeliner, and once you're happy with the result, line the rest of your lids. I suggest starting with a thin line and then adding more on if you want a more dramatic look. Finally, use a waterproof pencil to fill in your waterline to add more dimension. If you need some product suggestions, check out our fave eyeliner picks for Glam's 2024 Beauty Awards, which I also curated.