Eye makeup isn’t always fun for those without prominent double eyelids—anyone with monolids can attest to that. Popular makeup techniques are better suited for those with deeper creases, which is why we’re taking a detour from Western makeup tips and into Asian territory with monolid eye makeup.
Inspired by Francesca Tanmizi’s (@workingwithmonolids) eyeshadow looks and a particular makeup trend on Instagram, we’ve created 3 wearable, effortless looks. These will brighten your peepers or create the illusion of a crease without a piece of eyelid tape in sight.
When drawn too close to your upper lash line, liquid liner disappears. To prevent your monolid from hiding your cat eye, draw a bold line in the middle of your eyelid so the eyeliner hovers above your lash line instead.
This soft, neutral look with a tweaked feline flick is ideal for both work and play.
Using Abduct Cosmetics’ Shady Beach Palette, apply and diffuse the shade ‘Mute’ on your eyelids with a blending brush. This soft brown will define your eyes and serve as a neutral base colour for the eyeliner.
Rather than lining your upper lash line, draw a thick, bold line about half a centimetre above. This should be the area where your eyeliner shows up when you open your eyes. If you’re unsure, use a pencil eyeliner to mark the area with your eyes open before you proceed with liquid liner.
To tie in your makeup and brighten your peepers, curl your lashes before applying a few coats of mascara. We like Benefit Cosmetics’ Roller Lash Mascara for clean, separated definition.
Products used:
Sigma Beauty E38 Diffused Crease Brush ($24)
Abduct Cosmetics Shady Beach Palette ($48)
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Liquid Eyeliner ($39)
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara ($44)
Eleanor The Miracle Key Satin Lipstick in 04 Retro Girl ($40)
No crease? No problem. You can still pull off a dramatic smokey eye, and creating it is easier than you think. With a sleight of hand and the right blending tools, you can fake a crease that looks natural.
Here’s a sultry eye makeup look to take you from day to night.
With a pencil brush, use the dark brown from Celebeau’s Edge Quad Eyeshadow in 01 Black Aura to outline the shape of your fake crease.
To make your faux crease pop, use a blending brush to fill the gap with the white pearl shade from the same eyeshadow palette.
Pick up your pencil brush again and grab a small amount of the black shade. Blend the colour into your faux crease to define the line.
To complete your look, draw a tiny flick at the outer corner of the eyes with liquid eyeliner and add drama with a volumising mascara. If you’re feeling extra vampy, swipe on a dark lipstick.
Products used:
Sigma Beauty E30 Pencil Brush ($21)
Sigma Beauty E54 Medium Sweeper Brush ($23)
Celebeau Edge Quad Eyeshadow in 01 Black Aura ($39)
K-Palette 1-Day Tattoo Real Strong Eyeliner 24H ($21.90)
Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara ($44)
Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Believer ($17.90)
Gloss imparts a reflective finish that looks chic when dabbed on the eyelids. You’ll only need an eyeshadow colour of your choice and some clear lip gloss, making it the easiest look of the 3. Thanks to your monolids, you won’t have to worry about the gloss creasing much.
Here, we went for a warm coral to ring in Chinese New Year.
Using Abduct Cosmetics’ Shady Beach Palette, apply and diffuse the shade ‘Attention’ on your eyelids with a blending brush. This will serve as the base for your gloss to go on.
Dab the product gently on top of your eyeshadow with the applicator or your ring finger. Don’t swipe the gloss on unless you want to smudge your base off.
Products used:
Sigma Beauty E38 Diffused Crease Brush ($24)
Abduct Cosmetics Shady Beach Palette ($39)
3INA The Lip Vinyl in 700 ($23)
Eleanor The Miracle Key Satin Lipstick in 04 Retro Girl ($40)
Monolids aren’t a genetic flaw. They’re an invitation to express your rebellion and push your creativity forward. If you don’t have a deep crease or your liquid liner just isn’t showing up on your lids, these easy steps should change things. We hope this guide has been helpful!
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