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When it comes to eye makeup, understanding the differences between hooded eyes and monolids is the first step to enhancing your features. Both eye types have unique characteristics that affect how cosmetic products are applied and how your eyes appear.
By learning about your eyelid shape and exploring tailored makeup techniques, you can highlight your natural beauty with confidence. Here’s a complete overview of hooded, monolid, and double lids, plus makeup tips to suit your eye shape.
Understanding Hooded vs Monolid Eye Shapes
The main difference between hooded eyes and monolids lies in the eyelid crease. Hooded eyes have an extra fold of skin that partly covers the upper eyelid, while monolids have no visible crease at all, unlike eyes with double eyelids.
Both monolid and hooded lid eye shapes are common among people of East Asian descent, but these traits also appear in many ethnicities worldwide.
Even people who do not naturally have hooded eyelids may develop the eye shape over time as the upper eyelid skin loses elasticity, sometimes leading to droopy eyelids that hide the lashes and make the eyes appear smaller or more tired.
This often leads to an extra layer of excess skin resting over the crease, which contributes to the appearance of hooded eyes. This may even affect vision, which is why many opt to correct it with blepharoplasty.
Double Eyelids and Double Lids
A double eyelid refers to the presence of a distinct crease that divides the top eyelid into two parts. People with double lids often have more visible lid space, making makeup application more straightforward.
Those with monolid eye shapes or hooded eyelids may not have this natural crease, which changes how eye makeup should be applied. Makeup for double eyelids is often simpler compared to hooded or monolids.
The appearance of double eyelids is often determined by genetics. In some families, the distinct crease is a dominant gene, while in others, monolids or hooded lid eye shapes are more common.
People from East Asian countries often have both monolid eyelids and double eyelids within the same family line, showing how natural variation in eyelid shape is part of human diversity. Some choose double eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty to achieve this appearance, though getting cosmetic surgery is a personal decision.
Makeup Techniques and Tips for Your Eyelid Crease and Eye Shape
Your eyelid shape influences the appearance of your eyes and how liners and shadow sit on them. Hooded eyes often make the upper lash line less visible because the brow bone casts a shadow, double eyelids create a natural fold that guides placement, and monolids provide a smooth surface without a crease.
In addition to lids, your overall eye shape—whether you have almond, round, deep-set, or downturned eyes—also plays a role in how you apply makeup for the best appearance. For example, almond-shaped eyes are versatile, while downturned eyes benefit from lifted eyeliner styles.
Hooded Eyes and Monolids
For hooded eyes, applying eyeliner too close to the lash line can cause it to disappear under the crease, so, unlike double eyelids, thicker lines or winged eyeliner are often used for visibility. Mascara and curled lashes are also essential to make hooded eyes appear more open.
For monolids, eyeshadow can be blended upward toward the eyebrow to add dimension and balance the space between the lid and the eyebrow. The eyeliner should emphasize the outer corner to create lift. Eyes without double eyelids often benefit from shading to provide the illusion of depth.
The best approach to enhancing hooded eyes is to focus on creating the illusion of more lid space. Blend matte eyeshadow slightly above the natural crease to open up the eyes, and use shimmery tones on the inner corner to brighten.
A lifted wing helps counter the downward pull of hooded eyes, while curling the lashes makes the eyes look bigger and more defined. With the right techniques, hooded eyes can appear more open and expressive.
Double Eyelids
Having double lids means having a distinct fold on the eyelids, which creates more visible space compared to non-hooded eyes or mono eyelids.
When working with double lids, the visible crease gives you room to try a variety of looks. Start by applying a light base shade of eyeshadow across the upper eyelid to brighten the area. Use medium tones along the eyelid crease to define and add depth, then finish with a darker shade at the outer corner of the eyelids for dimension.
For eyeliner, keep the line thin along the upper lash line so it doesn’t overwhelm the crease, and extend slightly outside the eyelids into a winged eyeliner for lift. Curling your lashes and adding mascara will further enhance the fold. Long, voluminous lashes can also draw more attention to the crease, making your double eyelids stand out naturally.
Almond Eyes and Other Shapes
This shape works well with most makeup techniques, from subtle looks to dramatic eyeliner.
Round eyes can appear more elongated with extended wings, while deep-set eyes often benefit from lighter shades on the lid and darker tones along the crease divides. For almond eyes with double lids, using eyeliner that extends upward and pairing it with curled lashes creates a balanced, lifted look.
Tailoring your routine to both your eyelid shape and overall eye shape ensures balanced and flattering results.
Eyelid Surgery and Cosmetic Procedures
Some people pursue eyelid surgery to modify their natural upper eyelid crease or address droopy eyelids, sagging skin, or excess skin that may affect vision.
Many people with hooded eyes choose double eyelid surgery to create double eyelids where none exist naturally, or to reduce excess skin to improve the visibility of the eyelid crease and make applying eye products easier. For some, restoring clear vision is just as important as improving appearance.
In East Asian countries, blepharoplasty—commonly called double eyelid surgery—is a popular surgical procedure to create a prominent crease or skin fold on the eyelids. Blepharoplasty surgery can improve vision if the extra layer of skin obstructs the lashes, lash line, or upper lash line.
While eyelid surgery can change the appearance, it remains a personal choice rather than a necessity, since effective makeup application can also highlight and enhance natural features. Makeup can create the look of double eyelids using shading without surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hooded eyes more or less attractive?
Hooded eyelids are just as attractive as double eyelids. Many models and celebrities have hooded eyelids, and they are often considered to have unique eyes that are mysterious and alluring.
How do I know if I have hooded eyes?
Look in the mirror and assess your eyes. If your skin folds down from the brow bone and covers part of your upper eyelid so that your crease is hidden, you likely have hooded eyes rather than double eyelids.
The difference between monolids and double eyelids is the skin crease. The brow bone often creates the shadow that makes hooded eyelids less visible. Enhancing monolids often involves using eyeliner and emphasizing the lashes to create dimension.
How do I know if I have monolid?
If your top eyelid appears as a single smooth surface without a distinct skin crease, you likely have monolids. This trait is especially common in East Asian descent, but also exists across many ethnicities.
What ethnicity do hooded eyes come from?
Just like double eyelids, hooded eyelids appear in many ethnicities, though they are common in East Asian countries.
They can also be seen in people of European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian heritage, and are influenced by genetics, sometimes linked to a dominant gene. This means that some people inherit double eyelids or hooded eyes through genetics, while others do not.
