As a teenager, I vividly remember using lipstick on my bathroom mirror to trace out my face shape in an attempt to determine the most flattering haircut. Oval face, middle part. I considered many things at that time—from face-framing hair to ideal lip shades, but never my eyelid shape. That came much later, when conversations around hooded eyes started gaining traction. Hooded eyes, defined by a fold of skin that partially covers the eyelid and makes lid space appear smaller, are incredibly common. Yet for years, most makeup tutorials and products failed to take them into account.
As awareness has grown, so has the beauty industry’s response. We are finally seeing more products and techniques designed with different eyelid shapes in mind, which is why we can now confidently share a list of the best eyeliners for hooded eyes.
Vogue’s Favorite Eyeliners for Hooded Eyes:
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Technique matters just as much as product choice. Makeup artist Gemma Peace recommends keeping your eyes open and looking straight into a mirror while applying eyeliner so you can see the final result as it will actually appear. “It’s tempting, but important not to raise your eyebrows or tilt your head back,” she explains. “That changes the shape of the eyeliner. Take your time and work in small, short strokes.”
When using liquid liners with a brush applicator, Peace suggests holding the brush on its side rather than using the very tip. This allows you to tap and stamp the liner into place more precisely. “Draw straight over the hooded fold as if it isn’t there,” she says, adding that she always starts from the outer corner and works inward, gradually thinning the line.
For those bravely aiming to master a wing, Peace recommends practicing first with a soft gel liner. Apply it to the outer corner, then use your fingernail to gently pull the product into a line to find your ideal angle before committing to liquid liner. “It’s cliché, but practice really does help,” she says.
Below, our curated edit of the best eyeliners for hooded eyes, complete with expert input from Peace and celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney.
In This Story
- How should I do my eyeliner if I have hooded eyes?
- What eyeliner looks best on hooded eyes?
- What to Look for in an Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Dual-Ended: Valentino Twin Liner Gel Liquid Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: When shopping, I’m always looking for the best deal, whether that means multitasking products or smart two-in-one formats that save both space and money. That’s exactly why I’m obsessed with this dual-ended eyeliner. And I’m not alone. Peace calls it one of her “favorites,” praising its versatility and thoughtful design. “You have a gel liner on one end and a liquid brush tip on the other,” she explains. “The brush is ultra-fine and flexible, which allows for smooth, fluid application and a crisp, pigmented, semi-matte finish that’s claimed to last up to 16 hours without fading, which I can vouch for.” She adds that the gel side is ideal for tightlining or lining the waterline without budging, delivering high-impact pigment sans dragging—no small feat for a gel formula.
- Key Ingredients: Styrene, acrylates copolymer
- Shades: 2
- Type: Dual-ended; liquid, gel
- Waterproof: No
Best Drugstore: Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Pen
- Why We Love It: Think of this waterproof liquid eyeliner from Maybelline as an affordable entry point if you’re new to experimenting with graphic liners. Henney says, “It’s perfect for beginners. I would start by using this product to create small feline flicks before working your way up.” The flexible brush tip glides smoothly across the lid, making application feel less intimidating. Peace adds that the grip is thoughtfully-designed with a hexagonal shape, allowing your fingers to rest comfortably and encouraging a steadier hand. “Once it dries, it sets in place with a low-shine finish,” she says, making it easy to build confidence without worrying about smudging.
- Key Ingredients: Styrene, acrylates copolymer, propylene glycol
- Shades: 2
- Type: Liquid eyeliner
- Waterproof: Yes
Best Liquid Eyeliner: Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick V2 Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: If you want Kate Moss’s signature flick, our darling Charlotte Tilbury created this liner specifically to make her iconic feline eye easier to achieve, even for those with shaky hands. Peace notes that “it has a soft fiber felt tip, but it’s slightly firmer than a brush, which makes it great for laying down color cleanly along the lash line.” The formula lasts up to 12 hours and sets quickly to prevent feathering, yet it’s still easy to remove with makeup remover. Henney adds, “It dries down and won’t budge. You can create endless graphic liner looks with this product.” It’s available in two shades, classic black and brown, so you can choose your preferred level of drama.
- Key Ingredients: Styrene, acrylates, ammonium methacrylate copolymer
- Shades: 2
- Type: Liquid
- Waterproof: Yes
Best Shades: Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner
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- Why We Love It: I feign incompetence a lot, especially when it comes to eyeliner. It always looks better when I convince my sister to do it for me. That said, this liner from Victoria Beckham is genuinely easy to use and forgiving enough that even mistakes are simple to fix. Peace notes, “You can wear this liner any way you like: smoky, defined, or blended out like a shadow. It’s creamy to apply with strong pigment.” The trick is that you have time to blend and smoke it out before it sets, thanks to the smudger on the opposite end. Once it does set, it stays put. Peace adds that the range includes multiple kohl eyeliner shades, from matte to sparkly, and says, “I often use the shimmer shades to create a full eye look, using them as a liner and then blending them out to leave the softest wash of sparkle across the lid”—all of which makes it an excellent liner for mature skin, too.
- Key Ingredients: Silicones, silica, mica, panthenol, vitamin E, chamomile
- Shades: 19
- Type: Gel eyeliner
- Waterproof: Yes
Best Waterproof: Hourglass Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
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- Why We Love It: If you self-identify as a crier or are preparing for a tear-heavy day, this waterproof gel pencil is worth keeping on hand. It features a super-thin nib for precise, controlled yet smooth application and serious staying power. “This eyeliner doesn’t require a brush, which makes it perfect for on-the-go use,” says Peace. “It comes in five shades with intense color payoff, and because it’s transfer-proof, it works especially well for oily skin.” Henney adds that the ultra-fine tip makes it ideal for defining the inner eye and tightlining the upper and lower lash lines. “You can even use it to mimic freckles by lightly tapping it across the nose and cheeks, then blending slightly,” she says.
- Key Ingredients: Methyl trimethicone trimethylsiloxysilicate, polyethylene
- Shades: 5
- Type: Gel eyeliner
- Waterproof: Yes
Everything You Need to Know
How should I do my eyeliner if I have hooded eyes?
If you have hooded eyes, Peace recommends leaving the area closest to the tear duct free of liner and starting from the pupil outward. “Hooded eyes have less visible lid space, and applying liner too close to the inner corners can make the eyes look smaller,” she explains. “If you do line that area, keep it extremely fine.”
She suggests beginning by looking straight into a mirror and drawing a thin line from the center of the lash line, gradually thickening it as you move toward the outer corner. If you find yourself drawing over a skin fold, that is completely normal. “Don’t panic,” she says. For the wing, Peace advises following the angle of your lower waterline and extending it upward toward the tail of your eyebrow. Then, pull the liner inward from the wing toward the outer corner of the eye. “Close one eye and fill in the gap beneath the fold,” she explains. “If the shape looks like a ‘bat wing’ when your eye is closed, that’s perfect. It will appear straight and seamless when your eyes are open.”
From there with your winged liner in place, you can further amp up your eye makeup look. A swash of eyeshadow along the crease plus few coats of mascara is all you need to accentuate any hooded lids.
What eyeliner looks best on hooded eyes?
There are no hard-and-fast rules, but Peace says bat-wing shapes and outer-corner liner tend to work especially well on hooded eyelids versus a traditional cat-eye. Tightlining is another go-to, since it defines the eyes and makes lashes appear thicker without taking up precious lid space. She also recommends a smoky outer-corner liner. “Because there aren’t any crisp lines, it still creates the illusion of liner while giving definition and lift,” she explains.
What to Look for in an Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes
Peace recommends gel or waterproof formulas, since they are less likely to smudge and tend to stay defined for longer. She also suggests choosing an eyeliner with a fine tip, which makes precise application much easier, especially on limited lid space.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to eyeliners for hooded eyes, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: eyeliner type, how precise it is, long-wear, if it budges, and shades available. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Gemma Peace is a UK-based professional makeup artist who works across television, film, editorial, and red carpet.
- Tobi Henney is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York whose clients include Barbara Palvin, Romee Strijd, and Camille Rowe.
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