How do you know your eye shape?

Eye shape is an important facial feature that is typically overshadowed by the color of the eye it’s framing. While there are many types of eye shapes, including monolid, downturned and almond-shaped, people rarely know how to categorize their particular eye shape. 

Below, the different types of eye shapes are listed, along with celebrity examples and makeup tips to accentuate your beautifully unique eyes. 

Round eye shape

According to psychological research, round eyes (often mistaken for “big” eyes) are seen as more trustworthy than other eye shapes. 

A telltale sign of round eyes is that the whites of the eyes — called the sclera — are visible all the way around the colored part of the eye, known as the iris.

Credit: "Ashley Mary Kate Olsen 2011 Shankbone 3" by david_shankbone is licensed under CC PDM 1.0.

Celebrities with round eyes

• Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

• Hasan Minhaj

• Zooey Deschanel

How to know if you have round eyes

To determine whether you have round eyes, check to see if your eyes have the following characteristics:

• The inner and outer corners of the eyes are rounded, not slanted upward or downward.

• The eyes themselves appear large and circular.

• The whites of your eyes are visible around the edge of the iris.

Makeup tips for round eyes

If you’re looking for a way to emphasize or compliment your round eye shape, here are a few makeup tips to achieve the look you want:

• Blend eyeshadow from the middle of the eye outward, to the end of the eyebrow. This adds length and dimension to the eye.

• Use lighter eye shadow shades near the tear duct in the inner corner and use darker colors as you move toward the outer corner of the eye.

• Keep eyeliner and eyeshadow minimal on the bottom lash line. Use softer shades and only apply along the outer third of the eye.

SEE RELATED: Eye colors: The basics of eye color

Monolid eye shape

Having monolid eyes means there is no crease in the eyelid, whereas a double eyelid means a crease is present. 

Monolid eyes are commonly associated with Asian eye shapes; however, it’s important to understand that not all Asian people have monolid eyes. Eyelid anatomy varies among different Asian populations, all of which are beautiful.

Credit: "Awkwafina" by Casi Moss is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Celebrities with a monolid eye shape

• Lana Condor

• Awkwafina

• Sandra Oh

How to know if you have monolid eyes

Someone with monolids will have eyes with these features:

• Little to no crease in the lid

• Smooth or shallow eyelids

Makeup tips for monolid eyes

• Use an eyelash curler before applying mascara to lift the lashes. Dust some translucent setting powder under the eyes to avoid mascara smudging throughout the day.

• Layer eyeshadow colors vertically instead of horizontally. Rather than applying light colors near the inner corner and working outward, this technique begins at the brow bone and works downward toward the lash line. Apply the lightest color all over the lid, then gradually apply darker colors as you move down the eyelid, with the darkest color placed along the lash line.

• Rock a subtle cat eye using a thin eyeliner. Begin the wing at around one-third of the way from the inner corner of the eye, then flick it outward toward the end of the eyebrow. 

Almond eye shape

People with almond-shaped eyes will have a visible crease in the lid, and the iris will touch the top and bottom eyelid. Almond-shaped eyes also appear longer in width than in height.

Credit: "Eva Longoria" by Hispanic Lifestyle is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Celebrities with almond-shaped eyes

• Beyoncé

• Harry Styles

• Eva Longoria

How to know if you have almond-shaped eyes

Unsure whether you have almond-shaped eyes? Look for these traits:

• The eyes taper to a point at the inner and outer corners.

• The eyelids are relatively small and have a noticeable crease.

• The iris touches the top and bottom eyelid.

Makeup tips for an almond eye shape

To play up your gorgeous almond-shaped eyes, try these makeup recommendations:

• Apply the same eyeshadow used on the top eyelid along the bottom lash line to create a sultry, smoky eye.

• Use a lighter color on the inner portion of the eyelid and a deeper color in the crease and outer half of the lid.

• Go a little heavier with the eyeliner on the lower lid to highlight the almond shape of your eye.

Downturned eye shape

For people with a downturned eye shape, the outer corners of the eyes will be lower than the inner corner of the eyes.

Credit: "Joe Jonas" by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Celebrities with downturned eyes

• Anne Hathaway

• Joe Jonas

• Katie Holmes

How to know if you have downturned eyes

To find out if you have downturned eyes, try these helpful tips:

• Imagine drawing a horizontal line through the middle of your eye. If the outer corners of your eyes fall below that imaginary line, you likely have downturned eyes.

• Your upper eyelid dips to meet the lower lash line

Makeup tips for a downturned eye shape

• Rocking a dramatic cat-eye look will help lift the outer corners of your eye and balance the natural downturn. You can achieve this with a liquid eyeliner or using eyeshadow to create a smoky cat eye.

• Downturned eyes can benefit from a pair of false eyelashes added to the outer corner for a little oomph.

Upturned eye shape

On the opposite end of the spectrum from a downturned eye shape, upturned eyes have a natural lift in the outer corners. Also known as the cat eye shape, upturned eyes give an exotic appearance. 

Credit: "Megan Fox" by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Celebrities with upturned eyes

• Rihanna

• Kendall Jenner

• Megan Fox

How to know if you have upturned eyes

• Use the same method suggested for downturned eyes. If the outer corners of the eyes are higher than the imaginary horizontal line, you have upturned eyes.

• The lower lash line curves upward to meet the top lashes in the outer corner of the eye

Makeup tips for an upturned eye shape

• Accentuate your eye shape by extending eyeliner past the lashes on your upper lid.

• When applying eyeshadow, use darker colors on the outer corners of the eyes. This will open up the eyes and make them pop.

• Let the eyes be the star of the show by keeping other features muted. Opt for a nude lip or a natural blush and highlight.

Hooded eye shape

Those with hooded eyes have a strong brow bone with a deep crease that makes it difficult to see the eyelid.

Credit: "Gabrielle Union" by nick step is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Celebrities with hooded eyes

• Gabrielle Union

• Brad Pitt

• Emma Stone

How to know if you have hooded eyes

• Your eyelids have a deep crease that isn’t visible when the eyes are open.

• Skin from your upper eyelid (closer to the brow) appears heavy and covers the lower part of your eyelid.

Makeup tips for hooded eye shape

• Play up the eyebrows since they are a strong feature of hooded eyes.

• Avoid using dark colors on the hood of the eye to avoid a “sinking” effect.

• Use white eyeliner to make the eyes appear bigger and brighter.

SEE RELATED: How eye shape affects your vision

Other common eye features associated with shape

While the following characteristics don’t have to do with eye shape, they are common features related to the appearance of the eyes. 

Close-set eyes

People who have close-set eyes will have less than one eyeball’s width of distance between their eyes.

Credit: "Sarah Jessica Parker by David Shankbone" by david_shankbone is licensed under CC PDM 1.0.

Celebrities with close-set eyes

• Sarah Jessica Parker

• Tracee Ellis Ross

• Ryan Gosling 

Wide-set eyes

People who have wide-set eyes will have more than one eyeball’s width of distance between their eyes.

“Anya-Taylor Joy” by Greg2600 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. 

Celebrities with wide-set eyes

• Amanda Seyfried 

• Will Smith

• Anya Taylor-Joy

Deep-set eyes

If you have a prominent brow bone and your eyes seem to sit further back in the skull, you have deep-set eyes.

Credit: "Kim Kardashian" by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Celebrities with deep-set eyes

• Jennifer Aniston

• Emma Watson

• Kim Kardashian

Protruding eyes

Eyes that appear to bulge slightly from the eye socket, causing the eyelids to project outward, are known as protruding eyes.

Credit: "'Hidden Figures' Film Celebration (NHQ201612100017)" by NASA HQ PHOTO is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Celebrities with protruding eyes

• Octavia Spencer

• Rami Malek

• Nicole Richie

The effect of eye shape on vision

While the shape of the eyeball itself can cause certain refractive errors, such as myopia, the outward aesthetic shape of an eye will not affect vision. 

However, a condition called ptosis — characterized by a drooping eyelid — may sometimes interfere with vision. Ptosis may affect one or both eyes and varies in severity.

Though most cases are mild and are barely noticeable, serious instances of ptosis can cause the eyelid to droop so that the pupil is covered, which affects one’s ability to see. Treatment for ptosis depends on several factors including age, cause and severity.

READ MORE ABOUT CELEBRITY EYES:

Celebrities with ptosis

Celebrities with different-colored eyes (heterochromia)

Celebrities with asymmetrical eyes

Celebrities with hooded eyes

Celebrities with myopia (nearsightedness)

Famous people with sanpaku eyes

Page published on Thursday, June 24, 2021