Tips & Tricks

How To: Correct The Shape Of Your Eyes With Eyeshadow

February 10, 2006

Eyeshadow application is no doubt my favorite part of doing makeup! Not only can you create different looks through the use of different colors, you can also use eyeshadow to alter the shape of your eyes and correct your flaws. For the next couple of entries, I will be focusing on the use of eyeshadows. But first, let us look at the different ways on how to correct the shape of your eyes.


Wide-set eyes
To make wide-set eyes appear closer together, blend a taupe or brown shadow from the beginning of the brow down the sides of your nose to draw in the eyebrows. Use a darker color in the inner half of the eyelid and blend close to the corner of the nose to “pull” your eyes together. Save the lighter color for the outer half of the lid. When applying eyeliner, start from the inner corner of the eyes and stop right at the outer corner. Do not extend the line upwards or past the outer corner.

Close-set eyes
Like-wise, to make close-set eyes look wider apart, use a darker color on the outer half of the eyelid. Extend it above the eye and under the brow. Use a lighter color on the inner half and line your eyes starting from the middle and extend it up and out.

Deep-set eyes
Avoid using a dark color on the eyelid which will only make your eyes look more recessed. Instead, opt for a lighter color and place a darker color only under the brow bone. Line your top and bottom lash lines and extend the line past the corner and upwards.

Round eyes
Blend your eyeshadow from the center of the eyelid and deepen it at the outer edge of the eye, extending it beyond the outer corner. Elongate your eyes by extending the liner past your outer corner for about 1/4 of an inch.

Droopy eyes
To give droopy eyes a lift, use a light color from your lashline all the way to the browbone. Line your upper lashes, extending the line diagonally upwards at the outer corner. Apply a darker eyeshadow from the extended liner to the crease. Blend inward and upward from the outer corner. Avoid lining your lower lashes but if you must, make sure the line is thin.

Small eyes
On smaller eyes, apply a light color on the lid and a darker color on the crease. Highlight the inner corner of your eyes with a shimmery color to open them up and remember to curl your lashes and apply mascara on both top and bottom.

Need help figuring out your eye shape? Check out this helpful video by Smashbox’s Global Pro Lead Arist Lori Taylor.

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11 Comments

  • Reply Anonymous February 11, 2006 at 7:06 am

    If you have time, maybe you could post up some pictures to make it easier? That’s if you have time. Great job.

  • Reply Jeffrey February 12, 2006 at 11:39 am

    that’s an interesting request… mmmm she’ll prolly need like 4 models for pics hahaha.

    but i think phyllis should do it on her own face and show it to ppl. ho ho ho~

  • Reply Anonymous April 18, 2006 at 2:59 pm

    Great blog! Keep updating! -Fellow Chicagoan

  • Reply Anonymous December 29, 2006 at 12:00 pm

    Hey, this is irrelevant to this post but..
    I recently went out to get some new MAC eyeshadows. I got the shadows of; electric eel, jewel blue, freshwater, aquadisiac, beautiful iris, stars ‘n’ rockets, twinks and myster. I got pigments and paints and shadesticks too. However i really want a lovely gold or yellow and green shadow. Could you recommend good colours?

  • Reply Monnica July 8, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    In respnse to the recent Mac buyer Mac’s next to last event they rolled out new gold & green colors for summer. The gold color is Firespot , it sold quickly if you cannot find you could get a shadestick calld Mango & mix it w/Amberlights. that is a perfect gold color alone or paired with other colors, also Wondergrass was a new rollout bright green for summer if you want drk green Humid is perfect!!!Hope this is helpful, ENJOY>>>p.s look on ebay there are really good old pigments for sale you could buy for discontinued Mac colors sold in stores …

  • Reply Monnica July 8, 2007 at 7:27 pm

    In respnse to the recent Mac buyer Mac’s next to last event they rolled out new gold & green colors for summer. The gold color is Firespot , it sold quickly if you cannot find you could get a shadestick calld Mango & mix it w/Amberlights. that is a perfect gold color alone or paired with other colors, also Wondergrass was a new rollout bright green for summer if you want drk green Humid is perfect!!!Hope this is helpful, ENJOY>>>p.s look on ebay there are really good old pigments for sale you could buy for discontinued Mac colors sold in stores …

  • Reply Anonymous July 30, 2007 at 2:52 am

    thank u so much! i have deep set eyes n i wanted my eyes to stand out more so somebody suggested darker eyeshadow but it jus made me look worse lol =___= this entry wus so much more helpful..the light colors make my eyes look a lot better xD

  • Reply Anonymous September 29, 2007 at 11:43 am

    I have a question for you Phyllis:

    I love the dark smokey eye look, but I find I put it on and at first it looks good, then throughout the day I start to look sick, or like someone punched me in the eye.

    As well as I’d like to have a more natural look during the day. What Mac eyeshadow color (or any brand of eye shadow) Do you reccomend for a natural look? (Besides brown, cause thats all I ever wear) Something that stays fresh looking.

    Thanks:)

  • Reply Monica November 21, 2007 at 6:12 pm

    Heyy! Awesome blog…!
    I’m following a lot of your advices although I’m just a poor student trying to pass through school. 😛 Anyways, I’ve got a question for you..How do you cover up a black eye? Do I use concealer to cover it up or make the bruise look like some eyeshadow?? Please help me!! X3

  • Reply Amanda July 21, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    hi thnk you for taking the time to write descriptions for all the eyeshapes…but..i'm still confused about which one I am lol >__<. It would be great if you could post pictures along with the description too xD

  • Reply SminkLillis March 18, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    It can be quite tough to figure out what shape and form you have on your own eyes, and head and so on, that’s because we can only see ourself in a subjective angle, not in an objective way. It can help to take a straight ahead photo of yourself with all your hair pulled back in a pony tail, and from that figure out what forms and shapes you might have.

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