Fox eyes are narrow, elongated eyes with a strong upward lift at the outer corners and brows that angle up toward the temples. Most people create the look with makeup and brow styling rather than having it naturally. You can measure how much your eyes tilt with our free attractiveness test, on your device.
What fox eyes are
The fox eye look took off on social media around 2020, inspired by models whose eyes look long and lifted, a little like a fox. It is one of several named eye looks, alongside siren eyes and doe eyes, and like siren eyes it is mostly about makeup.
The look has three parts.
- A strong lift at the outer corner. The eye seems to rise toward the temple, a strongly positive canthal tilt.
- A narrow, elongated outline. The eye looks longer than it is tall.
- Lifted brows. The brow tails are brushed or drawn upward, echoing the eye.
Do you have natural fox eyes
Some people do have naturally narrow eyes with a clear upward tilt. Look in a mirror with a relaxed face and imagine a line from your inner corner to your outer corner. If it rises clearly, by more than a few degrees, your eyes have a natural fox lift. Our guide to positive canthal tilt explains what that angle means, and our golden ratio face test measures it from a selfie.
In our own tests on 201 straight on faces, most eyes tilted up by between about half a degree and 5 degrees. A strong fox lift sits at the top of that range, which is why it usually takes makeup to create.
How to do fox eye makeup
- Brush the brows up. Brush the brow hairs upward and set them with a clear or tinted gel. Fill the tail so it angles up toward the temple rather than dropping down.
- Shadow the outer corner. Blend a soft brown into the outer third of the lid, pulling it up and out toward the end of the brow.
- Draw a lifted wing. With your eyes open, draw a straight line from the outer corner toward the tail of the brow. Keep it thin and sharp.
- Extend the lower line. Run a thin line along the outer third of the lower lash line and connect it to the wing, so the shape stays narrow.
- Stretch the inner corner. A small, sharp line into the inner corner, angled down, lengthens the eye.
- Lift the lashes. Focus mascara or small lash clusters on the outer corner, brushed outward.
A neutral lip and contour high on the cheekbones complete the look.
Fox eyes vs siren eyes vs doe eyes
| Fox eyes | Siren eyes | Doe eyes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift | Strong | Moderate | None or soft |
| Liner | Sharp upward wing | Long smoky wing | Thin, rounded |
| Brows | Lifted at the tail | Defined | Soft |
| Mood | Bold and sharp | Sultry | Gentle |
Our guide to siren eyes covers the smokier version of the lifted look.
Skip the risky shortcuts
Alongside the makeup, the fox eye trend brought some risky shortcuts, from tape that pulls the skin back to treatments that promise to lift the eye for good. Tape and tight hairstyles can irritate the delicate skin around the eyes, and anything that claims to change the shape of the eye permanently is a serious decision that a trend should not drive. Makeup washes off, costs little and can be changed tomorrow.
Why the fox eye look is about style, not beauty
Lifted eyes are a style, like a bold lip or a sharp haircut. They suit some outfits and moods and not others, and no eye shape is more attractive than the rest. Research on faces finds that people prefer features close to the average of many faces, and that taste varies from person to person. Choose the fox look when you enjoy it, and skip it when you do not.
Fox eye brows, step by step
Brows do half the work of the fox eye look.
- Brush the brow hairs straight up with a spoolie.
- Set them with a clear or tinted brow gel, holding them up for a few seconds.
- With a fine pencil, add short strokes to the tail so it angles up toward the temple.
- Clean up under the tail with a little concealer for a sharp edge.
Keep the front of the brow soft and the tail defined. The contrast is what creates the lift.
A subtle everyday fox eye
For a softer daytime version, skip the lower liner and keep only a short, thin wing on the outer third of the upper lid. Brush the brows up, add a little brown shadow at the outer corner, and use mascara on the outer lashes. The lift reads clearly without looking like evening makeup.
Common mistakes
- Drawing the wing with eyes closed. It folds out of sight when you open them. Draw it with eyes open, looking straight ahead.
- A wing that is too long. Stop the line before it reaches the tail of the brow.
- Heavy lower liner all the way across. It closes the eye and pulls it down. Keep lower liner to the outer third.
- Forgetting the brows. Without lifted brows, the wing alone can look flat.
Taking it off gently
The skin around the eyes is thin. Remove liner with an oil or balm cleanser, hold a soaked pad on the lid for a few seconds, then wipe outward without rubbing. Rough removal every day can irritate the skin over time.
Fox eyes and glasses
Cat eye frames echo the fox look, and thin metal frames let the liner show. Thick, heavy frames can hide a wing, so a slightly bolder line helps behind them.
Fox eyes for different eye shapes
- Hooded eyes. Draw the wing with your eyes open, and lean on the brows for the lift.
- Round eyes. Keep the liner on the outer third only and extend it outward to lengthen the eye.
- Downturned eyes. Start the wing slightly above the outer corner so it lifts rather than follows the lid down.
- Almond eyes. Almost any fox technique works, because the shape already tapers. Read more in our guide to almond eyes.