The Best Eyeliner Tricks For Your Eye Shape

Beauty, at its heart, is meant to excite and inspire experimentation. Who do you want to be today? How do you want to express that? The first rule of beauty is there are no rules, but there are certain guidelines an individual looking for a starting point can implement. Take eyeliner: one trick may not give you the desired effect you're looking for, depending on how your eye is shaped. Round eyes benefit from one technique while almond shaped eyes benefit from another. It's all about enhancing what you already have. With that in mind, we had celebrity makeup artist Natalie Malchev share her tips and tricks for doing just that. We then added the element of iconic musicians because beauty role models are a nice place to start when thinking about how you might want to spice up your routine. Of course, these aren't the be-all and end-all of tips. We encourage individuality. Whatever makes you feel beautiful is valid. Now, time for a little note-taking.

Round Eyes

Alice Glass is known for her thick eyeliner and shadow, but beneath all that are round eyes. Malchev says the goal with round eyes and eyeliner is to make your peepers appear more oval. This is done by dividing your eye into thirds and lining two-thirds of your upper and lower lash lines. To "enhance the illusion," Malchev suggests adding a bright color near your tear duct.

Clinique, High Impact™ Custom Black Kajal in 'Blackened Blue,' $17, available at Clinique.

Small Eyes

Small eyes, like Zoë Kravitz's, benefit from an all-over lining technique. The key, as Malchev advises, is to make small eyes appear more open—which means color. She suggests using a white or nude eyeliner on the waterline. If you want a sultry look, swap the bright shades for a dark navy, brown, or plum ones. These colors will still brighten your eyes more than a black eyeliner does.

Clinique, High Impact™ Custom Black Kajal in 'Blackened Blue,' $17, available at Clinique.

Almond Eyes

Those with almond eyes, like Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano, should use eyeliner to emphasize their shape. Malchev suggests lining the entire top eyelid and adding winged effect at the end. (Think: cat eye.) For a more intense look, Malchev says lining your waterline will do.

Clinique, High Impact™ Custom Black Kajal in 'Blackened Black,' $17, available at Clinique.

Wide-set Eyes

Those with wide-set eyes, like FKA twigs, should line the first half of the upper and lower lash line closest to your tear duct with a darker color, while leaving your other upper and lower lash line lined with a lighter shade. Malchev says this "gives the illusion of your eyes being closer together."

Clinique, High Impact™ Custom Black Kajal in 'Blackened Blue,' $17, available at Clinique.

Close-set Eyes

Take Malchev's tips on wide-set eyes and do the opposite for close-set ones. Using a lighter and brighter color on the inside of your eyes will give the illusion of your eyes being wider apart, Malchev says. She stresses lining your outer upper and lower lash line—a look made famous by Amy Winehouse. For added oomph, Malchev suggests using a highlighting shadow on your eyes' inner corner to make your eyes pop.

Clinique, High Impact™ Custom Black Kajal in 'Blackened Black,' $17, available at Clinique.