How to Determine Eye Shape

The basics of eye makeup application begin with determining the shape of your eyes. Finding a make-up technique that works for you is just as important as choosing the right colors for your coloring. Like other techniques, the more you practice and become comfortable with the line of your face, the easier it will become.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Mirror

1. Sit in front of a mirror in a room with good lighting. A magnifying mirror is not necessary, but it may help you focus on your eyes.
2. Focus on the space between the inside corners of each eye. You have close-set eyes if this space is shorter than the width of one eye. You have wide-set eyes if this space is wider than the width of one eye. For some women this length is about equal to the length of one eye and they do not need to make any adjustments to their make-up technique for this.
3. Become comfortable with the sections of your eyelid.
4. Close one eye and gently feel for the bone located about half way between your lash line, the section of your eyelid that runs along your eye lashes, and your brow line, the section of your eye lid that runs along your eyebrow. This bone is your brow bone and the dip underneath it is referred to as the “crease.”
5. Open your eyes and notice the amount of visible eyelid between your lash line and your brow bone. You have hooded eyes if you can not see any of your eye lid in this section. You have deep-set eyes if you can see some of your eye lid in the outer corners of your eyes, but this section of eye lid narrows as it gets closer to the inside corners of your eyes. You have standard eyes if there is an even amount of eyelid exposed along your entire eye.
6. Combine what you have learned to determine your eye shape. You can have one characteristic or two, such as wide-set hooded eyes or just wide-set eyes. You may also have standard eyes.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay attention to other the eye shapes of different women around you and notice how their eye shadow application affects the way the way their eyes appear.
• Ask a friend to evaluate your eyes. A second opinion never hurts.