While eyeliner is the one thing no makeup lover can live without, the application varies from person to person. We all have unique eye shapes that imply we can’t all apply eyeliner in the same way. Eyeliner is so much more than dabbing your eyes here and there along your lashes.

Here’s how you should be applying it based on what shape your eyes are:

1. Almond eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

Your eyes will literally look like small almonds, and when you look straight ahead your iris will mostly be covered between both upper and lower lids.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Almond eyes are considered the ideal shape and so eyeliner can be applied freely in all form. Adding a wing with heavier mascara on the outer lashes will emphasize your eyes.

2. Small eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

If your eyes are proportionally smaller than both your nose and lips then you have small eyes.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Try to avoid applying eyeliner so heavily on your water line. Focus on the outer parts of your eyes and ease into drawing a thicker as your progress outwards, starting from midway your iris on both top and bottom.

3. Round eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

If you can see a slither of white around your iris, then you have round eyes.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Wing your liner around your outer lash to enhance the size of your round eyes. Line the edges with a thicker line. You can also start mid-iris and wing it outwards too.

4. Deep-set eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

Deep-set eyes recline inwards into your bone structure. When you look straight ahead, your eyes will set themselves in-between your brow and lashes recede.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Don’t draw such a thick line on your lashes because it will make your eyes look all the more sunken. Only line the outer part of your eyes. Keep the bottom and inner corners free of liner.

5. Hooded eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

Hooded eyes are a little harder to identify. If your eyelids droop towards the crease of your brows as you look straight ahead and if your eyelid is almost entirely hidden as a result, then you have hooded eyes.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Your lids fold over and become invisible, so it’s important that you apply a really thick line at the end of your lash line.

6. Big eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

If you have big eyes then you have eyes that are proportionally bigger than the rest of your facial features.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

You can line your eyes however you want if you have big eyes. You can line both your top and bottom lash lines and really experiment with cat and wing styles.

7. Down-turned eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

There is a slight drop at the outer corner of the eye. Down-turned eyes are the ideal shape for the cat look.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Apply eye shadow to the eyelids and blend your liner upwards. Keep the lower lash light and focus on smudging the outer-lids.

8. Upturned eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

If you have upturned eyes, these naturally lift upwards at the corners of your eyes. The lid is noticeably visible.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

This shape is perfect for the smokey look. Draw your liner straight out instead of at an angle. Don’t confuse them for downturned eyes.

9. Wide-set eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

If you have a gap between the inner corner of your eye ample enough to fit more than one eye in, then you have wide-set eyes.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

With wide-set eyes, focus on the inner corners of your eyes so that they seem closer together. Line your tear duct but don’t dabble it until the corner.

10. Close-set eyes

How do you know if you have this shape?

If the gap between both eyes cannot fit another eye, then you have close-set eyes.

How should you apply your eyeliner?

Focus on the outer corner of your eyes, and a soft eye pencil or some kohl is perfect to enhance your close-set eyes. Apply at the inner corner and progress to making a thicker outer corner. Extend the line longer than your lash line. When you’re working on the inner corners, don’t line your tear ducts because that will emphasise the closeness of your close-set eyes.

What kind of eyes do you have? Do you have any tips you’d like to share when putting on eyeliner?