How to Apply Eye Makeup for Your Eye Shape

If you’ve ever viewed a beautifully packaged eyeshadow palette with wariness and just a tinge of fear, we’ve got good news. Today, we’re going to tell you exactly how to apply eye make up for your eye shape. We spoke with celeb makeup artist Brett Freedman (he’s responsible for Camilla Belle’s ever-flawless makeup) and got his tips on the right shadow application technique to make small eyes look bigger, down-turned eyes look lifted, and more.

Because the eyeliner/mascara combination you’ve been wearing since middle school can only take you so far.

#1 Almond eyes

Freedman declares almond-shaped eyes as “the most fun eye shape to make up.” For day, he suggests using a matte taupe color

“To really make your eyes pop, add a champagne shimmer pencil or shadow to your inner eye and tear duct area,” Freedman suggests. He says to avoid the urge to use shimmer over the entire lid and crease, because it can make that area too prominent: “You want your actual eyes to pop, not the makeup!”

#2 Round eyes

When it comes to round eyes, Freedman says the key is to apply the most vivid part of the makeup on the top lash line and on the outer corners. “You want to keep the bottom lash line very minimal,” he advises. He suggests drawing a soft, smudged taupe line on your lower lash line using a product that’s lighter than the color on your top lid. “I use just a touch of mascara to finish the look.”

“Round eyes tend to read ‘cute’,” he says. “If you want a sexier feel, play up your eyes [by applying a darker shadow] upwards and out.”

#3 Hooded eyes

“When I work with an actress with hooded eyes, I tend to take the lid out of the equation,” Freedman says. He uses a smoky taupe eyeshadow along the lash line, over the lid and up into the crease, skipping any lighter shadow. Use this technique if you have uneven lids as well: “A light lid will just highlight your lids and make them look more uneven.”

To create more dimension and bring out the shape of hooded lids, Freedman uses a deeper shadow (try Make Up For Ever’s Eyeshadow ($21) in Matte Espresso) along the lash line and blends it into the taupe color. “This recesses everything, instead of highlighting the hooded lid or monolid,” he says.

If you want more Eyeshadow makeup tips and tricks to compliment your eye shape, click on the link.