11 Foolproof Eyeliners For Hooded Eyes

Best Eyeliners for Hooded Eyes

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Finding the best eyeliners for hooded eyes is only half the story. The other half is about being able to use them! If the rest of the world is struggling with applying eyeliner, imagine how harder it is for us people with hooded eyelids. Because we have to use immense motor skills to define our eyes while our hooded eyelids keep getting in the way.

Hooded eyes are characterized by having excess eyelid skin that kind of creates a droopy look over the eyes. Some have mildly hooded eyes whereas others might be dealing with visible folds. And if you’re like me and dealing with signs of aging too, you know that aging only makes the appearance of hooded eyes worse.

Don’t get me wrong, I love having hooded eyes that kind of create this sultry look. But it is no secret that hooded eyes can make eye makeup application, especially eyeliner application difficult. For example, we have this heavy-looking eyelid getting in the way of applying eyeliner because the skin there is far from tight and smooth. So the line we draw usually ends up looking streaky or messy.

Also, our eyeliner tends to smudge because the skin fold can get in the way during application or later on during the day. Needless to say, our eyeliner usually lacks drama because the lines and wings we draw can disappear into the skin fold. With these in mind, you might be wondering what kind of eyeliner people with hooded eyes should use.

A good eyeliner for hooded eyes should be quick drying to avoid mess, waterproof or water-resistant to prevent smudging, and have a precision tip to prevent a streaky application. Luckily, you don’t need to look too much. Below are my tried and true favorite eyeliners to use on hooded eyes.

Whether you’re looking for something waterproof, water-resistant, liquid, or pencil, find below the best eyeliners for people with hooded eyes.

Best Eyeliners For Hooded Eyes

1. Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - Best Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

This one stains the eyelids the second you put the felt tip on your lash line. The tip of the eyeliner is pretty solid and doesn’t bend. So you’re not getting a flimsy tip that’ll slide all over and stain the eyelids. The jet-black shade defines the eyes beautifully. And even though winged eyeliner is a whole other struggle for us, this is the best liquid eyeliner to wing out hooded eyes. It’s water-proof and transfer-proof!

Eyeliner Type: Liquid, felt-tip
Available Shades: 2
Size: 0.03 oz/1 ml
Good To Know: Waterproof

2. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - Best Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

This one dries down quickly and has an elegant matte finish. From thin lines to more dramatic ones, it gives you room to create different looks. It inks the eyelids easily, so you don’t need several strokes to define the eyes. It’s waterproof and comes in other colors like brown, and charcoal too.

Eyeliner Type: Liquid, felt-tip
Available Shades: 8
Size: 0.016 oz/0.5 ml
Good To Know: Waterproof

3. Sephora Fine Line Waterproof Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner

Sephora Fine Line Waterproof Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner

If matte is not your thing, this one has an amazingly subtle shine to it. It’s as dark as they come. The waterproof eyeliner is easy to use and doesn’t smudge. It has a very thin felt tip and a nice firm that anyone can work with. The practical application makes this one an amazing eyeliner for small hooded eyes to open up your eyes. And it gives you that upturned and lifted almond eyes with a nice glistening effect.

Eyeliner Type: Liquid, felt-tip
Available Shades: 1
Size: 0.017 oz/0.5 ml
Good To Know: Waterproof

4. Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner

Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner - Best Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

This isn’t one of those dual liners that you buy because one side is so good and you put up with the other side because it’s a package deal. This one gives you amazing looks on both sides! The liquid eyeliner with a felt tip is easy to work with and precise, giving you enough control to apply your eyeliner. It’s long-wear, super pigmented, and has a subtle shine to it.

The pencil liner on the other end has a soft gel texture to it. It’s not as pigmented or dramatic. That’s why it’s perfect for creating more natural looks as well as using it on the waterline for tightlining hooded eyes. It’s also suitable to use as an eyeliner on mature skin to give it a more smoked-out and natural definition.

Eyeliner Type: Liquid felt-tip + pencil
Available Shades: 2
Size: 0.017 oz + 0.004 oz
Good To Know: Waterproof, vegan

5. Too Faced Better Than Sex Easy Glide Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Too Faced Better Than Sex Easy Glide Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - Best Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

The brush on this one is so thin and so precise that you really can fake a no-eyeliner look. When you start out thin, you can always make the lines thicker as opposed to one big fat line that’s impossible to work with. Additionally, you can experiment with different wings thanks to the precision tip.

Eyeliner Type: Liquid, brush tip
Available Shades: 2
Size: 0.02 oz/0.6 ml
Good To Know: Waterproof, vegan, cruelty-free

6. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner - Best Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

This is the best gel eyeliner for hooded eyes to create all kinds of looks. It’s highly pigmented and you don’t need a lot of product to define your eyes. The pigment dries down evenly, so you don’t need to go over the lines multiple times.

Gel liners are also beginner-friendly, giving you the option to build slowly using a brush you’re comfortable with. This one is also suitable for down-turned eyes and for people with fine lines. Because you’re able to build a layered look as opposed to one straight line that may draw attention to your skin texture.

Eyeliner Type: Gel
Available Shades: 5
Size: 0.1 oz
Good To Know: Waterproof

7. Charlotte Tilbury The Classic Eye Powder Pencil

Charlotte Tilbury The Classic Eye Powder Pencil

For the most natural-looking eye makeup, this pencil eyeliner in the shade brown is perfect. It’s great for people with hooded eyelids or people who don’t want something too bold. It’s also the perfect eyeliner for oily eyelids. The pencil has a powdery formula that goes easily on oily skin. You can also choose to smudge it and give your eyes a little depth on no-makeup makeup days.

Eyeliner Type: Pencil
Available Shades: 3
Size: 0.4 oz
Good To Know: Vegan-friendly

8. Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil

If you have big eyes with hooded lids, consider tightlining. Instead of using eyeliner to define the outer shape of the eye, use a pencil liner on the waterline. Better yet, you can lift up your eyes by tightlining on the upper waterline. And this water-proof pencil is just the right one for that. It goes on easily and doesn’t look streaky with uneven pigments.

Eyeliner Type: Pencil
Available Shades: 1
Size: 0.04 oz
Good To Know: Waterproof, cruelty-free

9. Nyx Epic Ink Liner

Nyx Epic Ink Liner - Best Drugstore Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this pen is foolproof and is one of the best drugstore eyeliners for hooded eyes. The soft felt tip brush is firm enough to draw precise lines. It’s water-proof and dries down quickly without staining the upper lids.

Nyx Epic Ink Liner
by Ejollify

Eyeliner Type: Liquid, felt-tip
Available Shades: 2
Size: 0.03 oz
Good To Know: Waterproof, vegan

Related: Best Drugstore Waterproof Eyeliners

10. Shiseido MicroLiner Ink Eyeliner

Shiseido MicroLiner Ink Eyeliner

This one has a twist-tip applicator and has impressive precision with a pigmented matte finish. But what makes it worthy of your attention is the formula. It’s an oil-free eyeliner and it’s ideal for people with hooded eyes who also enjoy fluffy eyelash extensions. This one won’t cause fall-outs. The tip is really thin but you can easily build it up. It’s also suitable for tightlining and lasts as long as 24 hours.

Eyeliner Type: Pencil
Available Shades: 10
Size: 0.002 oz
Good To Know: Fragrance-free

11. Glossier Pro Tip Brush Point Liquid Eyeliner

Glossier Pro Tip Brush Point Liquid Eyeliner - Best Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

This is what I’m currently using in my everyday makeup. The tip is very firm and precise, so you can apply your eyeliner without creating a mess. It’s not waterproof but it is water-resistant, so it stays there all day long. It’s not too pigmented so you may need to apply a few coats to create a more dramatic look. But this budget-friendly formula is incredibly beginner-friendly and has a natural finish.

Eyeliner Type: Liquid, brush tip
Available Shades: 1
Size: 0.01 oz
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan

So these are the best eyeliners for hooded eyes I can swear by. I love Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner because it dries fast without even giving you a chance to mess up and it’s waterproof too. If you also want something you can use to tightline while having the ability to experiment with different wings and eyeliner looks, definitely try Shiseido MicroLiner Ink Eyeliner. It’s incredibly precise! If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, below are the things to keep in mind when choosing your eyeliner and how to apply it when you find the one.

How To Choose Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

Choose The Right Tip

The best types of eyeliner for people with hooded eyes are felt-tip eyeliners and pencil eyeliners. These are easier to use as they don’t wiggle, which can cause things to get messy really quickly. It’s difficult to draw straight lines on hooded eyes, and brush-tip eyeliners can look very streaky. So prioritize felt-tip, sharp eyeliners with a firm grip, or go for pencil eyeliners, especially if you have oily eyelids.

Go For Waterproof Formulas

In general, waterproof eyeliners or water-resistant eyeliners will give you the longest wear. While they may require a more thorough makeup removal, they prevent your eyeliner from looking smudgy, and streaky later on in the day, which might draw attention to hooded eyelids.

Try Matte Finish

If you don’t want to draw attention to hooded eyes, try matte-finish eyeliners. Glossy, and shiny finish eyeliners usually draw attention to the eye area because of that glistening effect.

How to Apply Eyeliner on Hooded Eyes

1. Tightline

As the skin on the upper lash line tends to get creasy, it’s difficult to draw a line right on the lash line. Try tightlining the upper waterline. This will give you a fuller and more complete look without leaving blank, un-inked skin.

2. Start from the Middle

Apply your eyeliner starting from the middle of the eyelids and then go outwards as close to the lashes as possible. Leave the inner corner for last.

3. Draw Thin Lines

Instead of applying thick lines, start with very thin lines. Thick lines close up your eyes. And they have the potential to stain the upper eyelids, giving you a messy look. And don’t worry too much about drawing the perfect eyeliner. Sometimes, a smudged-out application looks much better than a straight line.

4. Keep the Wings Short

Winged eyeliner is perfect for lifting up hooded eyes. However, try to keep the wing short. When it’s long, it defeats the purpose, looks really messy, and magnifies wrinkles.

5. Draw the Wing After the Mascara

Here’s the best eyeliner tip for people with hooded eyes: apply the wing later. Do your eye makeup, apply the eyeliner without doing the wing, and apply your mascara. When all is done, look directly into the mirror to draw the wings. You simply need to imitate the eyelash at the very outer corner of your eyes. Draw the angled line in the same direction as that eyelash.

When in doubt, know that you can just leave it after defining your eyes. The wing is very tricky and drawing it can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. So after tightlining, draw a very thin line over the eyelids close to the lash line and just apply your mascara. Done!

Read Next: Best Mascara For Hooded Eyes

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