If You Have Round Eyes, These Are the Expert-Approved Eye Makeup Looks to Try

Ever found yourself trying to re-create your friend's makeup, only to realise that her smokey eye shadow look doesn't look the same on your eye shape? I don't know about you, but it's taken me years to work out what makeup actually suits my eyes, as when it comes to products such as eye shadow and eyeliner, it's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Here at Who What Wear UK, we've spent years talking to makeup artists and asking them for their tips and tricks on things like how to do makeup for hooded eyes and almond eyes, but today, we're here to talk about round eye shapes.

As someone with hooded eyes, I've always been jealous of those with a round eye shape, as there's a lot more space to experiment with makeup. That being said, it can still be difficult to know where to start, so I reached out to Carly Utting, senior makeup artist at MAC, to find out which eye makeup looks she recommends. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.

How Can You Tell If You Have Round Eyes?

Sometimes it can be hard to figure out which eye shape you have. According to Utting, the best way to identify if you have rounded eyes is to look directly into a mirror. "Usually, if the outer corner of your eye slants downwards and is not pulled up towards your ear, this indicates your eye shape is rounded," she says. "A rounded eye also generally looks more circular in the mirror than almond. Historically, most eye makeup is designed to 'lift' the eye into a more almond shape, pulling the outer corners upwards to elongate. This can be particularly challenging with a rounded eye shape, but not impossible. In fact, the difference particular eyeliner and eye shadow placement can make to a rounded eye can be quite incredible."

Eye Makeup Looks for Round Eyes

So, what are the best makeup looks for round eyes? Well, when thinking about your makeup, consider what kind of finish you'd like. "If you are looking to enhance your round eyes and accentuate the rounded shape, adding darkness to the lower and upper lash line is the way forward," says Utting. "Also, highlighting the centre of the eye with a lighter, frosted shadow can really enhance the prominence of the shape." However, if you want to alter the shape of your rounded eyes, Utting recommends adding deeper shades to the upper, outer area to balance and transform the eyes into a more elongated, almond shape. "Matte browns and greys work beautifully for this," she says.

Find out more about each eye look below.

1. Frosted Eye Shadow

As mentioned, if you want to enhance your round eye shape, frosted eye shadow is the way to go. According to Utting, adding this to the centre of your eyelid helps to accentuate the roundness of the eye.

A lighter shade in a shimmery texture really does help to open up the eyes and makes for a perfect evening makeup look.

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2. Kohl Eyeliner

Another makeup trick to accentuate your round eye shape is to use a kohl liner to outline your eyes. "Line the eye using kohl liner on the top and bottom," advises Utting. "[Gently] blend the liner with a soft, smudgy brush and avoid pulling it out and up, as this will elongate the eye."

I mean, how stunning does this look?

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3. Doe-Eyed Mascara

Mascara can make a huge difference to your eye makeup. Utting recommends creating a "starburst" shape when applying mascara on round eyes. "Rather than pulling all your lashes out towards the ear, fan them up on the outer lashes, upwards in the middle and inwards for the inner lashes. Repeat with the bottom lashes. This will create a '60s-style doe-eyed shape."

If you want a more minimal eye makeup look, give doe-eyed mascara a go.

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4. Winged Eyeliner

Now, if you'd rather create a more almond shape with your eye makeup, give winged eyeliner a go. "Create a strong wing in the outer corner of the eye to lift and elongate the eye shape," says Utting.

There are lots of ways to re-create this look. If you want more of a statement effect, I recommend using a liquid liner. However, if you want a softer finish, try using your eye shadow as a liner and apply it to your lids with an angled brush.

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5. Matte Eye Shadow

Another trick for creating more of an almond eye shape is to use a matte eyeshadow. By applying a matte colour across the lid, you'll essentially 'flatten' the rounded shape. Utting says you can also add a deeper shade onto the outer, upper crease line to help transform the eye to a more almond shape.

I think matte shadows look so chic.

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