From fierce wings to a classic cat-eye, finding the best eyeliners to perfect your look is no easy feat for any gal, let alone if you have hooded eyes.
Now, I’m sure you already know just how challenging eye makeup can be for your particular eye shape. But as a makeup artist, I can tell you with certainty that most of the challenges women face with makeup can easily be conquered with the right products, tools, & tips!
When you have hooded eyes, nothing is more frustrating than applying eyeliner only to find all your hard work suddenly gets hidden. Or perhaps you’ve dealt with the dreaded “battle of the smudge.” One blink or false move, and suddenly, you’ve got a mess.
Well, Beauties, this is where choosing the right liner for your specific eye shape and knowing what to look for in your liner is key!
So, today, for all you gals out there with hooded eyes, I’ve got the perfect list of eyeliners that will make your life a lot easier! I’ve collected the 8 best eyeliners for hooded eyes with all the right features to make your makeup application mess-free & a total breeze!
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What Are Hooded Eyes & What To Look For In An Eyeliner…
Before we jump into what features to look for when selecting eyeliners, it’s vital that we first cover a few characteristics of hooded eyes. This will help with understanding why those features are such a necessity.
Instead of having a defined, visible crease with hooded eyes, the skin below your brows either puffs or folds over, hanging down over your lid while hiding your natural crease.
Of course, there are different degrees of this eye type. Sometimes this skin will fully cover your mobile lid (the part of your lid closest to your lashes). Other times it will only partially cover it. Some people are born with hooded eyes, but we all develop them with age.
Unfortunately, having hooded eyes results in the following challenges:
- Frequent smudges, smears, and makeup transfers
- Very little eyelid space to work with
- Eyes that often appear smaller or droopy
What type of eyeliner is best for women with hooded eyes?
What are the most important features to look for??
When it comes to eyeliners for hooded eyes, it’s all about finding a formula that will stay put. Whether you’re looking for a liquid, gel, or pencil liner, make sure to avoid anything that is far too creamy or prone to smudging (the exception, of course, to this would be if a product goes on creamy but dries fast).
Instead, go for a long-wearing, water-proof, smudge-proof liner with a matte or satin finish. This will help to keep your eyeliner in place all day (or night) long!
Additionally, liners with a quick drying time are ideal. That way, after application, you don’t have to worry about things transferring onto the skin above.
The last key thing to look for in eyeliner for hooded eyes is a liner that has a thin, precise tip. This will give you better control and make it easier to create clean & precise lines without any fuss. And since you have limited lid space, this allows you to keep your liner thin where it needs to be (more on that below).
PRO Tip: To counter smaller-looking, droopy eyes, the goal is to use your eye makeup to add lift and open the eye area up. In fact, this is a strategy I teach in The Essential Master Your Eyeshadow Guide. When using eyeliner, an easy way to open the area up is to keep it thin on your upper lash line by going in as close as possible to the roots of your lashes. Then, you can focus on making the application thicker at the outer corners. This also ensures your eyeshadow stays visible when using both liner & shadow.
8 Best Eyeliners For Hooded Eyes (Must-Have Liquids, Gels, & Pencils)
Now that you know more about what you need to look for, let’s get into the eight best eyeliners for hooded eyes! To make sure there’s something for everybody and for any style you need, I’ve included liquids, pencils, & gels.
Always keep the liner style and where you plan to apply your product top of mind when making your selections. For wings, liquid liners or gels are your best bet. If you’re tightlining or just using at your lash line, you can opt for smudge-proof pencils.
Best Liquid Eyeliners For Hooded Eyes
PRO Tip: With all liquid liners, keep your eye closed to allow enough drying time, and make sure you use a primer before applying.
1) Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner
An award-winning and undeniable absolute favorite for hooded eyes is the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. This liner is just the thing for everyday wear! It’s extremely long-lasting, water-proof, smudge-proof, & transfer-proof!
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It features a felt, marker-like tip which is firmer than a brush tip like Kat Von D’s (liner #2 in this list) Thus, making it an ideal option for newbies who need a bit more control during application. Simple, thin strokes or bold, thick lines, use it for any look your heart desires! Now, if you want even more precision and a finer tip, you’ll want to try this one by Stila. But if you’re on the fence about which size tip you should get, I highly recommend this specific one by Stila for the best of both worlds. In fact, it’s recently become my absolute favorite eyeliner simply because the fabulous dual-tip gives me more options.
PROS: Fast drying time & one of the most richly pigmented options on the market with a satin finish
- Available in black, brown, gray, green, blue & more shades!
- Safe for contact wearers and those with sensitive eyes
- Also a superb pick for those with oily eyelids
- Won’t budge, smear, feather, or run!
- Cruelty-free
CONS: May flake if you try to reapply later, but you likely won’t need to cause this bad boy is powerful!
2) KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Liner
Every beauty guru knows that the best eyeliners for hooded eyes are long-wear, smudge-resistant, water-proof liquid liners. When it comes to having all these attributes and then some, behold the KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner!
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It’s one of the best on the market because it combines ease of use with flawless precision. The super-fine, sharp brush tip makes creating a crisp, even line directly along your lash line effortless. Which I’ll add is an absolute must for gals with hooded eyes!
PROS: Incredible versatility- create wings, graphic liner looks, cat eye, faux freckles & more!
- Ultrafine brush tip for easy, precise application and drawing the thinnest lines possible.
- Feel confident knowing your liner will stay put all day long!
- Available in 2 shades (black or brown) with a satin finish
- Vegan & cruelty-free
CONS: Some users have said the new formula dries out rather quickly on them. However, you should be able to avoid this if you make sure you shake it up before applying and always place the cap back on immediately after use. Shake it with the lid on, facing downward, and store with the tip-down.
3) Fenty Beauty Flyliner Liquid Eyeliner
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Now, this particular eyeliner for hooded eyes offers a new innovation in design with its sleek triangular body shape for easy handling and control. It has an extra-long flexible felt tip, so you can go for any style you want, whether dramatic & thick or thin & subtle! This long-wearing, liquid liner glides on smoothly like a gel and then dries quickly with intense pigmentation like a liquid.
PROS: Works for all eye shapes
- Available in black and brown (satin finish)
- A mega saturated inky formula, so you don’t have to go over it multiple times
- Won’t smudge, fade, or transfer
- Cruelty-free
CONS: This liner is water-resistant but not water-proof.
Best Pencil & Gel Eyeliners For Hooded Eyes
4) Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
This liner is perfect because it has a weightless, creamy texture that glides on effortlessly & dries quickly (roughly after 30 seconds) to prevent transfer. It features a long-wearing, water-proof formula, making it an excellent choice for those with hooded eyes.
The best part? It comes in a fantastic range of beautiful, eye-catching colors!
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PROS: Huge color selection from classic black to bright, vibrant shades!
- Water-proof, smudge-proof, & long-wearing
- Options in more than one finish (matte, satin, or metallic)
- Vegan & cruelty-free
- It can be used for a variety of fun & creative looks.
- It’s a wonderful liner for smokey eyes; you can even smudge it out before it sets!
CONS: Color intensity can vary from shade to shade and generally creamy formulas can make creating sharp lines more difficult.
HOLD ON! BEFORE YOU KEEP SCROLLING
Are You Ready To Skyrocket Your Eye Makeup Skills? Check Out The Essential Master Your Eyeshadow Guide!! Bonus Section #3, is the perfect tool for any gal with hooded eyes who is sick of struggling with eye makeup!
- Get 21 Expert Tips, Tricks, & Techniques JUST For Hooded Eyes!!
- Discover The Secrets To Adapting Makeup Application For Your Specific Eye Shape (everything from eyeliner to eyeshadow, brows, to false lashes)!
- Learn How To Correctly Use Your Eye Makeup Brushes, Pick Your Best Eyeshadow Shades, Choose Eyeshadow Color Combinations & Much More!
5) Shiseido MicroLiner Ink Eyeliner Pencil
For supreme precision in pencil form, this eyeliner from Shiseido is a must for gals with hooded eyes!! Unlike most pencils, the tip is so fine that you don’t have to worry about sharpening. It also makes creating thin lines a cinch!
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It’s ridiculously easy to use, super pigmented, smudge-proof, and long-wearing! But what’s most unique is that it starts as a solid and then applies like a liquid liner before it sets.
PROS: Available in 9 shades with a matte finish
- Glides on smoothly due to its creamy texture before setting
- Lasts up to 24 hours
- Tip gives you phenomenal precision, whether tightlining or going for a cat-eye look.
- Ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested
CONS: Water-resistant, but not water-proof
6) Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
Bobbi Brown is a brand that I have come to trust time and again!! When it comes to finding the best eyeliners for hooded eyes, this one applies smoothly like a gel but gives you the definition you’d expect from a liquid.
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It’s great for a multitude of looks, from soft kitten flicks to a bold wing and literally everything in between!
We’re talking sweatproof, smudge-proof, humidity-proof, & fade-proof with this liner! It won’t budge for anything (except makeup wipes, of course). Now, it does come in a pot, so you’ll need to make sure you have a fine precision brush on hand.
PROS: Water-proof and won’t smudge, fade, or budge!
- Long-lasting (offers 8-hour wear)
- Highly pigmented
- Easy to apply and layer
- It comes in several variations of black and brown shades with a matte finish.
CONS: A brush is not included.
7) Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner (Gel & Liquid)
And for those gals who can’t decide between gel and liquid, why not get the best of both worlds with this liner from Tarte?!? This long-wearing, water-proof liner features a gel pencil tip on one end with a liquid liner on the other, giving you a wealth of options, as far as looks, conveniently in one tool!
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The liquid side is designed with a soft precision tip for creating thin, crisp lines. While the gel side is infused with Amazonian clay for that lock-it down staying power!
PROS: Long-lasting 12-hour wear
- Fast-drying liquid formula with a semi-matte finish
- Highly pigmented and opaque
- Available in black or brown shades
- Ophthalmologist-tested, dermatologist-tested, and safe for contact lens wearers
- Vegan and gluten-free
CONS: A few users have experienced smudging with the liquid side.
Best Drugstore Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes
8) NYX’s Epic Ink Liner
This drugstore liquid eyeliner is a favorite of makeup lovers for good reason. It has a thin & precise felt brush tip that allows for greater control and a long-lasting, smudge-resistant, water-proof formula that will never let you down. If you’re looking for an affordable option, this one makes an excellent choice!
Click Here To See More About It
PROS: Water-proof & smudge-proof
- Vegan & cruelty-free
- The brush tip makes it very easy to use
- You can adjust the thickness of your lines simply by changing the way you press down.
- Goes on strong & highly pigmented with a satin finish
CONS: Some users have experienced smudging, but this is usually after hours of wear.
Common Questions/FAQ About Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes
Is gel or liquid eyeliner better for hooded eyes?
There is a common debate among makeup enthusiasts about whether gel or liquid eyeliner works better for hooded eyes. While both of these formulas have their own strengths and weaknesses, the right choice ultimately depends on your personal preferences and skill level. As long as it dries fast, doesn’t smudge, is water-proof, and has a precise tip, you should be good to go, gals!
Should hooded eyes wear eyeliner?
Yes, hooded eyes can definitely rock eyeliner. In fact, eyeliner can actually enhance the shape of hooded eyes and make them look more lifted and defined. However, once again, it is important to use the right product for hooded eyes to avoid smudging or creating an unflattering look.
Which eyeliner style is best for hooded eyes?
Two of my favorite eyeliner styles for hooded eyes are winged and tightlining…but which one is the best? It’s a tough call because both can create a flattering look. Winged eyeliner can help elongate hooded eyes and make them appear more lifted, while tightlining can add definition to the lash line without taking up too much lid space. Experiment with both styles to see which one works best for you.
The Wrap-Up!
Finding the proper eyeliner for hooded eyes might be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. The secret lies in knowing what to look for in your liner so that you don’t end up with smears and smudges every time you put on makeup.
Whether you’re looking for a pencil, liquid liner, or gel, these products will help you achieve a stylish look in no time at all. So Beauties, don’t wait any longer – start using one of these eyeliners today and see the difference it makes on those lovely hooded eyes of yours!
Related Articles:
- Basic Makeup Tips And Tricks: 30 Absolute Need-To-Knows For Beginners
- Beginner Eyeshadow: How To Easily Foolproof Your Eye Makeup Routine
- Best Makeup For Beginners: Makeup Must-Haves + Budget-Friendly Picks
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interesting will try thankyou