Doe eyes are large, round, open eyes with a soft and gentle look, named after the wide eyes of a young deer. The outer corners sit level or slightly low, the upper lid shows, and the whole eye reads warm and youthful. Our free attractiveness test measures your eye tilt and proportions from a selfie.
What doe eyes means
Doe eyed has been in English for well over a century, and dictionaries define it as having large, innocent looking eyes. It was a compliment long before social media. The phrase came back into fashion as a makeup trend, set against the sharper siren eye look, and now people use it both for a natural eye shape and for the makeup that creates it.
The traits of doe eyes
Doe eyes usually combine these traits.
- A tall opening. The eye is round rather than long and narrow.
- Level or soft corners. The outer corner sits level with the inner corner or a little lower, so the eye does not look lifted.
- A visible upper lid. The brow sits higher above the eye, so the lid shows clearly.
- An open iris. Often a little white shows above or below the iris when looking straight ahead.
- A gentle brow. Soft, slightly arched brows set a little away from the eye complete the look.
How to tell if you have doe eyes
Look straight into a mirror in daylight with a relaxed face.
- Check the outline. Is your eye nearly as tall as it is wide, or clearly longer than it is tall.
- Check the corners. Draw an imaginary line from inner to outer corner. Is it level, slightly downward, or rising.
- Check the whites. Does any white show above or below your iris.
- Check the lid. Can you see your upper lid clearly between your lashes and your crease.
A round outline, level corners and a visible lid mean you have what most people call doe eyes. If your eyes are longer with a lifted outer corner, read our guide to almond eyes. You can also measure the tilt of your eyes with our golden ratio face test, which reads the angle of each eye from a selfie.
Doe eyes vs siren eyes
Doe eyes and siren eyes became a pair on social media, as two opposite looks.
| Doe eyes | Siren eyes | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Round and open | Long and narrow |
| Outer corners | Level or soft | Lifted |
| Liner | Thin, thickest in the middle | Long wing, dark inner corner |
| Impression | Warm, gentle, youthful | Sultry, intense, mysterious |
Most doe eyes are natural shapes, while siren eyes are mostly a makeup style. That means almost anyone can switch between the two looks, and many people do. Our guide to siren eyes covers the other side.
How to do doe eye makeup
The aim is to make the eye look taller and rounder, and to keep everything soft.
- Prime and brighten. Sweep a light cream or champagne shadow over the whole lid.
- Round the crease. Blend a soft taupe or warm brown in a rounded shape over the crease, rather than pulling it out toward the temple.
- Line the middle. Draw a thin line of brown liner along the upper lash line, a little thicker over the center of the eye. Skip the wing, or keep it very short and flat.
- Open the waterline. A nude, beige or white liner on the lower waterline makes the eye look bigger.
- Highlight the inner corners. A dot of shimmer in the inner corners adds brightness.
- Focus the mascara. Curl the lashes and build mascara on the center lashes, top and bottom, to pull the eye open vertically.
Keep the brows soft and natural, brushed up, and finish with a little blush high on the cheeks.
Doe eyes on camera
- Hold the camera at eye level or slightly above to keep the eyes looking open.
- Use soft light from the front so there is little shadow under the brow.
- Relax your face and lift your brows very slightly, which shows a little more of the lid.
Why round eyes read as youthful
Children have large eyes compared with the size of their face, so big, round eyes are part of what people read as youthful. That is one reason doe eyes are so often described as sweet or innocent. It does not mean other eye shapes look older. Deep set and almond eyes are just as common in young faces, and every eye shape changes a little with age as the skin around it loosens.
Research on faces has found that features close to the average of many faces tend to be rated as attractive, and no single eye shape wins. Taste varies from person to person and from culture to culture. Our guide to prey eyes explains why the online habit of ranking eye shapes misses this.
A natural doe eye look without makeup
If you want the open doe look with little or no makeup, these small steps help.
- Curl your lashes, which opens the eye more than any product.
- Brush the brows up and keep them soft, not sharp.
- Get enough sleep and keep salt low the night before, since puffy lids make eyes look smaller.
- Look straight at the camera with a relaxed face and a slight smile, which lifts the lower lids.
Common doe eye mistakes
- A long, sharp wing. It stretches the eye sideways, which is the opposite of the doe look. Keep any wing short and flat.
- Dark liner on the lower waterline. It makes the eye look smaller. Use a nude or white liner there instead.
- Heavy dark shadow. Dark shades close the eye. Keep to light and medium neutrals.
- Mascara only on the outer lashes. For doe eyes, the center lashes matter most.
Doe eyes for men
Doe eyed is used for men too, usually to describe large, gentle eyes. For men who like the look, the main tools are curled lashes, a light clear brow gel and good rest, which keep the eyes looking open without visible makeup.
Doe eyes as you age
The skin around the eyes loosens over the years, and the outer corners can sit a little lower, which can make eyes look softer and rounder. Lighter shadow, a curled lash and a brow kept slightly lifted help the eye stay open and bright at any age.
Doe eyes and glasses
Round, open eyes suit most frames. Slightly angular or cat eye frames add a lift, while round frames echo the shape. If your glasses make your eyes look smaller, which happens with lenses for short sight, a little more mascara and a light waterline help.