Makeup for Hooded Eyes: 10 Celebrity Looks and Tips

Kate Moss for British Vogue June 1998 by Nick Knight

As a hooded-eyed owner, I have a love-hate relationship with how they look. Sometimes I love the way makeup products apply, while other times I can't find a good way to work with the shape. If your beautiful eyeshadow work and perfectly aligned liner vanish the moment you open your eyes, you know the struggle is real! The first thing you have to do with the hooded eyes is to stop fighting and embrace it; the second is to find a way to work with it. And the best way to do so is to learn from the best: celebrity makeup artists. They surely know how to maximize the impact and emphasize the beauty of these eyes.

For today's blog post, I've decided to bring you the ultimate hooded eye inspiration. From the timeless smoky eyes of Jennifer Lawrence to Taylor Swift's signature liner, here are the 10 Best Celebrity Makeup Looks for Hooded Eyes that prove you can rock any style, complete with tips on how to recreate them.

What Are Hooded Eyes?

Hooded eyes are a common and beautiful anatomical feature defined by a fold of skin that drapes down from the brow bone, partially or sometimes completely covering the movable part of the upper eyelid when the eye is open. This overlapping skin creates a subtle "hood," concealing the eyelid crease and making the lid space appear smaller or recessed. It is important to know that this is a normal variation in eye shape, often determined by genetics, though the effect can become more pronounced with age as skin loses its elasticity. 

While they pose a unique challenge for makeup application – as perfectly blended eyeshadow or eyeliner can vanish when the eye opens – it is this distinctive feature that gives the eyes a deep, mysterious, or even alluring expression.

• #1. Jennifer Lawrence

Let's begin with the internet's favorite, who is the perfect example for today's blog post – Jennifer Lawrence. She wore a beautiful Dior dress for the 2024 Oscars, and makeup artist Hung Vanngo did an incredible job emphasizing her hooded eyes. As you can see, she wears a bold, yet softened eyeliner (pencil and eyeshadow work for sure!) paired with a matte eyeshadow that gives the illusion of a higher, bigger crease.

• #2. Emma Stone

Emma Stone looked unforgettable in her custom Louis Vuitton at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, but her makeup is yet another thing we can't forget! Let's name it a half-winged eyeliner, or the halfliner. Which do you like more? The secret to the look is leaving the first half of the lash line naked, only tightlining it with eye kohl. The second, outer part of the lash line features a thin line with a small wing.

• #3. Zoe Kravitz 

For the next example, I wanted to find a celebrity who isn't afraid of experimenting with their looks. The new Catwoman, Zoë Kravitz, is surely one of those who loves playing around with her makeup. And I love that! So, this look proved that with hooded eyes, you can pull off even the boldest, sharpest eyeliner! The trick is concentrating your work on the lower lash line. Yes, you understood me right: simply draw the line on the bottom lid, extend it upwards to the temple, and clean up the edge with concealer. And your eyeliner for hooded eyes is done.

• #4. Keira Knightley

Let's appreciate Keira Knightley's beauty and her blushing eyes at the 2025 Golden Globes. Chanel's makeup artist Kate Lee is the artist behind the look, and she describes the eyeshadow work as ''early 90’s smudged eye''. You can find the list of the products Kate used for this look on her official Instagram page.

So the look, essentially, is a very soft version of smokey eye with a perly halo effect and purple undertone. All smudged and softened for that careless chic vibe.

#5. Taylor Swift

While not always obvious (that's all because of masterful makeup techniques), Taylor Swift is one of us girlies! She also has hooded eyes and knows how to make them look even more seductive and beautiful. Check out her makeup at the L.A. Premiere of the Eras Concert Film. It is a perfect combination of a chic pin-up eyeliner, blue hues, and a coral-red lipstick. Everything is on point without being boring. Let this look serve as an inspiration for those who are afraid of bright colors on hooded eyelids.

• #6. Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin wore a beautiful black smokey eye for the 12th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The cool thing about this look is the use of false lashes. One of the tricks on how to make hooded eyes more "open" is to cheat your way with the long false lashes. But you'll still have to customize them for a natural blending with your lashes. Cut them in half, if necessary, or use cluster lashes and build up the volume.

• #7. Selena Gomez

Taylor looks fabsome with coral lips, but no one wears corals like Selena Gomez. We, of course, are going to discuss the eye makeup that she wore at the SAG Awards. Do you see what little trick Hung Vanngo used to make the hooded eye shape more elongated? First of all, the warm brown eyeshadow generously applied over Selena's lids goes well with her natural eye color, and this already puts emphasis on the eyes. The second is the strategic placement of the false lashes. Can you see how much longer they are on the corners? This lifts up the eyes, making them more like a siren eye look.

• #8. Claudia Schiffer

It was so much fun hunting for the perfect example with Claudia, as most of her modeling pictures feature professional makeup work. For today's blog post, I chose the classic smoky eye look to show and explain how to execute a similar effect on hooded eyes. 

The key to this look lies in good priming and dramatic blending above the natural crease. When you are working to blend dark eyeshadow, don't be afraid to drag the color above the natural crease to create the illusion of larger lids. Use a nude eyeshadow and a soft blending brush to help you achieve a seamless blend.

• #9. Jodie Foster

Another great example of how to utilize a matte, nude eyeshadow color in the crease is Jodie Foster's makeup look at the Cesar Awards in 2011. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find out who did her makeup, but you can see a very soft, blended brown eyeshadow above the natural crease of her eye. Curly lashes also help to open up the eyes, making them brighter and a bit larger.

• #10. Vanessa Paradis

And for the dessert, let's take a look at Vanessa Paradis' matte on matte makeup. Professional makeup artist and YouTuber Wayne Goss (I strongly recommend you checking his channel out!) always emphasizes the importance of matte eyeshadow on hooded eyes and mature eyes, as shimmer and glitter can make skin dryness more prominent and emphasize fine lines and wrinkles. Matte eyeshadow beautifully blends on the skin, allowing you more scope/room for experimenting.

Let's Wrap Up...

Whether you're a fan of a subtle "peek-a-boo" winged liner or a full-on cut crease that defies gravity, these ten celebrity looks offer a masterclass in makeup for hooded eyes. The unifying principle behind all these stunning styles is simple: focus your blending above the natural crease and always check your work with your eyes open. Now that you have the inspiration and the techniques, it's time to put these red-carpet-worthy tricks into practice. Go ahead and give your hooded eyes the glamorous spotlight they deserve!