For those with hooded eyes. Trying out the latest makeup trend—or even mastering a classic look like a cat eye—can be a little tricky. Having hooded eyes means that you have less eyelid real estate to work with and another obstacle to work around (as if applying liquid eyeliner isn’t hard enough as it is!). But just because your eyelids aren’t front and center doesn’t mean you can’t still get the look you want.
If celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Chrissy Teigen can rock hooded eyes and look smokin’ hot, there have to be some ace tricks we’re missing. We chatted with hair and makeup stylist Zena Cummings to get a few makeup tips for hooded eyes that may overhaul your look or simply spice up your daily routine.
1. Line your upper lid only with a fine-point eyeliner pen.
“The liner should be applied very thinly and not have too long of a wing,” Cummings says. Besides a steady hand and practice, she recommends a waterproof marker-style product, which gives you a defined line and more control. Cummings adds a warning that will make us sure to keep our lines tight: “Lining a hooded eye too thickly will overrun the eyeshadow and give eyes the appearance of looking smaller.” Small eyes are the number-one symptom of an improperly dressed hood, so be sure to hug the lash line closely.
2. Blend colors light to dark at an upward angle.
“The best products are shadows that are easy to blend and vary in their shades of darkness,” Cummings says. Eye palettes give you the colors you need with no guess work involved in matching complementary shades. She follows with the best way to apply: “Use a brighter luminous color for the inner eye and base of the lid, and a darker color in the top outer corner, being careful to blend up and out, avoiding the eye’s outer V.”
3. Prime your eyes to minimize transfer.
As if you needed another reason to keep your eyeliner thin, the hooded part of the eye might overlap with your eyeliner and cause transfer, resulting in a duplicate black line on your brow bone. Cummings recommends using a primer specifically for eyes, like blinc Eye Shadow Primer, and finishing with a setting powder or spray.
Also read How to Use a Makeup Sponge: 7 beautyblender Hacks from Beauty Pros
