Determining the shape of your eyes is very simple; all you need is a mirror and a few minutes at your disposal. In addition to the shape of the eyes, pay attention to their position in the face, which will affect their overall appearance.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identify the Shape
Step 1. Look at your eyes in front of a mirror
Go to a well-lit room and bring the mirror as close to your face as possible to have a clear view of at least one eye.
- A magnifying mirror is ideal, but any other type of mirror is fine if it allows you to see your eyes clearly. So, whether they are stationary, or portable, like compact ones, they will be fine too.
- Natural light provides ideal lighting; however, if it allows you to see your eyes clearly, artificial light will also be fine.
Step 2. See if your eyelids have a crease
Observe your mobile eyelid; if there is no crease, then you have single eyelid eyes. If, on the other hand, the crease is present, you will need to follow other steps before you can determine the shape.
- Note that in true single eyelid eyes the crease is completely absent and not visible.
- If you have single eyelid eyes, there is no need to continue following the steps below; you can go directly to the "Location" section.
Step 3. Note the location of the outer corners
Imagine that there is a straight, horizontal line extending through the center of both eyes. Notice if the outer sides of your eyes are above or below this line. If they are on top, then you have "upturned" eyes; otherwise, if the sides are below, you have "downward" eyes.
- Imagining a center line can be difficult; to help you, you can use a very thin pencil and place it at the height of the center of one eye. Use the free eye to examine the position of the corner of the other eye.
- If the outer corners of your eyes are near the center line, continue following the steps to identify the shape.
- If you have "up" or "down" eyes, go directly to the "Position" section.
Step 4. Look closely at the crease of the eyelids
Open your eyes and see if the crease is visible or hidden. If it's hidden under the top of the eyelid or the brow bone, then you have "hooded" eyes.
- If you have discovered that you have "hooded" eyes, go directly to the "Location" section.
- If the crease of the eyelid is visible, continue to follow the last steps of this section.
Step 5. Look at the whites of your eyes
Specifically, look at the white part around the iris - the colored portion of the eye. If you see white above or below the iris, then you have "round" eyes. If, on the other hand, you can't see white either above or below the iris, you have "almond-shaped" eyes.
- Both "round" and "almond" eyes are typical shapes.
- If you can't identify other features in the shape, as explained in the previous steps, then your eyes will be "round" or "almond shaped".
- This was the last aspect to consider; now observe the position of your eyes in relation to your face.
Part 2 of 3: Identify the Location
Step 1. Look in the mirror again
Just like you did before, stand in front of a mirror in a well-lit room; this time though, make sure both eyes are visible in the mirror. Just one would not be enough to determine the location.
Step 2. Examine the insides of the eyes
More precisely, look at the space between the inner sides of both eyes. If this space is shorter than the length of an eye, then you have close-set eyes. If the gap is longer than the length of an eye, then you have eyes that are far apart.
- It is also possible that this space is the same size as the eyeball. In this case, the length of the space is irrelevant and should not be taken into account.
- This step only identifies the width of the eye. It affects neither depth nor size; so you still have to follow the next steps even if you have close or distant eyes.
Step 3. Consider the depth of your eyes
Many people don't need to take depth into account when determining eye shape; however, some have sunken or bulging eyes.
- The sunken eyes are as if they are positioned deeper within the sockets, and the eyelids look short and small.
- Conversely, bulging eyes protrude out of the socket towards the upper lash line.
- As this step is only for identifying the depth of the eyes, you still need to follow the next steps to determine the size.
Step 4. Compare your eyes to the rest of your face
In particular, with the mouth and nose. A medium size will be similar to or slightly smaller than the size of your nose and mouth. If the eyes are much smaller than the reference points, then you have small eyes; in the opposite case, that is, if they are much larger, you have big eyes.
As with depth, for many it is not necessary to pay attention to the size of the eyes
Part 3 of 3: Optional Makeup Tips Based on Eye Shape and Position
Step 1. Apply makeup according to the shape
For many women, the shape of the eyes determines the best makeup procedures.
- For single eyelid eyes, create shades of eyeshadow for a voluminous effect. Apply dark colors near the lash line, soft neutral tones towards the center, and bright colors near the eyebrows.
- If you have upturned eyes, apply dark eyeshadow or eyeliner to the lower outer corner of the eye, creating the effect of a lower outer corner.
- If you have downward eyes, apply the eyeliner near the upper lash line and blend all over the eye socket, but only two-thirds of the eye. This trick helps to "raise" the general appearance of the eye.
- For hooded eyes, use medium dark matte colors and apply only a small amount so as not to crush the eye.
- If you have round eyes, apply medium dark tones in the center and use lighter tones to brighten the corners. This way, you will narrow the shape of the eye.
- If you have almond-shaped eyes, then you have that shape that many consider ideal. Any kind of makeup will suit you.
Step 2. Consider the distance
If you have eyes that are particularly far away, or close together, it is best to keep these aspects in mind when deciding on the type of makeup.
- For close eyes, it is advisable to use light colors in the inner corners, and dark colors in the outer ones. Outline the outer corners with mascara to elongate the eyes.
- For faraway eyes, apply dark eyeliner as close to the inner corners as possible, and apply mascara covering all upper lashes. This way, the eyes will appear closer.
Step 3. Consider depth as well
Depth doesn't necessarily play a significant role in applying makeup; however, there are some things worth considering.
- If you have deep eyes, choose light colors to apply on the eyelid and darker colors above the orbit line. This helps deflect the shadow of your eyes, making them more prominent.
- If you have bulging eyes, apply medium-dark colors around the top and bottom of the eye, extending the color no further than the crease. Adding more color than usual will make the eye more shadowed, making it appear more indented.
Step 4. Note the characteristics of the small or large eyes
The amount of makeup you use should vary if your eyes are different in size than normal.
- Small eyes tend to get squashed when you use dark colors; therefore prefer light or medium tones and avoid weighing down the lash line with too much eyeliner or mascara.
- Big eyes provide a great variety of looks. Medium dark tones are ideal, because light colors further enlarge the eyes.
