Our top makeup techniques to make eyes look bigger
Eyes come in various shapes and sizes – and they’re all beautiful. If you’re trying to emphasise the appearance of big eyes and luscious lashes, we’ve got you covered with our small eyes eye makeup routine. It only takes small adjustment here or there and a few well-placed products to create the illusion of a larger eye shape. If you’re ready to learn how to apply makeup to make eyes look bigger, try out a few of our tricks and see the difference for yourself!
1. Let’s have a moment for skincare
We’d be remiss to ignore the importance of skincare when it comes to any makeup routine – but it plays a vital role in the size and appearance of the eye contour. Puffiness and discolouration around the eyes can make them appear smaller, so our first step in how to make eyes bigger with makeup is to ensure we’re taking good care of our skin. Our top undereye skincare tips include:
2. Conceal dark circles
If you’ve got stubborn dark circles, you can use concealer to mask your discolouration and keep the eyes looking bright. Take your Infallible More Than Concealer and apply using the ‘triangle’ method: one dot in the inner corner, one on the outer corner, and one in the centre of the under eye. Heavy concealer can actually draw more attention to the area so this technique will allow you to control the amount of product. Our pro tip is to lightly press your concealer (without dragging) into the skin, this way you also gently warm the product for better blending. Use our virtual try-on tool to find your perfect shade!
3. Highlight with eyeshadow
Using eye makeup to make your eyes look bigger is about playing with shadow and light. This creates an optical illusion that appears to change the structure of the face. Your first essential tool: reflective eyeshadows. Pick your favourite L’Oreal Paris Mono Eyeshadow shimmer shadow that’s a few shades lighter than your skin tone. Use your finger to apply it to areas of the eye that you want to draw attention to, such as the inner corner and the centre of the eyelid. You can also take a dusting across your brow bone to ‘lift’ the eye, elongating the space between your lid and brow for a bigger eye effect.
4. Keep your colour palette neutral
If you’re on the hunt for eye makeup to make your eyes look bigger, neutral tones will be your go-to. Natural colours will open up and soften the visage, whereas bold tones may have the opposite result. Subtle brown eyeliner like our 36H Gel Automatic Liner in Brown Denim can also complement this neutral palette while softening and brightening the eyes. Since all eyes are a little different, you can have fun experimenting with the best makeup style for your unique shape.
5. Create the illusion of a bigger crease
If you have small or hooded eyes, eyeshadows and eyeliner can look ‘hidden’ when you open your eyes. If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably wondered, ‘how do I make my eyes look bigger?’. Well, strategically applied eyeshadow can give you the effect of a ‘lifted’ eye. Since hooded eyes naturally have small eye creases, you’ll want to blend eyeshadow above your natural crease line – this way your eyeshadow stays visible when the eyes are open. Simply take your transition shade on a fluffy blending brush and lightly diffuse the product in and above your crease.
6. Get to know the three fourths rule
One of our favourite makeup techniques to make eyes look bigger is mastering the three fourths rule. While the first impulse may be to draw your eyeliner across the full length of your eyelid or waterline, don’t be fooled. This type of long, solid line can have a narrowing effect. However, lining only three fourths of your lid instead will draw attention to the outer corner of the eye, maintaining a wide-eyed effect. Explore our guide on how to do winged liner for more tips!
7. Be strategic with your eyeliner
We can use eyeliner to make eyes bigger, but it all comes down to how and where we apply it. Stick to thin sleek lines for winged eyeliner and always remember our simple motto: upwards and outwards. Use a precision liquid liner like Infallible Grip 24Hr Liquid Eyeliner to elongate the corners of your eyes by giving your wings a classic swoop towards your temples. Here’s an extra trick – use the outer tips of your brows as a guide for the direction of your wing. If you’re not super confident with your winged liner, try using white eyeliner along your water line instead. This is a beloved trick used by makeup artists to achieve a dramatic doll-eye look.
8. Curl your lashes
Curling our lashes is usually the first step we skip when we’re in a hurry, but it’s a game-changer when it comes to making your eyes look larger. Curling your lashes will draw them outward, magnify their size and give them a more rounded appearance – perfect for crafting those doe-eyed looks. At the start of your makeup routine, crimp your lashes a few times using a high-quality curler. If you’re running low on time, a lengthening mascara with curling properties, such as our Pro XXL Mascara, will achieve a similar look.
9. Use a lengthening mascara
Speaking of eyelashes – they are not to be neglected! Expertly applied mascara is one of our favourite makeup techniques to make your eyes look bigger. Our guide to mascara for big eyes is to choose a lengthening, volumising mascara like the L’Oréal Panorama Mascara, which will expand your eyes outward and give them a seriously fluttery look. This smudge-proof formula is clump-free, and fans out lashes for 14x bigger-looking eyes*. For a little extra love and length, treat your upper and lower lashes daily with a Scientifically Proven Lash Serum.
*Instrumental test, 30 subjects
10. Shape your brows
Eyebrow shapes play a significant role in framing your features and your face. While flat brows can have a shrinking effect on the eye contour, a gently rounded, arched brow is the ideal shape for how to make your eyes look bigger. Form the shape using an eyebrow pencil, then use Plumper Eyebrow Mascara to thicken them, brushing and setting hairs upwards and diagonally upwards for an eye-widening look.
We hope you enjoyed our small eyes eye makeup guide. Next, discover the best red lipstick for your skin tone.
