On hooded eyes, even carefully blended eyeshadow can disappear beneath the upper lid when you open your eyes. Taupe across the lid, brown along the lashes, or a hint of shimmer can look entirely different when you look straight ahead.
A slight shift in placement can bring those colors back into view, allowing light and depth to follow the contours of your eyes. Here's how to apply eyeshadow on hooded eyes, using cream, powder, or a little of both.
What Are Hooded Eyes?
Hooded eyes have an upper lid that naturally overlaps the crease, leaving less of the eyelid visible when the eyes are open. Some eyes show a narrow strip of lid above the lashes, while others reveal very little. The shape can also vary slightly between your two eyes.
For some, hooded eyes are a natural feature. For others, they become more pronounced over time as the skin around the eyes gradually loses firmness.
The Essentials of Applying Eyeshadow on Hooded Eyes
Step 1: Create a Smooth Base
Begin by preparing your eyelids for color. If your skin tends to feel dry, smooth a small amount of Kjaer Weis Eye Balm over the lids. Its nourishing formula brings moisture to the delicate skin around the eyes while creating an even base for eyeshadow. Allow it to absorb before applying your first shade.
If your eyelids tend to become oily, try a thin layer of Kjaer Weis The Beautiful Primer instead. Apply sparingly and allow it to settle before adding eyeshadow, so the color goes on evenly without excess product beneath it.
Step 2: Find Your Crease With Your Eyes Open
Look straight into the mirror with your brows relaxed and notice where your natural crease sits. On hooded eyes, the crease can disappear beneath the upper lid, so use the area just above it as your guide for placing color.
Keep your eyes open as you find that point on each side. This gives you a clear sense of where your eyeshadow will still be seen once you've finished blending.
Step 3: Apply Your First Shade
Choose a shade that complements your skin, whether you prefer a barely-there tint or something more defined.
Sweep the color across the lid, beginning near the lashes and blending upward. As you approach the crease, carry the shade slightly higher, following the placement you identified in Step 2. Use a small blending brush or your fingertip to blur the upper edge.
Build the color gradually, letting it melt into the skin without a harsh line.
Cream or Powder Eyeshadow for Hooded Eyes?
Both cream and powder eyeshadows suit hooded eyes. You might prefer the ease of cream blended with your fingertips or the delicate layers of color you can create with powder and a brush.
Kjaer Weis Cream Eye Shadow glides across the lid, melting into the skin for a translucent finish or building to richer pigment. Powder Eye Shadow can be brushed on delicately or layered for more intensity. Worn together, cream lends a sheen to the lid while powder adds definition.
Explore the textures, finishes, and application techniques in our guide to Cream Eyeshadow vs. Powder Eyeshadow: What’s the Difference?.
Eyeshadow Tutorial for Hooded Eyes: A Soft Halo Effect
A halo eye brings warmth and light to hooded eyes. Deeper shades frame the inner and outer corners, while a shimmer at the center catches the light.
Begin with Powder Eye Shadow in Earthy Calm. Using a small brush, apply the brown to the inner and outer corners of the upper eyelid, working from the lash line upward and blending slightly above the crease. Keep the center of the lid free of the deeper shade, then gently diffuse the edges inward so the brown fades toward the middle without covering it.
Press Cream Eye Shadow in Illuminated onto the center of the lid with your fingertip or a small flat brush. Its rose-gold shimmer brings a delicate warmth against the brown, catching the light as your eyes move.
Gently soften the edges where the shades meet, keeping the center luminous and the deeper color gently diffused. Look straight ahead to check the placement, carrying the shimmer slightly higher if needed so the halo still shows when your eyes are open.
How to Keep Eyeshadow From Creasing on Hooded Eyes
A little care with layering can help eyeshadow stay smooth on hooded lids throughout the day. Start with a light wash of color, blending it evenly before adding more pigment. Thin layers are easier to work with and less likely to settle into the crease.
If you're using cream eyeshadow, give the color a moment to set before building another layer. You can also sweep a little Kjaer Weis Powder Eye Shadow over the top for a softly diffused finish that helps reduce transfer.
Small Adjustments for Hooded Eyes
Bring color above the crease. Carry your transition shade slightly higher than the natural crease, where it won't be hidden by the upper lid.
Check your eyeshadow with your eyes open. Close your eyes to blend across the lid, then look straight ahead to check the placement and shape.
Apply dark eyeshadow sparingly. Build deeper shades gradually, concentrating the color where you want definition while leaving space for lighter shades or shimmer.
Keep eyeliner fine. A thick line can take up much of the lid. Trace a fine line along the upper lashes and soften it with a small brush, allowing the eyeshadow above to remain visible.
Your Questions About Eyeshadow for Hooded Eyes
What eyeshadow looks best on hooded eyes?
The most flattering eyeshadow for hooded eyes is one that still shows when your eyes are open. Apply a medium-toned shade slightly above the crease to create definition, keeping deeper tones close to the lash line or outer corners. A touch of shimmer on the center of the lid can bring light to the eyes without overwhelming the shape.
Should you wear eyeshadow if you have hooded eyes?
Absolutely. Hooded eyes suit everything from a sheer wash of color to a smoky eye. The key is finding a placement that allows your chosen shades to remain visible when your eyes are open. A little color above the crease, gentle blending, and a bit of light makes the most of hooded eyes.
What eyeshadow is best for people over 50 with hooded eyes?
Soft taupes, warm browns, and muted rose tones bring subtle definition to mature hooded eyes. Choose finely milled shadows that blend easily, with matte or satin finishes and a shimmer where you want to catch the light. Apply in thin layers to avoid emphasizing creases.
Eyeshadow for Every Contour
A little more familiarity with your eye shape opens up new ways to wear the colors you love, from the simplicity of a single shade to the richness of layered color.
Discover Kjaer Weis Cream Eye Shadow and Powder Eye Shadow, with richly pigmented formulas and refillable compacts designed to be enjoyed for years to come.
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