How to Put Makeup on Asymmetrical Eyelids

Are your eyelids not pantay? Does this make you feel self-conscious? Does this affect the way you put on makeup? Surprise, surprise – you’re not alone. Asymmetrical eyelids are more common than you think. Most people have asymmetrical features, so don’t feel bad that the right and left sides of your face aren’t mirror images of each other.

All Things Beauty turns to makeup artists Chuchie Ledesma and Hanna Pechon to share tips and tricks on putting on eye makeup for uneven eyelids. Read more and learn from the pros.

“Our faces are naturally asymmetrical. As for the eyes, one is usually round, and the other is almond-shaped,” begins Chuchie. With more than a decade in the industry, she’s worked on countless models and celebs for shoots and shows. Recently, she studied to learn the techniques of Korean makeup.

“Rarely do I see clients – even celebs – having a face with the golden ratio,” Chuchie points out. “If we divide our faces vertically, it becomes more evident that the left and right sides can have different angles, the brows grow in uneven directions, and the eyelids raise or droop differently.”

“Having asymmetrical eyelids, similar to our overall face or body structure, is normal and this is what makes each of us unique,” says Hanna, who has over 15 years of experience in the industry, doing makeup for fashion shows, magazine editorials, commercials, and events.

From her days in makeup school, Hanna recalls the names of Denzel Washington and Elizabeth Taylor as celebrities with symmetrical faces. “So far, around five out of 10 of the people I have worked with have asymmetrical eyelids.”

“It’s just the way we are designed. Lifestyle and genetics are a factor, too,” adds Chuchie. “I’ve also observed it’s my clients who have monolids or mature skin that have more pronounced uneven eyelids.”

How to fix eye symmetry through makeup? MUAs Chuchie, who likes natural, K-inspired makeup, and Hanna, who herself has asymmetrical eyelids, share some looks you can try.

“This makeup style is a good approach, so you don’t emphasize the uneven eyelids,” says Hanna, who often uses this technique on herself.

1. Create a soft eyeliner look by smudging it a little. Use dark brown eyeliner – not black, so it’s not too defined.
2. Draw the eyeliner nearest to the lash line. This helps emphasize the natural shape of the eye instead of the difference in the thickness of your eyelids.
3. Curl your lashes. Choose a lengthening mascara and apply just one to two coats so it’s not too thick. Keep it natural.

Below, Chuchie shares a step-by-step guide to making your lids look pantay using makeup.

1. After prepping your lids, create symmetry by using a mid-tone transition shade slightly above the natural crease of your eyelids and blend upwards toward your brow bone.
2. Add eyeliner – if you have a favorite eye, start with that one. Keep the eyeliner thin along the lash line, then slightly thicker on the outer corners to visually even out your lids. Soft and smudged is key!
3. Curl lashes, especially on the smaller eye. If the difference is too obvious, you can try curling just the lashes of the smaller eye more and leave the other one slightly less curled.

“A soft, smokey eye look can make your eyes look even in a jiff,” says Chuchie. “This makeup style can help ‘mask’ the uneven eyelids. You can draw an entirely new eye shape to alter the unevenness,” points out Hanna.

1. Choose eyeshadow in any dark color, such as a natural-looking dark brown. It doesn’t always need to be black eyeshadow!
2. Apply the eyeshadow to the upper eyelids. Then, round the eyeshadow to the lower lash line.
3. Complete the look with black eyeliner. Follow with heavy mascara.

Now that you’ve got the looks down pat, here are some MUA-recommended tips to try when doing your makeup.

“It’s always best to start with skincare, especially eye cream on the eye area,” says Hanna. “Then, massage the face with gua sha or eye rollers to relax the muscles around your eyes. Twenty minutes goes a long way and if done every day, it can prevent your eyelids from becoming more asymmetrical in the future.”

As for the rest of your face, take time for skin prep so you don’t ruin a good makeup moment. Apply POND’S Bright Miracle Ultimate Clarity Day Serum to give your makeup a smooth, hydrated base, and your skin a radiant glow that improves over time.

Follow with POND'S Bright Miracle Day Cream. It has a deep repair technology that helps give you clear, radiant, and spotless skin.

“Whichever look you’re going for, always apply an eyeshadow primer to even out the lids and prevent creasing,” says Chuchie. “Then set with a light powder.”

She also recommends using volumizing mascara or putting on false lashes that focus on the outer corners of your eyes to give a lifted effect.

Since you’re dealing with asymmetry, you might not see the results of your makeup look as you look closely in the mirror. Chuchie advises: “Step back from the mirror and check the symmetry carefully. If you think you need to refine the look, blend your eyeshadow a bit more.”

Follow these MUA-approved tips and tricks the next time you do your makeup – and confidently step out knowing your eye look is on point. It’s time to let go of the idea that symmetry equals beauty. True beauty lies in what makes you unique – including your so-called “imperfections,” like your asymmetrical eyelids.