If you’ve ever tried to nail the perfect eyeliner look only for it to disappear into your crease or smudge halfway through the day—girl, I’ve been there. I remember spending almost 30 minutes trying to create a tiny wing once, only for it to vanish the second I opened my eyes. That’s when I realized hooded eyes need their own set of eyeliner tricks—and trust me, they make all the difference.
If you have hooded eyes, apply eyeliner with both eyes open, use waterproof formulas, and focus on precise, lifted lines to prevent smudging and disappearing wings.
Before you give up on eyeliner altogether, hear me out—there is a way to get that sharp, long-lasting liner that actually shows up when your eyes are open. These six tips completely changed my routine, and with the right products (linked below!), your eyeliner can finally look flawless all day.
1. Use Primer to Avoid Smudging
One of the biggest struggles with hooded eyes is smudging. Because our eyelid folds over, eyeliner tends to transfer or fade fast. A good eye primer is honestly a lifesaver here. I just tap a little onto my lids with my fingers or a brush and let it dry for about five minutes before applying any liner. This locks everything in place and keeps your look fresh for hours.
Product tip: Try pairing your favorite primer with one of my go-to liners like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner (available on Amazon) for an even smoother glide and long wear.
2. Keep Both Eyes Open
This one might feel strange at first, but it makes such a difference. When you apply liner with one eye closed, your crease shape changes—and suddenly that perfect line looks all wonky once you open your eyes. So now, I always keep both eyes open and relaxed while applying eyeliner. It helps me see exactly where the hood sits and keeps my liner visible, even after I blink.
3. Make Sure Your Lines Are Precise
Precision is key for hooded eyes—you want thin, clean lines that lift rather than weigh down your lids. I love using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner (available on Amazon), because the pointed tip gives me control, and the waterproof formula means no mid-day smudging.
Here’s my trick: I rest my elbow on a table for steadiness and draw short, gentle strokes along my lash line. It’s way easier than trying to do one long swoop!
4. Use the Triangle Technique
This little hack is so underrated. To make your eyes look bigger and more lifted, draw a small vertical line from the outer corner of your eye up toward just below your crease. Then, connect that line to your lash line to form a tiny triangle (or parallelogram shape). Fill it in, and you’ll get an instant “wide awake” look that’s also super chic.
5. Try Bat Liner
If you love a dramatic wing, this technique is for you. The “bat liner” shape is perfect for hooded eyes because it works with your crease, not against it.
Here’s how I do it:
- Grab the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner (available on Amazon)—it glides like a dream.
- Looking straight into a mirror, draw a thin line along your lashes, then extend it past the outer corner to create a wing that crosses your fold.
- Finally, draw a small line back toward your crease to form the “bat” wing and fill it in.
When you close your eyes, you’ll see that cool bat-wing shape; when you open them, it’s the perfect lifted liner.
6. Skip Black Eyeliner on the Waterline
Here’s a quick fix for tired-looking eyes—skip black on your waterline. I learned this the hard way! Deep shades can actually make hooded eyes look smaller. Instead, use a nude or white liner to open them up.
My go-to is the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Nude (available on Amazon). It brightens your eyes instantly and lasts forever, even on long days.
Final Thoughts
Having hooded eyes doesn’t mean giving up on eyeliner—it just means getting a little creative. Once you find what works for your unique eye shape (and the right products to back you up), your liner can look effortlessly sleek, every single time.
So grab your L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner (available on Amazon), Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner (available on Amazon), and Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner (available on Amazon), and give these tricks a try—you’ll never dread eyeliner day again.
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When it comes to my choices for makeup and beauty products, I only use L’Oréal Paris (Available on Amazon). I have really sensitive skin and never once have I had any negative reaction to any L’Oréal product.