10 Different Types of Eyes
Almond Almond-shaped eyes are longer than they are wide, like an almond! These eyes taper to a point at both the inner tear duct and the outer corner. Almond eyes typically have a visible crease, smaller eyelids, and don’t generally show the whites of the eye on top of or below the irises. Best eyelashes: To emphasize the eye shape, choose lashes that increase in length and volume from the inner to outer corner of your eye. Best eyeglasses styles: Most frames, especially cat eye styles. Makeup tips: Makeup artist Alana Schobe notes that, “with almond eyes, you can get away with a thicker wing liner, or you can make it whatever shape you want.” Go for a smoky eye or a cat eye using light eyeshadow on the lids and darker shadow on the outer corners. People with almond eyes: Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles
Round Round eyes are large and prominent and have a more circular shape than other eye types. The whites of the eyes (called the sclera) are typically visible around the iris, and the inner and outer corners of the eye are rounded and don’t pull inward or outward. Best eyelashes: Create a cat-eye look by using wispy, natural lashes that are longer on the outer corners. Best eyeglasses styles: Rectangular, cat-eye, square, and browline frames. Makeup tips: Create a longer shape by blending the eyeshadow outward to highlight the outer corner of the eye and applying winged eyeliner; avoid lining the lower lash so the eyes appear more almond-shaped. People with round eyes: Hasan Minhaj, Katy Perry, Zoey Deschanel
Monolid Monolid eyes are most commonly found in Asian populations and have a less visible eyelid crease (or no crease at all). Most or all of the eyelid is usually hidden, and the eyelid is typically shallow or smooth. Monolid eyelids can appear more hooded as they age. Best eyelashes: Opt for lashes that are shorter on the inner corners and increase in length as they reach the outer corners. Best eyeglasses styles: Rectangular or square-shaped angular frames. Makeup tips: Apply layers of eyeshadow tones vertically from the eyelid to the brow bone, using lighter colors as you move upward. Blend well and use a bold eyeliner to make your eyes pop. People with monolid eyes: Awkwafina, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan
Protruding Protruding eyes appear to “bulge” from the eye socket and jut out further than other eye types. They have very noticeable, visible eyelids, and are considered the most dramatic and expressive of the 10 types of eyes. Best eyelashes: To elongate the eyes and create a cat-eye look, choose wispy or layered medium-length lashes. Best eyeglasses styles: Rectangular, square-shaped, aviator, browline frames. Makeup tips: Use darker matte shadows blended into the crease to make the eyes less prominent. Apply eyeliner to the lash line and thicken it slightly to create a subtle wing. People with protruding eyes: Octavia Spencer, Rami Malek, Christina Ricci
Downturned Downturned eyes have outer corners that are set lower on the face than the inner corners. This can sometimes give the eyes a slightly “droopy” shape. Downturned eyes also have upper eyelids that dip down to meet the lower lashline. Best eyelashes: If you want your eyes to look less downturned, opt for lashes that push up and curl in the outer corner of the eye. Include a double lash in the center or on the final outer lash. Best eyeglasses styles: Cat-eye, round frames. Makeup tips: Use lighter shades of eyeshadow in the inner corners and darker shades on the outer “v” of the eye. Apply eyeliner with a slight upward wing. People with downturned eyes: Katie Holmes, Joe Jonas, Anne Hathaway
Upturned Upturned eyes tilt upwards and have outer corners that are higher than the inner corners. They also have a bottom lash line that curves upward to meet the top lashes at the outer corner of the eye. Upturned eyes are known as “cat eyes,” and are considered quite exotic in appearance. Best eyelashes: Lean into the cat-eye look with lashes that are shorter on the inner corners and longer on the outer corners. Best eyeglasses styles: Cat-eye, square-shaped, aviator frames. Makeup tips: Use a winged eyeliner, highlight the inner corner with a shimmery eyeshadow, and apply more mascara on the outer lashes. People with upturned eyes: Kendall Jenner, Megan Fox, Rihanna
Close-set Close-set eyes appear closer together on the face, with less than one eyeball’s width between them, distance-wise. This amount of distance is considered smaller than average and can cause the eyes to look smaller or the face to appear more compact. Best eyelashes: Choose flared cat-eye lashes to elongate the eye and emphasize the outer corners; three-quarter lashes that concentrate on the outer portion of the eyes work well. Best eyeglasses styles: Glasses with a thin or clear bridge, colors that are darker on the sides and lighter towards the middle. Makeup tips: Use lighter eyeshadow on the inner corners and darker shadow on the outer corners. Blend it well, and focus the eyeliner on the outer corners, adding a slight wing. People with close-set eyes: Sarah Jessica Parker, Ryan Gosling, Miley Cyrus
Wide-set Wide-set eyes are farther apart on the face than other eye types, with more than one eyeball’s width of distance between them. This amount of distance is considered above average and can sometimes affect vision. Best eyelashes: Choose lashes that are longer on the inner corners and shorter on the outer corners of the eye to balance the width of the eyes. Doll’s eye lashes that are longest in the center are often a good choice. Best eyeglasses styles: Chunkier, bold frames in a variety of colors. Makeup tips: To make your wide-set eyes look closer together, certified professional makeup artist Anjuli Yera, MD, says, “Drag your inner corner eyeliner a bit closer to your midline and create a peak or fine point as you continue the liner into the lower lash line from the inner corner out. Repeat on the other eye's inner corner to create a symmetrical appearance on both inner corners.” People with wide-set eyes: Anya-Taylor Joy, Will Smith, Uma Thurman
Deep-set Deep-set eyes have a prominent brow bone and are set further back into the eye socket than other types of eyes. Deep-set eyes can have a more angular or sharp shape, appear smaller, or include a greater distance between the eyes and eyebrows. Best eyelashes: Draw out the eyes with more pronounced “Hollywood” lashes that use criss-crossing with thicker lashes. Best eyeglasses styles: Rounded or oval-shaped frames with a slight lift on the outer edges. Makeup tips: Use light, shimmery shades on the eyelid and create a tight eyeliner line on the upper lid; focus mascara on the outer corners of the eyes. People with deep-set eyes: Jennifer Aniston, Emma Watson, Kate Moss
Hooded Hooded eyes are known for having a heavy browline with a deep-set crease, meaning the skin from the upper eyelid covers the lower part of the lid. Hooded eyelids usually retract into the crease when the eyes are open. Like monolid eye shapes, hooded eyes can appear more hooded as they age. Best eyelashes to choose: Longer lashes with a more prominent curl at the outer edges. Best eyeglasses styles: Large, cat-eye, or round-shaped frames with a high bridge. Makeup tips: Beauty, DEI & social media expert Joseph Harwood recommends “learning to use waterproof pen eyeliner because it resists the oils that naturally build up on the eyelid and doesn't imprint into the hood. If you're trying to avoid things like transparent eyeliner, using a waterproof product is your best bet.” People with hooded eyes: Brad Pitt, Emma Stone, Bella Hadid
How to Determine Your Eye Shape
Measure the space between your eyes to find out your eye spacing. Take your thumb and index finger and place them on the inner and outer corners of your eye (which eye you measure will determine whether your thumb rests on your inner or outer corner). Then, lift your thumb and forefinger, keep them still, and place them in the space between your eyes. The results are as follows: Average-set eyes: Your thumb and forefinger line up with your two tear ducts on the inner edges of your eyes. Close-set eyes: Your thumb and forefinger feel as if they’re poking the inside of your eyes slightly. Wide-set eyes: Your thumb and forefinger leave a little bit of extra space between your eyes and don’t touch your tear ducts.
Touch below your eyes to see if they’re deep-set or prominent. Using one finger from each hand, gently touch along the lower lash line of both eyes at the same time. If you can feel the shape of your eyeball, your eyes are more likely to be protruding or bulging. You might also visibly see a slight curvature beneath the skin of your lower lashes. If you feel a flatness instead of the curve of an eyeball, you probably have deep-set eyes. You may also simply be able to look at your eyes to tell if they’re protruding or deep-set.
Look at the inner and outer corners to see if your eyes are down- or upturned. If the outer corners of your eyes appear to be lower than your inner corners, you have downturned eyes, or “puppy dog” eyes. If the opposite is true, and the inner corners of your eyes are lower than the outer corners, you have upturned eyes. Another way to visualize your eyes is to imagine a straight line passing through the center of your pupils. If your outer eye corners are below that line, you have downturned eyes; if they’re above that line, you have upturned eyes.
Examine the crease of your eyelid to see if you have hooded eyes. If you can see the upper crease of your eyelid, your eyes are considered average. If your upper eyelid crease appears heavy and rests slightly above your eyes, you have hooded eyes. No matter what eye shape you have, your eyes can appear more hooded as you age. Hooded eyes have excess skin that sits right above your eyes, which makes your eyelid creases disappear; monolid eyes don’t have a visible eyelid crease at all, and look smooth and flat.
Observe the irises of your eyes to determine your eye shape. Can you see the whites of your eyes above and beneath the iris? If so, you have round-shaped eyes. If your iris touches both the upper and lower lids of your eyes, you have almond-shaped eyes. If your eyes are longer than they are wide, you have almond eyes; if your eyes are similar in length and width, you have round eyes. The iris is the colored part of your eyes that contains your pupils. Take the Eye Shape Chart Challenge on TikTok for a new way to determine the shape of your eyes. EXPERT TIP Janet Miranda Janet Miranda Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist Janet Miranda is a Professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, and the Founder of Be.NYLA. With over 15 years of experience, Janet specializes in makeup and hair for advertising, commercial, editorial, runway, special events, television, and videos. She was trained at Vidal Sassoon Academy and with top hair and makeup artists including MAC Cosmetics and Redken. Janet has worked five seasons of New York Fashion Week and one season on Project Runway. She continues to add brands to her growing client list including Armani Exchange, Neutrogena, and Pantene. Janet’s work has been featured on CBS, Brides Magazine, 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ireland Image Brides Magazine, and Elle Japan. Janet Miranda Janet Miranda Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist It’s easy to figure out your eye shape. Look in the mirror and say, ‘Which eye shape is closest to mine?’ Then, look up that specific eye shape. Once you look up that eye shape, you will see all the different looks that go well with it.
Does eye shape affect vision?
Myopia Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error that causes impaired vision at a distance. It’s caused by an elongated eyeball or an overly curved cornea. With myopia, light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly onto it, which leads to blurry vision. While the shape of the eyeball can affect certain refractive vision errors like myopia, the aesthetic shape of the eyes doesn’t affect vision.
Proptosis Also called exophthalmos, proptosis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when one or more of the eyeballs protrude. This issue begins in the thyroid gland and causes swelling and inflammation behind and around the tissues of the eye, which ends up pushing the eyeball forward.
Ptosis This condition is caused by a drooping upper eyelid. People with hooded eyes sometimes have an eyelid that droops to obscure their pupils and affects their ability to see. Surgery is sometimes required to correct this condition. Ptosis can be present at birth or occur later in life.
Different Types of Eyes FAQs
What is the rarest eye shape? There is no one “rare” eye shape. Some eye shapes are more common than others depending on where you live. For instance, monolid eyes are very common in Asian populations, but are much rarer in European Caucasian populations. Almond-shaped eyes are also seen more in East and South Asian and Middle Eastern populations, although they can appear worldwide according to particular familial genetics.
Why do different eye shapes exist? In some cases, eye shapes like hooded or monolid eyes evolved in certain world populations because of a need. For example, many East Asian, Southeast Asian, Polynesian, and Native American populations have what is called an “epicanthic fold,” caused by fat deposits beneath the skin; it’s said to protect the eyes from harsh desert or snowy environments.
Do eye shapes differ between males and females? In certain populations, male eyes appear more narrow and oval, while certain female eye shapes appear more round or almond-shaped. Overall, male eyes tend to be deeper set than female eyes, but these tendencies are not hard and fast rules in any population.
Does eye shape affect your eye color? No, eye shape doesn’t have any effect on eye color. The different types of brown eyes, green eyes, and blue eyes are all determined by the amount of melanin in the iris. Eye shape relates to the structure of the eyelid, along with the many bones surrounding the eye sockets, which gives eyes an overall shape and appearance.
What are “hunter” eyes? Hunter eyes are deep-set, almond-shaped eyes that are also often upturned. This unique combination of eye shapes is said to come across as confident and dominant, due to the intense focus that the eye shapes help create. They typically have a hooded or flat upper eyelid, which also helps create the sometimes seductive gaze. People attempt to get hunter eyes through everything from facial expressions and exercises to massage and cosmetic procedures.
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