How To Make Your Eyes Look Bigger With Makeup

Having big, open doe eyes is widely seen as a covetable feature, but not everybody is born with them. If your eyes are smaller than you’d like, knowing how to make your eyes look bigger with makeup is a skill worth learning. Fortunately, it doesn’t require years of practice or even an arsenal of specialty products to achieve. With a few everyday essentials and a little know-how, it’s easy to create the illusion of larger eyes. Here, we’ll show you exactly how to make your eyes bigger-looking and share details on some of the best products for the job. 

How To Make Small Eyes Look Bigger: 10 Tips To Try

Before we dive into the specifics, know that every eye shape is beautiful—and you don’t have to have big, wide eyes to look gorgeous. That being said, if you do want to make your eyes look bigger, here are some tips that can help you achieve just that.

1. Use brown eyeliner 

Black might be your go-to color when it comes to eyeliner, but using a softer shade can help make your eyes appear bigger and brighter. Brown eyeliner is a great option for those seeking a natural look, as the earthy hue will provide definition without making your eyes appear closed off. Try the L’Oréal Paris Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Brown Denim—it provides up to 36 hours of waterproof, smudge-resistant wear. If you prefer liquid liners, the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner comes in a rich, flattering chocolatey brown shade.

Those who prefer bolder or more colorful makeup looks may want to consider opting for colored eyeliner instead. These can help draw attention to your eyes and make a playful statement. Try the L’Oréal Paris Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner. It comes in an array of unique shades, including blue, burgundy, and brown, and offers long-lasting wear with a smudge-proof finish.

2. Know the three-fourths rule

If you really want to make your eyes look bigger, try lining only the outer three-fourths of your upper lash line. This technique can help draw attention to the outer corners of your eyes and make your eyes appear larger. 

For this approach, we recommend using a creamy eyeliner pencil, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Brown Denim. Draw a line along the outer three-quarters of your upper lash line, staying as close to the lashes as possible. Then, use the built-in smudger to lightly blend the color out for a soft ombré effect. 

3. Create a winged look

Eyeliner for small eyes can be a bit of a balancing act, as darker hues can make your eyes look smaller. However, there are some eyeliner looks that can make your eyes appear larger, and winged eyeliner is one such example. While perfecting a wing can take some practice, having the right tools on hand can make the process easier. To start, we recommend using an eyeliner with a thin tip for your wing. The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Super Slim Eyeliner in Brown is an excellent pick, as the 0.4mm ultra-fine tip allows for total control over your lines. 

Steady your elbow on an immovable surface (like your bathroom counter) and carefully trace your lash line with the tip of the liner. When you get to the outer corner of your eye, flick the liner upward—in other words, toward the tail of your brow—to create the wing. Once you have the general shape sketched out, you can go back in and thicken the wing as desired. If you make a mistake, just wipe away the liner with makeup remover and start again. 

4. Tightline with white liner 

White eyeliner is among the best makeup to make eyes look bigger. Using the ultra-light hue to trace your lower water line makes it appear as though the whites of your eyes are bigger than they actually are, which, in turn, makes your eyes look bigger, brighter, and more open. For a wide-awake look, tightline your upper and lower lash lines with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in White. If white eyeliner looks a bit too harsh or you’re after a more natural look, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Nude instead. Skip applying any dark-colored eyeliner to your lower lash line—doing so can make your eyes appear smaller, which is the opposite of what we want.

5. Brush up your brows

Many people love brow lamination because the treatment—which is designed to groom the brows and keep them in place—often makes the eyes look bigger, too. Brushing your brows upward creates the illusion of more lid space, which makes it look as if your eyes are larger than they actually are. Fortunately, achieving a laminated brow look doesn’t have to involve a pricey salon visit—you can DIY a similar effect at home with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Brow Lamination. Work the spoolie through your arches, brushing them upward and outward to create a wide-open look. Once the clear brow gel dries, you’ll enjoy up to 24 hours of wear, sans any visible residue.

6. Stick to neutral eyeshadow 

Social media beauty gurus were onto something with the latte makeup trend that puts a glamorous spin on neutral makeup. A dark smokey eye can be incredibly flattering, but they put the attention on your eye makeup rather than your eyes themselves. It’s a small distinction, but one that makes a big difference. To make your eyes appear larger, swap out the dark, pigmented shadows for softer shades, such as brown or bronze. If you need a recommendation, we’re fond of the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Twinkly Rose. The soft gold shade draws attention to the eyes without overpowering them, and the hue’s soft shimmer reflects light, making the eyes appear larger and more open. If you want something slightly deeper in tone, try creating a brown smokey eye with bronze, chocolate, and taupe eyeshadows.

7. Lightly contour your eye area

Much in the same way that contouring your face can help make your cheekbones pop, contouring your eye area can make your eyes appear larger and more defined. The key is to use a light hand: Contouring your eyes too heavily could have the opposite effect. For a subtle contour that creates definition, gently buff the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Brown Abyss just above your natural crease. Extend the color slightly beyond your outer corner, as if you were creating a cat eye in your crease rather than along your lash line. Once the shadow is properly placed, blend the pigment well with a fluffy eyeshadow brush to soften any harsh or obvious lines. 

8. Highlight your brow bone

You may already use highlighter to help draw attention to the high points of your face. However, well-placed highlighter can give your eyes a larger look, too. To create a wide-eyed effect, grab a creamy highlighter—we love the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick—and lightly tap the reflective formula just beneath the arch of your brow. You can also pat a bit of highlighter onto the center of your lid and the inner corner of your eye. This placement helps make your eyes appear brighter, larger, and more open (even if you’re not wearing any other eye makeup).

9. Use a volumizing mascara

No eye makeup look is complete without mascara. But this makeup bag staple can do more than accentuate your lashes—the right technique can make your eyes appear bigger, too.

First, brush a lash primer like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Primer/Base throughout your fringe to add volume and help prepare them for your mascara. Once you’ve applied your lash primer, swipe the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara throughout your lashes from base to tip. The mascara’s multi-level bristle brush ensures an even application, and the clump-resistant formula both lengthens and volumizes to help make your eyes appear up to 1.4x bigger. 

Editor’s tip: You can also apply mascara to your bottom lashes to create a doe-eyed look. If you’re doing this, we recommend keeping a cotton swab and makeup remover on hand to help clean up any inadvertent smudges beneath your eyes.

10. Conceal your under-eye area 

While concealing your under-eye area in and of itself won’t make your eyes look bigger, it can help camouflage dark circles that may make your eyes appear smaller or less open. The right shade can also help brighten your under-eye area to create a more youthful look. To conceal your under eyes, grab a hydrating concealer, such as the L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, and dab a bit onto the back of your hand. Buff a small makeup brush into the concealer then lightly swipe the brush back and forth beneath your eyes to help brighten and conceal. 

Keep in mind that when you’re putting concealer on your under-eyes, less is more—a heavy-handed approach could leave you with cakiness or creasing. If you need more coverage, opt for a full coverage concealer rather than loading on more product. We love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up to 24H Full Coverage, which completely hides imperfections. 

What Mascara Makes Your Eyes Look Bigger?

Mascara can be a huge asset to those seeking to make their eyes appear larger. However, it’s important to choose the right formula. It’s generally best to steer clear of anything overly thick, as a heavy application could weigh down your lashes and make your eyes look like they’re fighting to stay open. Look for lightweight volumizing mascaras that won’t clump, flake, or smudge on your lashes. The aforementioned L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara is a great pick, as it volumizes and separates for a gorgeous, fanned-out lash look. If you’d prefer a more customizable finish, pick up the L’Oréal Paris Big Deal Buildable Washable Mascara. The unique formula provides endlessly buildable volume and length and won’t clump no matter how many coats you apply. Try five to ten coats for a natural lash look, or up to 30 for a more dramatic effect.

Mascara application tips for bigger-looking eyes

Typically, applying mascara straight from the tube should help to make your eyes appear bigger and more defined. But for an extra wide-eyed look, consider curling your lashes before applying mascara. The curling should help lift your lashes slightly, which can make your eyes look more open. You can also experiment with mascara cocktailing to create a custom lash look to achieve your desired effect. And if you want to make your eyes appear larger but still maintain a sultry feel, add a few extra coats to your outer corners. This technique creates a subtle cat eye effect that both visually lifts the eyes and widens them for a flattering siren eye-like finish. 

Next Up: How To Apply Makeup on Almond-Shaped Eyes

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris