Celebrity makeup artist Max May reveals the perfect makeup for seven types of eye shapes

In recent years, the massive increase in readily available makeup products has left both men and women perplexed about what cosmetics to buy and how to apply them.

And when it comes to beauty application, the eyes are a particular area of confusion thanks to the wide variety of shapes and structures found around the world.

Celebrity makeup artist and Giorgio Armani ambassador May May (aka Max Made) spoke to FEMAIL about seven different eye types and revealed the looks that work best when it comes to every eye shape.

From almond and hooded to deep-set and down-turned, this tutorial from a Sydney-based A-list artist is your personal recipe for sultry, smouldering and ‘smizing’ eyes.

Celebrity makeup artist Max May (pictured) revealed the best makeup looks for every eye shape

Celebrity makeup artist Max May (pictured) revealed the best makeup looks for every eye shape

Round eyes 

Screen siren Penelope Cruz is a perfect example of round eyes.

This shape works best with eyeliner starting from the innermost corner of the eye right at the tear duct all the way out.

The edge can be either bluntly straight or finessed with a cat-eye flick, while the brow bone must be heavily highlighted with a luminous powder.

Dust light, shimmering eye shadow around the tear duct area with a medium shade all over the lid for an arresting contrast.

Blend from the outside in to the middle of the eye with a darker shade for maximum impact. 

Screen siren Penelope Cruz is the perfect example of round eyes

Screen siren Penelope Cruz is the perfect example of round eyes

Close-set eyes

Everyone’s favourite ‘City’ girl Carrie Bradshaw (aka Sarah Jessica Parker) is a famous example of exotic and beautiful close-set eyes.

Makeup enthusiasts with close-set eyes can accentuate their features by highlighting the brow bone and inner lids to make them more prominent.

‘You want to make the eyes appear wider and longer, so the first port of call would be to smoke the outer third of the eye,’ Mr May said.

‘Start with the top line and then if you feel your eyes can handle it, take it further out to the corner.

‘Stick with a product that has a sharp finish like a pencil as opposed to a shadow – there is less room for error this way.

‘Just smoke it out gently with a brush to keep the eye shape sharp and defined.’

Mr May advised using a double coating of mascara and curling lashes well to make eyes appear as wide as possible. 

Those with close-set eyes like Sarah Jessica Parker can accentuate their features by highlighting the brow bone and inner lids to make them more prominent

Those with close-set eyes like Sarah Jessica Parker can accentuate their features by highlighting the brow bone and inner lids to make them more prominent

Wide-set eyes

Those with wide-set eyes like mega supermodels Kate Moss and Kendall Jenner are fortunate – this is an eye shape which is easy for any artist to work with.

‘Wide-set is the ultimate shape – it’s the most desired ever,’ Mr May revealed.

‘Try not to over-emphasise them; just curl your lashes and go natural, perhaps focusing on another area of the face like the lips or cheeks.

‘Let your beautiful eyes do their job!’.

Those with wide-set eyes like mega supermodel Kate Moss are fortunate as they are versatile and easy to work with

Those with wide-set eyes like mega supermodel Kate Moss are fortunate as they are versatile and easy to work with

Deep-set eyes

Deep set, dreamy and hypnotising eyes are memorable features enjoyed by the likes of Armenian-descended Kim Kardashian.

‘With deep-set eyes, you want to keep liner and shadow as close to the lash line as you can.

‘If you blend up too far, it can look a bit hollow which can make you look older or gaunt.’

Mr May suggested sticking to soft shades of brown, bronze and mauve all close to the lash line. 

Apply a light, neutral shade beneath the brow bone and use dark shadow instead of liner on the upper lashes. 

Arresting, hypnotising eyes like Kim Kardashians are deep set and dream-like

Arresting, hypnotising eyes like Kim Kardashians are deep set and dream-like

Almond eyes

Evenly proportioned almond eyes are well structured and need little cosmetic correction with makeup products.

Beyonce, Angelina Jolie and Mila Kunis are all A-listers with the sought-after almond shape, and according to Mr May, they are ‘blessed’.

‘As with wide-set, you can pretty much do whatever you like with this eye shape.

‘The Brigitte Bardot style works well with a smoky blend on the outer corner to achieve that feline look – it really exaggerates and dramatises the almond shape.’ 

Symmetrical almonds allow for lots of experimentation with different looks, textures and colours and can pull off almost any style of makeup. 

Beyonce has almond eyes which are the most symmetrical and evenly proportioned eye shape

Beyonce has almond eyes which are the most symmetrical and evenly proportioned eye shape

Hooded eyes

Hooded eyes like those of Blake Lively and Taylor Swift can make the eyes appear smaller because of the skin covering the crease.

‘These can be quite tricky – you want to concentrate your liner and shadow to the very top of the lid,’ Mr May advised, as this serves to counteract the hooded appearance.

‘Stick the liner close to lash line and blend it out softly, add a generous strip of false lashes and a frosted colour above the hood line for a classic shape.

‘If you do want to play around with shadow, make sure to take the contour above the hood to almost recreate the shape of the eye.

‘My advice would be to focus on lashes – let them do the talking!’.

Hooded eyes like Blake Lively's can make eyes appear smaller due to the layer of skin around the crease

Hooded eyes like Blake Lively’s can make eyes appear smaller due to the layer of skin around the crease

Protruding or prominent eyes

If you have an doe-eyed, impactful stare like Ashley Olsen, Nicole Richie or Amanda Seyfried, it’s likely you have protruding or prominent eyes.

Protruding eyes benefit from killer smoky looks, which create the illusion of deep set eyes to counteract the enlarged appearance of prominent shapes.

‘Generally, we try to make the bottom lash line quite smoky and then concentrate on that being the darker, more dramatic area rather than the top lid,’ Mr May said.

‘This flattens the bottom eyelid creating the illusion of a lifted eye.’

The professional glam artist recommended using a pencil on the waterline of the lower lid and blending a slightly lighter shadow along the lash line.

Doe-eyed starlet Amanda Seyfried has prominent, protruding eyes

Doe-eyed starlet Amanda Seyfried has prominent, protruding eyes

Katy Perry's eyes are down-turned, with a slant at the corner that can appear naturally sad

Katy Perry’s eyes are down-turned, with a slant at the corner that can appear naturally sad

Down-turned eyes

Marilyn Monroe, Anne Hathaway and Katy Perry are all famous faces who sport down-turned eyes.

This shape is slightly slanted at the corner and can appear naturally sad or a little sleepy.

According to Mr May, the key to down-turned eyes is all about liquid eyeliner.

‘Focus on top lash liquid liner – play with a solid line on top and flick it up at the edge of the outer corner,’ he said.

‘Again, focus on lashes and leave the under area completely bare as heavy colours will drag the eye down.

‘Concentrate on a really beautiful highlight around the inner corner of the eye as well as on the top of the cheek to divert attention on to the cheekbone.’ 

Winged and cat-eye styles work wonders for this shape to lift the eye, while curling your lashes and applying generous amounts of mascara will inject added drama.



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