Let’s be very clear:
Hooded eyes are not a problem. They are not a limitation. And they do not need to be “fixed.”
What does need fixing is the idea that viral tutorials, created on one very specific eye shape, should magically work for everyone.
I hear it constantly: clients frustrated that eye makeup “never looks right” on them. They’ve followed countless influencer tutorials, bought the recommended products, followed the exact steps… and still walk away thinking their eyes are the issue.
They’re not.
The issue is that most influencer tutorials are created on one canvas: typically eyes with a lot of visible lid space, deep creases, or prominent structure. Those techniques are designed to perform beautifully on that eye shape. When applied to hooded eyes, the results will almost always look different…because the eye shape is different.
That’s not failure. It’s anatomy.
And no, influencers are not going to pause the tutorial to explain how or why the technique may not translate to your eyes. Their job is to showcase a look, sell a product or provide follow bait, not to teach customized applications across different facial features. (Note: this is also why I’ve never loved the idea of group makeup lessons, and often talk people out of them.)
Why This Matters to Me as a Professional Artist
I started my career with MAC cosmetics in the early 2000s, during the height of bold, dramatic eye makeup. As an artist and makeup enthusiast, I always considered my makeup style to be more Bobbi Brown vs MAC (and still often refer to it in that way.) In addition to my own personal preferences, I never felt like the popular bold eye makeup looks worked on my face. At the time, Western makeup education didn’t offer much in the way of nuanced technique for different eye shapes, ESPECIALLY hooded eyes and many Asian eye shapes.
As a professional, I learned early on that preference and performance are two different things. Certain looks simply don’t flatter certain eye shapes in the way they’re intended, and that’s okay. What matters is knowing why, and instead, knowing what does work.
As international techniques and education became more accessible, it reinforced something I’ve always believed as an artist:
Good makeup isn’t about forcing trends onto a face. It’s about understanding facial structure and enhancing it intentionally.
Why “Fixing” Your Eyes Is the Wrong Goal
I often hear clients talk about cosmetic procedures as a way of finally “fixing” their eyes so makeup will work better. I don’t know if I hear this often because I work in the beauty industry, or if it’s something that really weighs on a person. While I fully support personal choice, and doing whatever makes you feel confident, the language around this is important.
Your eyes don’t need correction to be worthy of makeup. Hooded eyes aren’t something to work against. They don’t need to be fixed.
They need appropriate techniques and the right products, and once you learn how to apply what works for your specific eye shape, the results speak for themselves.
Stop Learning From People Who Don’t Share Your Features
If you have hooded eyes, learning eye makeup from someone who doesn’t understand that anatomy will always feel frustrating. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because the education isn’t meant for you.
Find a professional or follow an influencer who knows and understands your features. Find someone who understands how light, shadows, textures, applications and different product formulas work with YOUR face. Learn why certain techniques may work for your face, NOT how you can make your face work with viral techniques.
Final Thought
Your eyes don’t need fixing.
They need informed technique.
Stop letting generic tutorials dictate how you feel about your features. Seek education from professionals who know how to analyze, adapt, and enhance what’s already there.
Makeup should work for your face, NOT require your face to change to accommodate it.
***Photos by https://ginnyfilerphotography.com/ and https://www.jangalvan.com/
Valerie Hammer is a professional makeup artist and makeup educator based in Silver Spring, MD, serving clients throughout the Washington, DC metro area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in photo ready makeup applications as well as personalized and group makeup lessons and one-on-one makeup tutorials, designed for real faces of all ages and real life.