Makeup for hooded eyes: eyeshadow, eyeliner and lashes

Plan makeup placement for hooded eyes with your eyes relaxed and open. Keep a soft transition shade visible just above your natural crease, use a thin line of eyeliner along the lashes and choose lashes for the effect you like. This helps coordinate your eyeshadow, liner and lashes.

Does your eyeshadow disappear when you look straight ahead? Does a wing look different with your eyes closed and open? It helps to check your normal gaze more often while applying makeup. You do not need a complicated technique or a huge palette. Below, create a soft eye look step by step, with options for extra shine, a wing and false lashes.

What do we mean by hooded eyes?

With a hooded eyelid, the skin above the crease partly covers the mobile lid when your eyes are open. You may therefore see only a small part of the eyeshadow applied with closed eyes. In makeup tutorials, this is called hooded eyes .

The amount of visible lid can differ between eyes. Use your own gaze in the mirror as your starting point. The aim of this technique is to place colour and liner where they remain visible, in a way you like.

What do you need for this eye look?

• A mirror you can look straight into.
• Eyeshadow primer if desired, used according to its instructions.
• A light shade, a mid-tone and a darker eyeshadow; choose contrast that suits your skin tone and desired look.
• A small, fluffy brush for blending and a flatter brush for the lid.
• A narrow angled brush or fine-tipped eyeliner if you want to add a line.
• Mascara, false lashes and suitable lash glue if desired.

The Ultimate Nude Eyeshadow Palette by By Dash Beauty contains six matte shades and three shimmers. For example, try Nude as a base, Sand or Caramel as a transition shade and Truffle for extra depth. Pearl, Silk or Glow can add a luminous accent. Compare the colours on your skin: choose a softly visible transition shade and a shade with clearly more contrast for extra depth.

Eyeshadow for hooded eyes: 5 steps

1. Create a thin, even base

Start with clean lids without residue from a previous look. If you use eyeshadow primer, apply a small amount and follow its application and drying instructions. Primer can help eyeshadow stay in place, but a thick layer does not automatically improve the base.

2. Find the place for your transition shade with open eyes

Look straight ahead and relax your forehead. Do not raise your eyebrows to expose more lid. With a little matte eyeshadow, make a soft mark just above the natural crease where the colour remains visible with open eyes.

There is no fixed distance in millimetres. Start with a small area and assess each eye separately. You can then partly close your eye to blend, but keep checking with your normal, relaxed gaze.

3. Blend the edge and build depth gradually

Soften the transition shade with a small, fluffy brush. It is better to apply a little twice than a lot at once. Keep the colour strongest where you want the accent and let the upper edge fade gradually.

For more depth, add a darker shade near the outer part of your upper lash line and blend it softly into the transition shade. This emphasises the outer corner without darkening the entire lid. Pause regularly to assess the result with open eyes.

4. Apply a lighter shade or shimmer to the lid

Dab a lighter shade onto the part of your mobile lid you want to emphasise. For shine, choose shimmer eyeshadow intended for the eyes and start with a small accent. For example, place shimmer in the centre of the lid and keep the transition shade matte.

Matte eyeshadow is useful for creating soft shadow, but shimmer is not off limits for hooded eyes. Placement and amount determine how the combination looks. Again, check what remains visible when you look straight ahead.

5. Check the overall look before continuing

Look from slightly further away. Can you still see a soft edge of transition colour? Does the dark outer corner blend well? Do you like the amount of shimmer? Touch up only where needed.

Your eyes do not have to look exactly identical to create a coordinated look. Match the visible placement. Then add eyeliner and mascara if you like, or keep the soft eyeshadow look alone.

Eyeliner for hooded eyes: start thin

A wide line can cover much of the visible lid. Start with a fine line directly along the upper lashes. Work in short sections and check how much eyeshadow remains visible with open eyes. You can always add more emphasis later.

For a softer edge, use a narrow angled brush with dark eyeshadow. This is also a useful way to practise the direction of your line first. Dampen the brush only if the product instructions allow it.

How to shape a small wing

1. Look straight ahead with your eyes open and eyebrows relaxed.
2. Mark a short endpoint in the direction you like. Do not pull the skin taut.
3. Connect that point to the outer part of your upper lash line. Keep the line narrow at first.
4. Partly close your eye to fill any small gaps, then check again with open eyes.

If your crease crosses the wing, try a shorter accent or a softly blended line. The line may look different with closed eyes, as long as you like the result with open eyes. A sharp wing is optional.

Does your eyeliner transfer easily? A smudge-resistant or waterproof formula may help, but is not a guarantee. Use a little product and allow the liner to dry according to its instructions before continuing.

Which lashes suit hooded eyes?

When exploring our false lashes consider your desired volume, distribution of length and band fit. An airier style leaves more room for eyeshadow to show. If you want the lashes to be the focal point, you can choose a fuller style too.

Two different options to compare are:

• Natural Beauty: a subtle style with a transparent band and glamour level 1 out of 5. An option for gently complementing soft eye makeup.
• Elegance – 2 CM: a half lash with a transparent 2 cm band and glamour level 3 out of 5. This style accents the outer corner. The 2 cm refers to band length, not fibre length.

A half lash is not automatically the best choice for every hooded eye. Assess how the style fits your lash line and which part of the eye look you want to emphasise. More curl, length or volume is not always necessary.

Try the strip before applying glue and check its width according to the product instructions. After application, assess the result with relaxed, open eyes and blink gently. The band should not poke your eye corners. Read our guide to applying false lashes for the full steps.

Want to compare more styles? In Which false lashes suit me? you can read more about length, volume and full or half lashes. For help choosing a product, you can also take the Lash Quiz.

When your colour disappears or makeup transfers

My eyeshadow disappears when I open my eyes.

Check placement with relaxed eyes. Place a small amount of transition colour slightly higher where it remains visible, and blend the edge. Adding colour to the same hidden spot will not make it more visible.

My eyeliner takes up almost the whole lid.

Next time, start with a narrower line along the upper lashes or just an outer accent. You can also use dark eyeshadow for a softer transition.

A mark appears above my crease.

Check whether your liner or mascara had enough drying time. Use less product and, if needed, compare a smudge-resistant formula. Assess the result after blinking gently a few times.

My lashes make the look fuller than I intended.

Compare an airier style or half lash for a local accent. Look at the overall result with your eyeshadow and eyeliner, not just how the lashes sit in their case.

Frequently asked questions about makeup for hooded eyes

Which eyeshadow colour is suitable?

Choose colours you like that create the desired contrast on your skin. For a first look, a lighter shade, matte mid-tone and darker accent are a manageable combination. Placement with open eyes matters more than one prescribed colour.

Can I use shimmer on hooded eyes?

Yes. Pair a small shimmer accent on the lid with a matte transition shade. Look straight ahead to see where the shimmer remains visible and build the amount gradually.

Should I keep my eyes open while applying makeup?

Determine the visible eyeshadow placement and wing direction with relaxed, open eyes. Then partly close your eye to apply product or refine edges. Alternate and keep checking your normal gaze.

Can I wear false lashes with hooded eyes?

Yes, you can try different styles. Consider a well-fitting band, desired volume and how the lashes complement your eye makeup. Full strips and half lashes create different accents; your eye shape does not dictate one style.

Complete your eye look with the Lash Quiz

A subtle addition or a little more glamour? Answer the four questions in our Lash Quiz to discover which By Dash Beauty lashes match your preferences.

Take the Lash Quiz and find your lash style →