7 Makeup Tips For Downturned Eyes, Plus How To Tell If You Have Them

Any lid structure can achieve any makeup look, of course, but experts do call on specific techniques to help enhance the various outlines, be it almond, hooded, monolid, or (in this case) downturned eyes. If you have a downturned eye shape, feel free to keep these tricks in your back pocket.

As the name suggests, downturned eyes tend to slope downward at the outer corners. It's not always so obvious, though, so here's a helpful tip: Draw a straight, horizontal line across your eyes (either on a mirror or on a close-up photo). If the outer corners of your eyes tilt below the line, you likely have a downturned eye shape.

Not all downturned eyes have the same exact structure, so it's always helpful to play around with what works for you (go ahead and go wild!). But think of these makeup artist tips as a starting point for your face beat: 

"The key to applying shadow on downturned eyes is to focus on the orbital bone rather than the lash line," says makeup artist Jenny Patinkin. Keep your gaze straight-on in the mirror and sweep on a matte shade just above the orbital bone, blending up toward the outer corner of the eyebrow. "This will create the illusion of lift," she says. 

"If you want to create the illusion of a more uplifted eye shape, use a touch of a lighter shade of concealer on the outer corner of your bottom lash line (look for the area where a shadow may naturally occur due to the hooded shape of a downturned eye)," says makeup artist Alexandra Compton, product development manager at Credo. "This will instantly brighten and lift the outer corner of the eye."

Or, you can flick the wing upward toward your brow (like a traditional cat-eye), but draw your line just before the corners start to slant downward rather than at the very end of your eye. "Then to amp it up, use a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin, go right next to the liner, and it will lift it even more," makeup artist Criss Scortezz says in a quick TikTok demonstration. 

If a cat-eye is not your jam, you can always use liner to accentuate the natural downward curve of your eye shape (a K-beauty trick dubbed "puppy eyeliner"). Simply trace the lash line with your liquid liner, gliding the pigment down toward your bottom lash line instead of flicking upward toward the brow. 

Next, trace the same color below your lower lash line (which makes the eyes appear bigger and taller), and connect the outer edge with the color at your top lash line. "Add some dimension by applying a light, shimmery shade to the inner corner of your lid," continues Compton. And finally: "Tightline your top and bottom lash line with a brown or black liner (for some fun, try a pretty pop of color with purple, blue, or burgundy liner)."

"Curl your lashes before applying mascara for mega doe eyes," Compton once told us about how to flatter any eye shape. It's a universal tip, of course, but especially for downturned eyes, as those lashes tend to droop without some curl. Check out our favorite eyelash curlers here, which includes a few precise tools to grab more stubborn lashes at the outer corners.

If falsies aren't your thing, you can also create faux lashes with liquid liner—a retro hack that looks divine on downturned eyes. "I like to press the tip of the liquid liner into the base of the lash root and use a light flicking motion to create a 'lash,'" Compton once told mbg. Focus on the outer lash line (top and bottom), and stick to four to five flicks. 

If you have downturned eyes, that means your eyes tilt downward at the outer corners. There are myriad ways to accentuate the stunning shape, whether you want to create more lift or enhance the slant—all make for a striking eye look.