Makeup for monolids

By Lookslate · Updated October 20, 2026

Monolids have no visible crease, so instead of a crease shade, build eyeshadow as a gradient: darkest at the lash line, fading upward, and check it with your eyes open. Prime the lids so shadow and liner do not transfer, keep liner close to the lashes and thicker toward the outer corner, and curl the lashes before using a waterproof mascara.

What a monolid is

A monolid has no visible fold between the lid and the brow bone. When your eyes are open, a lot of the lid may be hidden, or the whole lid may show as one smooth surface. It is common among people of East, Southeast and Central Asian descent and appears in people of every background. It gives a large, even canvas for color. Makeup for monolids is about placing color where it shows, not about creating a crease.

The gradient method

Classic tutorials blend a darker shade into the crease. Without a crease, that line has nowhere to sit, so build the depth from the lashes up instead:

Prime the lids. A lid primer, or a thin layer of concealer set with powder, keeps shadow from fading and liner from transferring onto the skin above.
Base shade. Sweep a light, matte shade from the lash line up toward the brow bone.
Middle shade. With your eyes open, look straight ahead and blend a medium shade from the lash line up to just above where the lid disappears, so a band of color stays visible.
Deepest shade. Press the darkest shade close to the lashes, strongest at the outer third, and blend its top edge into the middle shade. There should be no visible line between the three.
Shine. A touch of shimmer on the center of the lid or in the inner corner catches light when you blink and look down.

Open your eyes after each step. If a shade disappears, take it higher; if it looks like a block, blend the top edge more.

Eyeliner on monolids

Keep it close to the lashes. A thin line at the inner corner, getting thicker toward the outer corner, stays visible when your eyes are open.
Tightline for definition. Press a waterproof pencil into the upper lash line from underneath. It darkens the lash roots without taking up lid space.
Wings follow the lower lash line. Look straight ahead and angle the wing as a continuation of the lower lash line toward the tail of the brow. Draw it with your eyes open, and make it a little thicker than you think: some of the line hides when the eye is open.
Smoke it out. Smudging the liner with a matching shadow softens it and helps it last.

Liquid liner can transfer onto the upper lid on monolids, so choose a waterproof or smudge-proof formula and set it with a dark shadow. The Eyeliner Focused look shows the full winged-liner method.

Lashes

Lashes on monolids often grow straight or slightly downward. Curl them first, holding the curler at the base for a few seconds, then apply a waterproof or tubing mascara, which holds the curl better than a regular formula. Focus on the outer lashes for a lifted look.

Looks that work well on monolids

Smokey Eyes suit monolids when the gradient is built from the lash line upward instead of in a crease. Eyeliner Focused works with a liner that thickens toward the outer corner. Soft Glam and Bronze Goddess use soft washes of color that blend well across a smooth lid. For which colors to choose, see the eye color guide.

The Lookslate quiz does not ask about eye shape. To get a feel for a look on your own face, preview it on a photo taken with your eyes open and looking at the camera. The preview is an AI-generated illustration, not an exact match, so use it to judge the overall style, then place the shades with the steps above.

Frequently asked questions

How do you put eyeshadow on monolids?

Build a gradient instead of a crease: a light base, a medium shade blended up to just above where the lid disappears when your eyes are open, and the darkest shade pressed close to the lashes. Check it with your eyes open after each step.

What eyeliner works best for monolids?

A waterproof or smudge-proof liner kept close to the lashes, thin at the inner corner and thicker toward the outer corner. Tightlining the upper lash line adds definition without taking up lid space.

Why does my eyeliner smudge on monolids?

The lid can touch the skin above it, so liner transfers. Prime the lids, use a waterproof formula and set the liner by pressing a matching dark shadow on top.

Is a monolid the same as a hooded eye?

No. A monolid has no visible crease at all. A hooded eye has a crease, but a fold of skin covers part of the lid when the eye is open. Both benefit from placing makeup with your eyes open.

All faces shown are AI-generated fictional models, not real people.

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