Understanding your eye shape is crucial in creating makeup looks that work for you and enhance your natural beauty. When it comes to different eye shapes, they all look toward different techniques to flatter and suit them - one of these shapes is monolidded. Monolid eyes don’t have a visible crease between the eye and the brow bone; when the eyes are open, the lid “disappears” under the upper eyelid. We’ve rounded up the top MUA tips and tricks for applying makeup to monolid eyes to make them stand out, including our favorite K-beauty and J-beauty product recommendations to add to your makeup stash. It’s time to up your makeup game and create the jaw-dropping looks of your dreams - start scrolling to learn more.

1. Step by step

Courtesy of @hi_sseulgi

The order in which you apply your eye makeup makes a difference as to how long it lasts and how smoothly it applies. Layering your products incorrectly can result in smudging or creasing, or one product covering up the other. To set yourself up for success, start off with a layer of eye primer on a clean, bare eyelid. This will allow your makeup to adhere to the eyelid and prevent creasing. Follow up with eyeshadow, eyeliner, then mascara, to make sure these products layer seamlessly and don’t smudge. MUAs recommend that you allow your eyeliner and mascara ample time to dry, so they don’t transfer onto other parts of the eye and ruin your handiwork.

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2. Apply and blend eyeshadow vertically

Many eye tutorials will teach you to blend eyeshadow horizontally, but the winning technique for monolid eyes is a little different. Because the eyelid “disappears” when the eye is open, it’s harder to spot eyeshadow when it’s blended horizontally. Instead, layer and blend shadows vertically to create dimension and depth that is visible when you open your eyes; this helps to shape the eyes in a flattering way while showing off the different shades used.

Courtesy of @bts.bighitofficial

A go-to eyeshadow look only takes three shadows: a light, medium, and dark tone. Apply the lightest shadow all over the lid so that it’s visible with the eye open, making sure to blend the edges to avoid harsh lines. Blend the medium shade onto the center of the lid, working downwards towards the lash line. Take the darkest shadow and blend it into the lash line, and this creates your vertical blend that shows off the dimension of the eyeshadow. For Jimin’s subtle smokey look, you’ll find the stunning taupe gray tones in the Romand Better Than Palette in 04 Dusty Fog Garden.

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3. Use denser, more precise brushes

Courtesy of @hoooooyeony

When you’re dealing with a smaller lid space, you’ll want to have better control of where you place your eyeshadow, and where you want it to go as you’re blending it out. Fluffy eyeshadow brushes are good for blending, but it’s harder to be precise. Opt for brushes with denser, more compact bristles for precise placement and targeted blending. These help you apply and blend eyeshadows onto the desired area without spreading the color out too much.

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4. Waterproof makeup

Courtesy of @chaelincl

Makeup on monolids is prone to smudging and transferring, which is why switching to waterproof eye products is highly encouraged. Whether you’re going with a bold liner like CL or with a softer flick, the pigment of a waterproof liner will stay in place all day. The MEMEBOX I’M MEME I’m Eyeliner Long Lasting promises strong pigment with budge-proof wear, its 2mm fine tip allowing you to create precise lines. When you’re ready to take off your makeup at the end of the day, start your cleanse with an oil cleanser like the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil, to gently but effectively clear away all traces of makeup.

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5. Make your lashes stand out

So Natural All Day Mascara Fixx will help them maintain their shape. Finish with a smudge-proof mascara and flutter those lashes away.