Let’s be real, hooded eyes can feel like one big mystery when you’re trying to slay your eyeshadow game, right? But here’s the tea: it doesn’t have to be that way! If you’ve ever struggled with your eyelids “eating” your makeup or just feeling like no matter how bomb your blending is, your look disappears; girl, you’re not alone. I got you!
So, what’s actually going on? Well, hooded eyes mean that your crease isn’t super visible because a little bit of skin or your brow bone comes forward more than it does with other eye shapes. It’s totally normal and soooo many babes have hooded eyes even though a lot of beauty advertisements like to showcase those almond or round eyes. (Like, where’s the representation, you know?) Anyways, not to fear, because today, I’m going to spill all the tips and tricks I swear by to make hooded eyes pop and show that eyeshadow off like it’s meant to!
The Perfect Base
Before you even think about reaching for those shadows, girl, prime those lids! This is like non-negotiable especially for hooded eyes. We all have that moment when our makeup shifts or creases midday, and; you guessed it; hooded-eye peeps know this struggle ALL too well. For real, creasing is the enemy.
I personally love using an eyeshadow primer instead of just concealer alone because trust me: it’ll lock it down better than your bestie keeping your secrets. Eyeshadow primers stop your makeup from creasing and give your colors a chance to shine.
You can apply primer with your finger and pat it all over your lid, even going a liiittle bit above your crease.
Always prime your eyes for the best shadow performance! Crease-proof and lasting; trust me!
Choosing the Right Brushes 🎨
Alright, let’s talk brushes. Ever find yourself thinking you’re blending for AGES and not seeing magic happen? Sis, your blending brush could be letting you down. For hooded eyes, you want tools that fit your eye shape.
Grab yourself a small blending brush. Instead of those big fluffy ones (which are still great but not the main bae for hooded situations), smaller blending brushes give you more control and let you get into precise spots. Hooded eyes need a lil precision since we’re gonna “fake” that crease a bit!
Here’s a handy little table to figure out which brush should be doing what:
| Brush Type | What It’s For |
|---|---|
| Small Blending Brush | Defining the crease and outer corners |
| Flat Shader Brush | Packing on lid colors (especially shimmers) |
| Pencil Brush | Lower lashline and precise shadow work |
| Big Fluffy Brush | Good for overall blending or diffuse edges |
Keep those close; you’ll want all these brushes on deck!
Fake Your Crease 👀; The Game-Changer!
Okay, kingdom-level hack time, ready? You wanna create a fake crease ABOVE your natural one. Yeah, it sounds kinda wild, but listen: if you apply your crease color right into your actual crease, it’s just gonna disappear when your eyes are open. So, you’re gonna “trick” the shape a little by blending slightly higher than what looks natural when your eyes are closed.
Take a neutral matte shade; something medium-toned; and run it along your “new” crease just above where your eyelids fold. I use small circular motions and build when needed until that crease stops ghosting and starts showing up. It’s basically the easiest optical illusion you’ll do today. Your eyes instantly look bigger and more defined when that shadow stands out!
Also:
Place your crease color a little higher than usual to make your shadows more visible when your eyes are open!
Don’t Forget About the Outer V 👁
The outer V is life for hooded eyes because that outer portion really draws attention. So, grab a darker matte shadow; I’m talking rich browns or muted maroons, whatever vibe you’re going for; and use it to deepen up the outer corners of your eyes. The key thing? Pull that shadow outward towards the tail of your brow.
This trick basically elongates your eyes and gives queen-level dimension. Blending is still super important though, so make sure everything’s soft and smoky rather than harsh and chunky.
Btw, if you reallllly want extra drama, you can wing out that outer corner just by using a tiny angle brush and your darker shadow to give you a more “cat-eye” look without needing to do eyeliner (but I’ll get to eyeliner tricks in a sec).
Keep Shimmers Low
I know; I KNOW! Sparkles are literally a mood. Shimmery shadows are often the first thing we reach for, right? But for hooded eyes, they act a lil differently. Don’t be sad; you can still use them! But gotta unlock another trick first.
Shimmery and light-reflective shades work best when they’re kept to the lower half of the lid, below where your fake crease is. That way, everything feels lifted, even if your lid is naturally descending a little bit. Use a flat shader brush to pack shimmers on and keep it really concentrated in the middle or just below the crease area.
Let. That. Shimmer. Shine. But remember: it’s all about balance!
So, go wild with sparkle on the lid itself, but keep your crease defined with mattes.
Winged Eyeliner; YOUR Way
Sis, winged eyeliner feels like Olympics-level skill sometimes, but let me tell you: hooded eyes bring a little extra twist to that challenge! Basically, the fold on your eyelid can sort of get in the way, but we’re not here to give up, thank you very much.
My trick? Do your outline of the wing with your eyes OPEN and relaxed like normal. Trust me. It’s wild awkward to do at first (totally feels wrong!), but as long as you do the outline first, your wing will work with the natural hood or fold your eye has, instead of against it.
Focus on keeping the lines thin where they cross the hood; big chunky lines can close off your eyes even more.
Line your eyes with your lids relaxed so the wing works with the actual shape of your hooded eye!
And if you’re still struggling, try a pencil liner first for a softer, smokier wing. Then buff it out with a small brush while keeping that angle. It’s forgiving and flexible!
Lift Those Brows ✨
Okay, this one’s not sooooo much about eyeshadow directly, but hear me out: brows are life and omg, if you’ve got hooded eyes, the way you shape your brows can help or hurt the way your shadows are playing out.
Keep your arches lifted. Not crazy high like you’re constantly surprised (nobody wants THAT), but groomed enough to create a little more space between your lashes and your brows. The more space you have up there, the more room for that eyeshadow to show off! For me, I love using an eyebrow pencil or gel to softly fill in and add definition while brushing my brows upwards.
Also, highlighter on the brow bone? It’s like VIP access to instant glam.
Avoid the Eyeshadow Transfer Drama
Now let’s address the elephant in the room; or rather the elephant on the eyelid: eyeshadow transfer. Ugh, it’s like you JUST finessed your eyeshadow, and it creeps onto places it definitely wasn’t meant to go. Hooded eye problems, I know, I know.
Here’s how to fix it:
- After you’ve done your makeup, take a translucent powder (matte formulas please!) and sweep it lightly over where the hood comes into contact with your eye. I pat it in place, especially where shimmers are. This eats up any oil, sets the makeup, and stops it from transferring.
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Another tip: setting sprays save lives! Finish your face off with a setting spray. Not only will your makeup last all day, but it can also keep your eyelids from getting oily from blinking around the clock.
Practice Makes Power
And last, the ultimate beauty advice: PRACTICE BABE. Whenever you hear someone say makeup is an art, they’re not lying. Playing with eyeshadow for hooded eyes can take a minute to master, but you’ll def get there. The more you play around the better feel you’ll have for what works with your unique lids!
Sometimes what you thought was “wrong” for your eye shape turns out just to need a different placement or maybe an angle tweak. Just experiment. Try washes of color on lazy days or go bold and glam on special nights out!
If Ari and Billie can own their signature looks, so can YOU. Hooded eyes are gorge, and now you know how to work them.
Let’s go make those eyelids POP!
<3 Su
