How to Do Light & Subtle Everyday Eye Makeup for Hooded Eyelids

Tools and materials:

• Eyeshadow palette 
• Makeup brushes 
• Mascara 
• Lipstick

1. Apply the crease color 

I am starting with a light brown eyeshadow - the lightest in my palette. Apply the eyeshadow to your crease and apply it in firm and even strokes. 

Tip: in order to avoid fallout, tap the brush against the palette before applying it to your lid. 

2. Concentrate the shadow 

Concentrate the shadow where the hood in your eyes is most severe. This would be where your eye starts drooping down. 

Try to keep your eyelid in its most natural position when applying the eyeshadow. If you stretch your eyelid or raise your eyebrows when applying, the shadow will sit funny when your lid reverts to its natural position. 

Round out your eyeshadow at the spot where your eyes begin to droop down. 

3. Apply a darker shade 

Choose a slightly darker brown shade and apply it to the outer corner of your lid. Apply it slightly up towards your crease but mainly on your lid. This will help create the illusion of a lifted eye. 

Remember, darker colors make an area recede and lighter colors bring an area forward.

Drag whatever pigment you have left when you are done blending, towards your nose.

The beauty of using lighter-toned colors is that you do not need to be as precise with the application. You won’t see the edges if you have not blended it well.

4. Apply light eyeshadow to the mobile lid

Apply a light eyeshadow shade to the base of your lid. Press and drag the shadow on your mobile lid, into the inner corner, and up to the matte eyeshadow. 

I am using a shimmery shadow because shimmer is best for making your eyelid pop, especially with hooded eyes. If you do not like a shimmery shadow, you can use a light matte shade, but I don’t think it does as good of a job in making your eyelids pop in my opinion. 

If you want it to pop even more you can use a lighter shimmer than what I used. My shade is a similar tone to the matte shades so it pops less. It’s up to you. 

5. Apply shadow to the lower lash line 

Use a thin and blunt brush to apply the darker brown shadow to your lower lash line. Stop before your inner corners because we are going to put the shimmer there. 

Applying eyeshadow to the lower lash line really opens up your eyes. It draws attention to the eye in the middle. 

Then, use the lighter shade of shadow and blend it into the darker shade on your lower lash line. This will create a seamless look. 

Go back to the shimmery shade you used earlier and apply it to the inner corners of your eyelid. 

6. Adjust

Look at your eyes in the mirror and make any adjustments to your eyeshadow look that you see fit. 

I am using the darker brown to darken my hooded area a bit more. 

7. Apply mascara 

Apply your mascara as normal. Lashes are very important. They frame your eyes and hide the hood. 

As you can see, this eyeshadow look really opens up my eyes. If you use an even darker shadow on the outer portion, it will open up your eyes and lift up your lids even more. 

8. Apply lipstick 

Apply your lipstick of choice as normal. 

Eye makeup for hooded eyelids tutorial

This is the finished look. My version of an everyday eyeshadow look! Let me know if this is still too strong for you. I hope you have enjoyed today’s tutorial on makeup for droopy eyes. 

Do you have hooded eyes? Let me know how this tutorial worked for you in the comments!

Products used and recommended:

• Sigma Rendezvous palette
• NARS Cosmetics Climax Mascara
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara
• Rephr makeup brushes (15, 02, 03, 26)
• Sigma Beauty Cor-de-Rosa Lip Gloss
• delilah Alibi Fluid Foundation (Bamboo and Spiced)
• Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation
• Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Matte Bronzer
• NABLA Skin Glazing Blush