When it comes to Asian eye makeup all the rules that you know fly out of the window. Mostly because of that, many women decide to go only with eyeliner or makeup-free. Even though Asian women are known for flawless skin, they like to experiment with eyeshadows.
The talk about Asian eyes is not new. On the contrary, it dates back centuries. People use to describe Asian eyes as nuts (particularly almonds). They are quite specific, but also very beautiful.
Two main characteristics of the Asian or almond eyes are eyelids and epicanthic folds. The epicanthic fold represents the skin on the upper lid, near the inner corner of the eye. These two things are the main reason why Asian women have trouble when doing their makeup. Trying to make their eyes look bigger is one of the biggest challenges.
Let’s get deeper into a tutorial to see how to achieve the best makeup for Asians.
Asian Eye Makeup Tutorial
When it comes to Asian eye makeup techniques and Asian eyeshadows the rule is the same for all – choose the style, technique, and shade that suits you. It will truly make a difference, and you will feel fabulous.
#1: Products You Need
It is essential to find and to stick to the beauty products that are good for your skin, and that goes well with your skin tone. The first thing is to find your perfect eyeshadow color. It can be earth-toned or vivid – as long as you feel good when you put it on your eyelids, it is ideal for you.
The second product that you must have in every situation is black eyeliner. Asian makeup almost always includes eyeliner, and that is why you should learn how to apply it in the best possible way.
The last, but not least is mascara. Along with the eyeliner, mascara will make your eyes pop! These two products go perfectly in a pair, and they will be your primary weapon for no-makeup makeup days!
#2: Best Eyeshadow Palette For Asian Eyes
When it comes to choosing the best palette for Asian eyes, we have to mention that there are no boundaries here. One rule applies for all women when picking eyeshadows – try to match it with your skin tone and color of your eyes.
If you are a beginner, it is the safest to use neutral, earth tones that will not be too eye-catching. The Asians usually have the warm skin complexion undertone so it will be easier for you to find the right brown or nude shade.
Always keep a red lipstick and brows shadow in your bag – with these products your makeup will be a head-turner. Here are some eyeshadow palettes you should keep in your beauty bag:
- L.A. Girl Beauty Brick Eyeshadow, Nudes – This lovely nude palette is perfect for everyday Asian eye makeup. It has shimmery and matte shadows, which make it perfect for combining. Pinkish tones will match perfectly with any skin tone.
- For perfect smokey eyes, you should have a palette that has darker colors and better pigment. From matte black to shimmery white, Maybelline New York The Rock Nudes Palette will serve you fantastic when you need to look fabulous.
- Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick – choose this perfect red lipstick and make it stay on your lips all day long. With these matte creamy formulas, your lips will look fantastic. Don’t worry about the time – this lipstick can last up to 16 hours.
#3: How To Put Eyeshadow On Asian Eyes
Whether it is an eyeshadow palette for every day or more sophisticated and elegant occasions, you need to know how to apply it and blend it perfectly. Let’s see how to blend eyeshadow, even if you are not so good at it.
Jennifer Chiu is an amazing makeup artist that will show you some pro tips and tricks when it comes to blending your eye shadow. She does this tutorial very slow – it is detailed, and perfect for beginners.
Nude Eyeshadow Goes As A Base
This step is usually the same when you start doing your makeup. Start with a primer and nude eyeshadow as a base. Use the light white or creamy eyeshadow to the eye bone to visually lift up your eye.
Blending and Creating a Crease
After making a base, you need to apply the dark eyeshadow. The trick with the mongoloid and hooded eyes is to start on the outer corners of your eyes and then wing it up. Blend your eyeshadow towards the middle of your lid.
If you want to make your eye pop, take the dark eyeshadow a bit higher and then create a crease. Also, if you want your makeup to look heavier, and your crease to be darker, add more eyeshadow.
Making Beautiful Gradient
Using the patting motion, apply light and shimmery eyeshadow to the inner parts of your eyelid. By doing this, you will create a beautiful gradient.
For the end, apply dark brown or black eyeshadow to the outer corners just a bit more. Drag the shadow to the inner part of the eye to get more depth. Don’t forget lower lashline.
#4: How To Apply Eyeliner
Asian girls use eyeliner to make their eyes look more significant than usual. It is not easy work putting on the eyeliner. But you can learn to do it step by step. And, guess what? It is a beginner-friendly!
A young YouTuber Jessica Wu made a fantastic guide on how to apply eyeliner if you have flat hooded eyes. It is for beginners, and full of excellent makeup tips.
By the way, there’s a useful guide on wikiHow about how to determine your eye shape.
First Comes the Primer
The eye primer will help your eyeshadow to stay on your eyelids all day long. If you are planning to go to some event that requires elegant attire and heavier makeup, make sure to use it before applying eyeshadow or eyeliner.
It is on you to put or not to put some neutral eyeshadow. It can look nice if you want to contour your eye, but if you are a beginner, it might be a better choice to concentrate on your eyeliner.
Make a Base
First of all, you need to make a base for your eyeliner. By using a brush tip eyeliner, you will avoid the mistakes. Otherwise, you can mess up your eyeshadow and primer if you decide to start with some other type of eyeliner.
Remember – gel eyeliner is only for pros in this step! Always start with the top of your eyelid and create a good base. Don’t let it overlap with the crease – it can look pretty messy while your eyeliner will seem too thick.
Then, you should create an angle and connect it to the top to get the bottom of your wing.
Fill In Everything
When you finish with the base, you can switch to some more pigmented eyeliner to fill in everything. Don’t forget to fill in the lashline.
In the end, all you need to do is to finish off this look with the great black mascara.
#5: Putting the Finishing Touches: Powder, Mascara And More
The first step to finishing your eye makeup is to apply translucent powder on top of your eyeshadow or eyeliner if you think it may be in danger of smudging. If you have particularly oily lids, this is a great preventative measure to take. If you’ve never had a problem with eye makeup smudging, feel free to skip this step.
Next, you’ll want to address your lashes. If you have an eyelash curler, curl your lashes before applying mascara. Asians normally have naturally straight eyelashes, so curling them can make them appear more visible. You can even use a heated eyelash curler for a more dramatic effect.
If you like to wear mascara, apply to the top and bottom lashes. You can use a combination of 2 different mascaras to get big, voluminous lashes. If you don’t like the feeling of traditional mascara, try a fiber mascara.
If you really want to take your lash game to the next level, consider applying false eyelashes. You can choose between a strip of false lashes that goes over your entire lash line or individual falsies that you can apply just at the outer corner or anywhere else you desire. False eyelashes will make your eyes look bigger, so if your eyes are on the smaller side, they’re worth giving a shot.
To apply, dab a bit of eyelash glue onto your hand. Then, using tweezers or your fingers, carefully pick up a thin layer product on the lash band of the eyelashes. Apply as close to your lash line as you possibly can and wait for the glue to dry. Be sure to invest in a good quality eyelash glue if you don’t want to have to fuss with your eyelashes the whole day!
#6: Completing the Natural Asian Look: Brows and Blush
To make your natural makeup look complete, you’ll want your brows to be well-groomed. Most of the time, the brows in this makeup style are kept very straight. This look isn’t about creating a high, unnatural arch. If your brows are naturally arched, don’t worry – keep them as they are. Everyone’s eyebrows are different – the important thing is to keep them looking neat and tidy.
If you need to fill in any sparse areas, go ahead and do so. The best brush for applying eyebrow products is a small angled brush, but if you’re in a pinch you can use any eyeshadow brush you have on hand. For our natural look, use a soft powder or pencil a shade slightly lighter than your natural color (often a dark brown or gray) and lightly define your eyebrows.
Some people have thick brows and won’t need to do this step. Others may need to draw or extend their brows, while others still may just need to brush them into place using a gel or pomade.
Lastly, add some healthy color to your cheeks. This should be a light, natural flush – save the hot pink for a different type of look. If you are very pale, consider a peach colored blush. Otherwise, a wash of subtle pink will make you look healthy and youthful.
Asian Eye Makeup Instructions For Different Eye Types And Looks
Large Visible Lids or Double Eyelids
The standard natural Asian makeup look involves a shimmery eyeshadow shade that’s not too different from your skin tone, whether that’s a champagne, beige, copper, or rose color. This can be applied all over the lid after primer for a no-fuss, fresh-faced look. If you want, you can follow this up with some black or brown eyeliner. If not, skip right to mascara.
If you’ve got enough lid space, the standard way to apply eyeliner is to apply your pencil, gel, or liquid eyeliner as close to the lash line as you can in an even line across your lid. If you want a cat-eye shape, you can apply a wing. To do this, try to visualize your lower lash line extending towards the tail of your eyebrow.
Slowly extend your bottom lash line towards the tip of your eyebrow. Do the same from your top lash line, continuing your existing line. You should be creating a triangle with the tip pointing towards your eyebrow. After you’re satisfied with your wing, fill in the triangle.
You should then have a fabulous cat eye! You can also use eyeliner (with optional smudging) on top of a shimmery neutral shadow for a smokier eyeliner look.
Almond or Narrow-shaped Eyes
If your eyes are almond shaped or are on the thinner side (similar to Lucy Liu’s), try a mini cat eye. With your eyeliner of choice, create a small flick on the outer corner of your eyes after lining the lid. To make your eyes really pop, use white or peach eyeliner on your waterline.
For eyeshadow, a lighter shade will open up your eyes. Don’t be afraid to apply your eyeshadow well beyond the mobile lid if you don’t have a ton of lid space.
Monolid Or Hooded Eyes
If you have little or no visible lid space and/or lack a visible crease, you’ll want to create an eyeliner or eyeshadow shape that covers an area that’s bigger than just your mobile lid. Instead, you will take your desired eyeshadow all the way from your lid up into your crease and even slightly on your brow bone. The shape of your eyeshadow should be rounded on top and end in a wing or triangle shape in your outer corner.
Pro tip: use a piece of tape on the side of your eye (at an angle to your lower lash line) to keep the shadow in a nice, neat line. When you’re done applying your eyeshadow, remove the tape for a clean eyeshadow shape.
To apply eyeliner to eyes with little to no visible lid, mark the spot in which you want the eyeliner to be visible with a small dot or dash of eyeliner. The key is to do with while your eyes are still open. When your eyes are closed, use this dot to create an outline of where you will color in your eyeliner. You can use pencil, but it might smudge, so gel or liquid eyeliner may be the way to go.
Let your eyeliner set for around 30 seconds before closing your eyes so it doesn’t transfer to your crease. Then, go over this line as many times as you want, depending on the level of thickness you want your eyeliner to be. It may seem ridiculous with your eyes closed, but once your eyes are open, it will look flawless. You can do this technique with eyeshadow or just standalone eyeliner.
Pro tip: you can layer eyeliner pencil and eyeshadow for a cool new shade.
Downturned Eyes
The outer corner of the eye is lower than the inner corner of the eye.
Easy eye makeup to do is what’s called the puppy eye. It’s similar to the cat eye, but instead of going upwards, the eyeliner flicks downwards. After lining your lash line, you’ll want to draw a small triangle on the outer corner of your eye, almost in a cat-ear shape.
The triangles should be slanted outwards and go beyond your eyelid, into your lower lash line.
The Korean Aegyo-sal Look
If you like, you can try a Korean look called aegyo-sal, or eye-smiles. This involves accentuating your under-eye area. All you need is a soft, matte brown eyeshadow and a light, shimmery highlight shade. The idea is to essentially contour your under-eye area using shadow and highlight to give the appearance of more defined eye bags. Many say that this gives you a cuter, more youthful appearance or can make your eyes look rounder, but you’ll just have to try it out for yourself to decide!
The first step to getting this look is to take a matte brown powder that’s slightly darker than your skin tone (it can be eyeshadow, bronzer, eyebrow powder, or even a brown eyeliner) and apply it below your lash line with a small brush to where your existing eye bags are. If you don’t have any, apply them to the area in the photo to imitate natural eye bags. Be sure to follow the natural curve of your eye.
Once you’ve done this, blend out the line with a blending brush or a Q-tip so that the line is not so harsh. Next, take an eyeshadow slightly lighter than your skin tone and apply it to the area just below your lash line. If you have highlighter or a light, shimmery eyeshadow, you can apply this to the fullest part of your under-eye area. Blend it out so the transition from brown to shimmer is seamless, and you’ve got your ayego-sal look finished!
Smokey Eyes For Asian Eyes
One of the most popular techniques when it comes to makeup is definitely the smokey eye. From the classic ones in black and grey shades to the vivid ones, all women have tried it even once in their lifetime.
When it comes to hooded and Asian eyes, the smokey might seem a bit complicated because of the specific eyelids. However, if you see this video, you will see it is not so hard, but you have to follow some rules.
Apply Transitional Eyeshadow
Apply your primer, nude base and light eyeshadow to your brow bone.
If you are doing a darker smokey eye, use the primer that has brown or grey color. Pick the transition shade and apply it all over your eyelids.
Then you should use bit darker shade for outer corners. This is the beginning of creating depth. The trick is to apply it above the crease line so it will not disappear when you open your eye.
The Youtuber Tina Yong suggests using matte colors when you are in this step.
It’s Time for Darker Colors
When you are done with applying transitional shade (and make sure it is on the right spot), then it is time for darker colors. Place it with the outer corner of your eye and pull it above the crease that you have. Asian women used to put the dark shadow a bit above the crease to create depth. Try to drag this darker color to the inner part of the eye.
Apply Shimmery Shades
Now, you can choose the shimmery shades – they go perfectly in the corners and central eyelid.
While keeping the shade under the hood, apply whatever shimmer and shiny shade you like to the corner of your eye, and then to the central eyelid.
Don’t forget your lower lash line – apply the shadows that you have used in the first step. For the end, apply the black eyeliner and voila! All that you need to do now is to make your eyes pop with mascara.
Special Case: Asian Bridal Makeup
For the most important in your life, we recommend using long-lasting makeup products. Asian wedding makeup is nothing different than the usual. Asian women like to go classy, with smokey eyes and in darker brown tones.
This makeup for a wedding is not only easily achievable but also the result is impressive. However, make sure to use waterproof products – crying at your wedding is inevitable, but you need to look nice all day long.
Tina Yong shows us how to achieve glam, but not overdone look for a wedding. If you have almond eyes, you should follow her rules.
Hide All the Imperfections
You can start this makeup look with the primer, then concealer to hide your imperfections. Makeup artists use concealer as a contour product as well so you can try it too. Rolling motions will help you blend the concealer into your lower lash line.
Contouring is popular among Asian women, so blend your shades nicely. Don’t forget – you will take a lot of photos, so try to make contour shades less obvious!
Creating a Base and Crease
Start your eye makeup with the base color. If you have decided to stay in neutral beige and brown colors, then the base should be white or nude.
Then use warmer tones from your palette to make a crease. Blend it back and forward, using the wiper motion. With dark shade create v-shape or triangle in the inner corner of your eye. This will help you elongate your eye.
Maybelline has a small tutorial about creating a cut crease which is worth checking out.
Eyeliner is Optional
Since this is makeup for the wedding, you can allow yourself to use more shimmer eyeshadows, than for an everyday makeup look. You can apply shiny eyeshadow to your middle lid and inner corners of your eyes. Putting the eyeliner is optional.
If you want to go with full makeup on, then draw a thin line and put on false lashes. However, if you like to go more minimal, apply your favorite mascara (once again – waterproof!), and you are ready.
Natural Asian Makeup
Just a couple of words about natural makeup. Natural Asian makeup is covered in more depth in a separate article: 4 Tips To Achieve Flawless Natural Asian Makeup. Check it if you want to master natural makeup look.
For no-makeup makeup kind of days, you should moisturize your skin, put on a good foundation, and do a little contouring. The trick is to blend it all well so you can get that healthy glow.
When it comes to Asian eye makeup, you can work with one shadow only and apply the black eyeliner. Pink or nudes tones for your lips are a perfect everyday choice.
Dasha Kim does her everyday makeup in a few simple steps. She recommends good moisturizing, and she mentions that finding the right foundation for your skin tone is really important.
The truth is that mongoloid eyes are a bit more complicated to work with.
However, no matter how challenging it is, try to make your eyeliner line perfect and your smokey eyes glamorous. The results will amaze you, and it will push you to be more and more precise and creative.
Hooded eyes look so beautiful! We hope these tutorials and tips will help you to achieve your perfect look.
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