How to Do Eye Makeup on Hooded Eyes

If you have hooded eyes, you know the struggle: eyeshadow disappearing into your crease, eyeliner smudging, and your carefully crafted eye makeup look vanishing when you open your eyes. But don’t worry, with the right techniques and eye products, you can enhance and define your eyes effortlessly. 

Step 1: Prep & Prime for Long-Lasting Wear

Hooded eyes tend to have more natural creasing, so prepping your lids is key to ensuring your makeup stays in place. Use Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer to create a smooth base and lock in your shadow. Apply a light dusting of translucent setting powder to set the primer for extra longwear. 

Step 2: Define Your Crease (Even If You Can't See It!)

The secret to making hooded eyes pop is placing your crease color slightly above your natural fold, creating the illusion of a more open lid. Take Caviar Stick Eye Shadow in a darker shade like Mocha apply it just above your crease. Blend upward using the Laura Mercier Eye Crease Brush in windshield-wiper motions to softly diffuse the color. By lifting the shadow placement, your eyes will appear bigger and more defined, even when they’re open! 

Step 3: Brighten the Lid & Inner Corner 

A pop of shimmer or a light-reflecting shade can open up the eyes instantly. Apply Caviar Stick Eye Shadow in a lighter shade like Rosegold to the center of your lid and inner corner. Blend with the Laura Mercier All Over Eye Color Brush for a seamless, luminous effect. This trick draws light to the eyes, making them appear bigger and more awake. 

Step 4: Master the Art of Eyeliner 

For hooded eyes, tightlining is the ultimate game-changer—it defines your eyes without taking up valuable lid space. Use Caviar Tightline Eyeliner along your upper waterline to make lashes look fuller. Lightly smudge the liner along your outer lash line using the Laura Mercier Flat Eyeliner Brush for a soft, smoky effect. Avoid thick liner on the upper lid, as it can make the eyes look smaller. Instead, keep it thin and close to the lash line.

 

Step 5: Lift & Open with Mascara 

Mascara is a must for lifting hooded eyes. The right formula will prevent smudging and keep lashes curled all day. Curl your lashes and apply Caviar Extravagant Mascara in upward strokes, focusing on the outer lashes for a fanned-out effect. Apply a light coat to your lower lashes with the tip of the wand for extra definition. This will create the illusion of wider, more lifted eyes. In case you experience any eye makeup or mascara smudging, check out our How to Prevent Mascara-Stained Eyes for All Day Wear blog.

Step 6: Clean Up & Perfect the Look For a Flawless Finish

Brighten your under-eye area with Secret Brightening Powder for a refreshed, airbrushed look. And voilà. Your hooded eye makeup is complete—long-lasting, beautifully blended, and designed to enhance your natural shape.