A positive canthal tilt means the outer corner of your eye sits higher than the inner corner, so a line between them rises toward the temple. Makeup artists call these upturned eyes, and it is the most common tilt of all. You can measure your own tilt in degrees with our free golden ratio face test.
What a positive canthal tilt looks like
With a positive tilt, the eye seems to lift gently at the outer edge. Upturned eyes often show these traits too.
- The lower lid curves up toward the outer corner.
- Little or no white shows below the iris.
- The eye can look slightly narrower at the outer end.
When the lift is strong and the eye is long and narrow, people call it a fox eye or a siren eye. Our guide to fox eyes covers that look. Our main canthal tilt guide includes a tool that measures your tilt in a few seconds.
How common is a positive canthal tilt
It is the usual pattern. We measured 201 straight on faces from public photo sets with people of many ages and backgrounds.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Average tilt | About 3 degrees upward |
| Middle 80 percent | About half a degree to 5 degrees upward |
| Faces tilted upward | More than 9 in 10 |
So a slight upward tilt is simply average. A tilt above about 6 degrees is less common and reads as a strongly lifted eye.
How to tell if your canthal tilt is positive
- Take a straight on photo at eye level, with your head level and a relaxed face.
- Check that your pupils sit on a horizontal line, so your head is not tilted.
- Compare the outer corner of each eye with the inner corner. If the outer corner is higher, your tilt is positive.
A smile or a squint lifts the outer corners, so measure with a neutral face. Our golden ratio face test corrects for any head tilt and shows the angle of each eye.
What causes a positive canthal tilt
The outer corner of each eye is held in place by a small band of tissue attached to the bone of the eye socket. When that anchor sits a little higher than the inner corner, the eye tilts up. The shape of the cheekbones and the eye socket adds to it. Genes set most of this, which is why upturned eyes often run in families.
With age, the anchoring tissue loosens slightly and the outer corners can drift lower, so many tilts become a little less positive over the years. That is normal. Our guide to negative canthal tilt explains the downward version.
Is a positive canthal tilt more attractive
Online rankings often say so, but the evidence is thin. Studies that changed the positions of features on faces found that people preferred proportions close to the average face. A slight upward tilt is the average, so it fits that finding. A very strong tilt is a distinctive look rather than a better one, and level or downturned eyes are just as common in faces people admire.
Our tools never rank tilts. They show your angle beside the typical range, with a reminder that geometry says nothing about your worth.
Makeup for upturned eyes
Upturned eyes suit makeup that follows their natural line.
- Liner. A thin line that thickens slightly toward the outer corner, with a short wing that follows the lift.
- Shadow. Blend darker shades up and out along the crease, following the angle of the eye.
- Lower lid. Line the outer third of the lower lash line and connect it to the wing for a defined, lifted shape.
- Balance. If you want a softer, rounder look for a day, keep the liner thin and level, and add a light shade along the lower waterline.
Canthal tilt varies between people
Canthal tilt varies widely from person to person. Studies that measured eye angles have found average differences between groups of people and between women and men, but the spread within every group is much larger than the difference between groups. Your own tilt says nothing about your background, and the same tilt can look different depending on eye shape, brow position and the width of the face.
Can each eye have a different tilt
Yes, and it is very common. Our tests showed most people have a small difference between their two eyes, often a degree or so. Light, head position and expression can make the difference look bigger in a single photo. If one eye suddenly looks quite different from the other, show it to an eye doctor.
Common mistakes when judging tilt
- A tilted head. If your head leans even slightly, one eye reads higher than the other. Check that your pupils sit level before judging.
- Smiling. A smile lifts the cheeks and the outer corners, adding a degree or two.
- Liner and lashes. A winged liner or heavy outer lashes make the outer corner look higher than it is. Measure bare eyes.
- Low camera angles. Looking down at a phone tilts the face and lowers the corners.
Glasses for upturned eyes
Upturned eyes suit cat eye frames that follow their line, as well as round frames that soften it. Choose the frame width by face shape first, then pick a style that matches the angle of your eyes. Frames with a strong top line can hide the lift, which is fine if you want a calmer look.
Positive canthal tilt and age
Many tilts become slightly less positive over the years as the tissue at the outer corner loosens. The change is gradual and normal, and a slightly softer angle is just as common in admired faces as a sharp one.
Positive canthal tilt in photos
- A camera at eye level shows your true tilt. A camera below the face lowers the corners, and one above lifts them.
- Smiling lifts the outer corners further, so a smile exaggerates an upturned eye.
- Side light emphasizes the angle of the lids.