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Round eyes are naturally expressive and full of charm. But when it comes to eyeliner, the wrong technique can exaggerate their roundness or make them look smaller. The right eyeliner approach can elongate your eye shape, add definition, and give you a more lifted, sophisticated look.
In this expert-approved guide, we’ll break down the best eyeliner tips for round eyes—from shaping tricks to pro techniques—that will help you enhance your beautiful eye shape with ease.
First, Is Your Eye Shape Round?
Before perfecting your eyeliner technique, it’s essential to confirm if your eyes are round. Here’s how you can tell:
- The whites of your eyes are visible around the top and bottom of your iris.
- Your eyes appear large and open, especially when relaxed.
- Your eyelids have a naturally curved shape.
If this sounds like your eye shape, you’re in the right place.
Wing It to Elongate
One of the best eyeliner tricks for round eyes is the classic winged liner. Why? Because it extends your eye shape outward, creating the illusion of almond-shaped eyes.
Pro technique
- Start thin at the inner corner of your upper lash line.
- Gradually thicken the line as you move outward.
- Extend the wing in an upward flick toward the tail of your brow.
Avoid: Drawing the wing straight across, as it can make your eyes appear droopy or flat.
Tightlining for Subtle Definition
Round eyes often look their best with enhanced lash definition rather than heavy liner on the lids. Tightlining is a pro-favorite method for this.
How to tightline around eyes
- Use a waterproof pencil or gel liner.
- Gently lift your upper lid.
- Line the upper waterline (beneath your lashes) without touching the skin above.
- Blink a few times to blend the color naturally.
Tightlining gives your lashes a fuller appearance and adds depth without overwhelming your lid space.
Say No to Full Circles
Avoid lining your entire eye in dark eyeliner—especially both top and bottom rims. This can exaggerate the roundness and make your eyes appear smaller or more circular.
Try instead
- Line only the outer two-thirds of your upper lash line.
- For the lower lash line, use a light brown or taupe shade to softly smudge the outer corner only.
- Leave the inner corners bare or add a pop of nude or shimmer.
This technique elongates your eyes while keeping them open and balanced.
Experiment with Smudged Liner
A slightly smudged eyeliner look can beautifully soften and stretch round eyes. It’s less structured, more forgiving, and perfect for both daytime and evening wear.
How to smudge the liner like a pro
- Apply a pencil or kohl liner close to the upper lash line.
- Use a small smudging brush or cotton swab to blend outward and slightly upward.
- Keep the inner corners light and let the intensity build at the outer edges.
This creates a sultry, lifted effect without adding weight to your eye shape.
Try the Floating Eyeliner Trend
If you’re feeling bold, floating eyeliner is a playful way to change up your look. This trend involves placing the liner slightly above the crease to fake a more almond-like eye shape.
Best for round eyes with visible lid space
Steps
- Use a gel or liquid liner to draw a curved line above your natural crease.
- Extend it outward and upward, parallel to your lash line.
- Keep the line clean and pair with minimal lower lash makeup.
This graphic look works well for evenings, parties, or when you want something trendy and eye-catching.
Highlight the Inner Corners
Brightening the inner corners of your eyes helps round eyes look more open and balanced, especially if you’ve applied darker liner on the outer edges.
Use
- Champagne, pearl, or soft gold shimmer shadow.
- A highlighting pencil in beige or nude.
Dab it at the tear duct area and blend slightly for a subtle glow that brings the whole eye look together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)
Q1: Should I apply eyeliner to the waterline if I have round eyes?
A. It depends. Lining the lower waterline in black can shrink and exaggerate the roundness. For a more open look, use nude or white pencil on the waterline, and save black for tightlining the upper waterline only.
Q2: What eyeliner style makes round eyes look more almond-shaped?
A. Winged eyeliner is the top choice. It elongates the outer corners, balances roundness, and gives the illusion of lifted, almond-shaped eyes. Focus on keeping the wing slightly angled upward and the inner corners clean.
Q3: Can I use liquid eyeliner on round eyes?
A. Absolutely. Liquid eyeliner is perfect for creating crisp, precise wings or tight lines. Just be sure to keep the line thin near the inner corner and gradually thicken it as you move outward to avoid overpowering your natural eye shape.
Final Thoughts
With the right eyeliner techniques, round eyes can look elongated, defined, and stunning. Whether you’re going for a subtle tightline, a dramatic wing, or a trendy floating crease, the goal is to complement your natural eye shape while adding that polished finish.
Less is often more—especially when you’re working with such expressive eyes. Focus on outward definition, upward lift, and strategic highlighting to transform your eyeliner game for good.
