Almond eyes
Almond eyes are longer than they are tall and taper towards both corners, like the shape of an almond. They are the most common eye shape in beauty guides, and easy to check in a mirror.
How to tell in a mirror
- Look straight ahead with a relaxed face and your eyes open normally.
- Check the iris: the upper and lower lids should cover a little of it.
- Check the length: the eye should be clearly wider than it is tall, with pointed corners.
- If white shows all around the iris and the eye looks nearly as tall as wide, see round eyes instead.
What it looks like
Almond eyes are longer than tall. The lids touch or slightly cover the iris at the top and bottom, the upper lid usually shows a crease, and the corners come to a gentle point. The outer corner is usually level with or a little above the inner corner.
Almond is about length, not tilt
People often call an eye almond when they mean upturned. Almond describes the outline. Tilt and spacing are measured separately, so an almond eye can also be upturned, level or downturned, and wide-set or close-set.
What flatters almond eyes
Almost any style works, which is why most makeup tutorials assume almond eyes. Follow the natural shape when lining, and blend shadow across the lid. Most frame shapes work too, so choose by your face shape rather than your eyes.
Why the advice sounds generic
Because almond is the default, advice written for it tends to be broad. If a tip does not fit you, check your tilt and spacing, since those often decide which advice applies.
Want a measured answer instead of a mirror check? The eye shape test reads form, tilt and spacing from one photo. All six shapes are compared in the guide to the different eye shapes.
Questions people ask
What are almond eyes?
Almond eyes are longer than they are tall and taper towards both corners, with the lids covering a little of the iris at the top and bottom.
How do I know if I have almond eyes?
Look straight ahead in a mirror. If the eye is clearly wider than tall, the corners are pointed and the lids touch the iris at top and bottom, your eyes are almond.
Are almond eyes the most common eye shape?
They are the shape most beauty guides treat as the default, and they are very common. We do not have a reliable population figure, so we do not quote one.
What is the difference between almond and round eyes?
Round eyes are close to as tall as wide and show white all around the iris. Almond eyes are longer than tall and the lids cover part of the iris.
What is the difference between almond and upturned eyes?
Almond is the outline of the eye. Upturned is the angle of the outer corner. Many people are both.
Can a photo scanner tell me my eye shape?
Yes. The Eye Shape AI scanner finds landmarks around both eyes and reports form, tilt and spacing from one photo.
Related guides
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