If You Have Hooded Eyes & Are A Makeup Minimalist, Try 'Floating Eyeliner'

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Popular beauty techniques aren't one-size-fits-all and don't always translate to every eye shape, meaning those with hooded or monolid eyes often have to take specific approaches to achieve a certain look. While these are beautiful, distinct features, both impact the appearance of eye makeup. Hooded eyes refer to additional skin below the eyebrow that obscures the lid when the eyes are open, while monolids refer to a smooth stretch of skin that extends from the brow to the lashes.

Luckily, there are some great tips out there for applying eyeliner to these eye shapes, and the floating method is definitely worth trying out. There are actually several makeup techniques that fall under the "floating" umbrella, including Twiggy's iconic '60s makeup. But today's specific iteration of floating eyeliner is placed in the center of the eyelid, creating the illusion that the line is hugging the lashes when the eyes are open.

Some choose to fill in the space between the liner and lash line with more eyeliner or eyeshadow, avoiding the unanchored element with a super-chunky appearance. Even so, the floating technique is a great option for minimalist makeup lovers looking to create that classic eyeliner look on monolid or hooded eyes.

The floating eyeliner technique isn't too difficult to recreate at home, but it may take some trial and error to adapt to your specific eye shape. This method has been around for quite a while, and online creator Francesca Tanmizi shared several different tutorials via YouTube and Instagram back in the 2010s.

As seen in a New Year's Eve makeup video, Tanmizi, who uses the handle @workingwithmonolids, begins by mapping out the general shape of the liner, following the curve of her eye and swooping out into a wing. Then, she goes back in with a quality liquid eyeliner pen featuring some glitter for the holiday. Nyx's Epic Ink Eyeliner serves as a great option for a minimalist, everyday look, and Tanmizi uses makeup remover and a cloth to sharpen the wing.

Importantly, Tanmizi explains that the key to this technique is painting on the liner while the eye is open — one of the best beauty tips for applying eyeliner to hooded eyes. In another tutorial, she uses an eyeliner stencil to create her floating liner, which is an especially great option for beginners. If this is you, check out L'Oreal Paris Makeup's Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, as it comes with a removable wing stencil.