Almond
Tapered at both corners with balanced proportions. The most versatile shape for makeup — nearly any liner style works.
Eye Shape Identifier
Answer four quick questions and discover your eye shape — plus the eyeliner techniques that work best for it.
How It Works
Four quick observations in the mirror are all you need. The quiz scores your answers against seven common eye shapes and tells you which one fits best.
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Check Your Lid
See how much eyelid skin is visible between your lash line and crease.
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Trace the Tilt
Notice which direction your outer corners point — up, down, or level.
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Feel the Crease
Close and open your eye to see how deep or subtle your crease is.
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Spot the White
See where the white of your eye shows around the iris.
How to Identify Your Eye Shape
A six-step method you can run in front of a mirror. Each observation maps to one of the four quiz questions, then combines into your final shape.
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1. Set Up the Mirror
Stand facing a mirror in even, natural daylight near a window. Pull hair back from the forehead, remove glasses, and keep facial muscles relaxed. Position the mirror at eye level so you are looking straight ahead, not up or down. Strong overhead or side lighting casts shadows that distort the crease and corners.
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2. Check Upper Lid Visibility
Look straight ahead and study the strip of skin between the lash line and the crease (the mobile lid). A wide, fully visible lid suggests round or almond eyes. A partially covered lid suggests almond or upturned. Skin folding over the lid suggests hooded eyes. No visible crease at all suggests a monolid.
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3. Trace the Outer-Corner Tilt
Draw an imaginary line from the inner corner of one eye to its outer corner. If the outer corner sits higher than the inner corner, the eyes are upturned. If both corners sit at the same level, they are straight or almond. If the outer corner drops below the inner corner, the eyes are downturned.
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4. Read the Crease
Look straight ahead and notice how the eye sits under the brow bone. A strong socket shadow or recessed eye points to deep-set eyes. A soft, even socket points to a balanced-set eye. An eye that sits forward with very little brow-bone shadow points to a rounder or more prominent eye.
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5. Note the Sclera Around the Iris
The sclera is the white of the eye. Looking straight ahead, observe where it shows around the iris. White visible above and below the iris suggests round eyes. White only on the left and right suggests almond or deep-set. If the upper lid covers part of the iris, the eyes are hooded or deep-set.
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6. Combine the Answers to Map Your Shape
Cross-reference the four observations. Visible lid plus level corners plus a sharp crease maps to almond. Hidden lid with a drooping crease maps to hooded. Downturned corners with a soft crease map to downturned. Round corners with sclera above and below map to round. No crease at all maps to monolid.
The 7 Eye Shapes
Most eyes fall into one of seven categories. Many people share traits from more than one shape, so use these as guidelines rather than rigid labels.
Hooded
The crease folds over the mobile lid, hiding it partially or fully. Requires liner techniques that stay visible when the eye is open.
Monolid
No visible crease, creating a smooth canvas from lash line to brow bone. A beautiful surface for bold color and gradient liner.
Downturned
Outer corners angle downward, creating a soft, gentle gaze. Lifted wings and outer-corner techniques balance the tilt beautifully.
Upturned
Outer corners tilt upward for a natural cat-eye effect. Following the natural lift with liner enhances this striking shape.
Round
Wide and expressive with visible sclera above and below the iris. Elongating wings and full lower-lash definition add dimension.
Deep-set
Eyes sit deeper beneath a prominent brow bone, creating natural shadow. Thin liner close to the lash line and upward blending open the eye.
Eye Shape FAQ
Quick answers to the most common questions about identifying eye shape and choosing the right techniques.
How do I know what eye shape I have?
Look straight ahead in a mirror and observe four things: how much upper eyelid is visible, the direction your outer corners point, how the eye sits in the socket, and how much of your iris shows. Our quiz walks you through each step and matches your answers to one of seven common shapes.
Can I have more than one eye shape?
Yes. Many people have a combination of features — for example, almond-shaped eyes that are also slightly hooded. The quiz identifies your dominant shape, but you can absolutely borrow techniques from related shapes too.
Does eye shape change with age?
The underlying bone structure stays the same, but skin laxity can make eyes appear more hooded or downturned over time. Adjusting your liner technique can compensate for these changes.
What eyeliner style works best for hooded eyes?
A bat-wing liner that thickens at the outer corner stays visible when the eye is open. Tight-lining the upper waterline adds definition without taking up precious lid space. Read our full eyeliner guide for hooded eyes for step-by-step techniques.
Is this quiz accurate?
The quiz provides a helpful starting point based on the most common classification criteria used by makeup artists. Eye shapes exist on a spectrum, so treat your result as guidance rather than a rigid label — and feel free to experiment with techniques from neighbouring shapes.