How To Master Eye Makeup for Close-Set Eyes

Eye makeup isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s all about working with your features to highlight what makes them unique. For those with close-set eyes, the right techniques can help create the illusion of more space while still letting your natural eye shape shine.

With a few strategic choices in placement, color, and product, you can make your eyes appear bigger, brighter, and more balanced. Ahead, we’re sharing our top eye makeup tips for close-set eyes, plus a look at some of our favorite eye makeup products to add to your arsenal. 

How To Determine If You Have Close-Set Eyes

Having close-set eyes—sometimes referred to as close-together eyes—simply means your eyes are spaced closely together, rather than further apart. Often, you’ll be able to determine whether your eyes are close together with a quick glance in the mirror. However, if you’re unsure, compare the width of one eye with the distance between your inner corners. If the space between your eyes is less than the width of a single eye, you have close-set eyes.

How To Do Eye Makeup for Close-Set Eyes

You can—and should—feel free to do your makeup however you choose, regardless of your eye shape or face shape. With that being said, tailoring your technique for your specific features will generally result in a more flattering look. The right placement can help balance your proportions, create balance, and highlight your best features. Ahead, we’re sharing a few things worth keeping in mind when doing makeup for close-set eyes.

1. Prime your lids

No matter your eye shape, every eye makeup look should start with the same essential step: primer. Before layering on colorful shadows or bold eyeliner, apply a thin layer of eye makeup primer to your lids and just beneath your brows. This creates a smooth, even base for your products and helps lock everything in place. Primer also prevents creasing—a major plus when you’re blending multiple eyeshadows for a more dimensional look. 

If you don’t have a dedicated eye primer on hand, you can use a full-coverage concealer, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer, instead. Use your fingertip or a makeup sponge to blend it out evenly, allowing it a moment to dry before you reach for your eyeshadow. 

2. Create a shadow gradient

Once your lids are primed, you can move onto eyeshadow. We suggest applying your eyeshadow in a gradient—with a lighter shade at the inner corner and a darker hue at the outer corner—to helps visually pull the eyes outward. This technique creates balance by brightening the inner eye while adding depth and lift to the outer edges, giving the illusion of more space between close-set eyes.

For a simple, everyday eyeshadow look, we suggest opting for light, neutral hues with a hint of shimmer. Apply the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Twinkly Rose onto the inner half of your upper lid, then use the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow stick in Magnetic Bronze to darken the outer corner. Then, use an eyeshadow brush or your finger to blend the two shades together toward the center of your lid to create a seamless gradient of color. 

3. Highlight your inner corner

Well-placed highlighter can further illuminate your inner corner and create the illusion of more space between close-set eyes. For a wide-eyed look, pick up a small amount of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Longwear Powder on a flat eyeshadow brush. Then, pat the shimmery highlighter onto your inner corner to brighten your eyes. You can also sweep some of the same highlighter along your brow bone, just beneath your arch, for a cohesive look. 

4. Partially line your eyes

When applying eyeliner to close-set eyes, the key is to keep the inner corners light and open. Adding dark eyeliner too close to the tear duct can make the eyes appear even closer together. Instead, begin your liner slightly away from the inner corner and focus your application on the outer half of your lash line. Extending the liner into a cat eye or wing that flicks upward and outward can also visually elongate your eye shape and create the illusion of more space between the eyes.

For a precise application, we suggest using a liquid eyeliner with a fine tip, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner. It boasts an ultra-thin 0.4mm tip and glides on easily, offering up to 30 hours of transfer-proof wear. 

5. Swipe on mascara

As far as we’re concerned, no eye makeup look is complete without a swipe or two of mascara. To define your lashes and create the illusion of wider eyes, swipe on a lengthening mascara, such as the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Big Deal Buildable Washable Mascara. After your first coat, apply a second coat to the outer third of your lashes only. This helps create an elongated effect, making your eyes appear more wide and cat-like. You can continue to add mascara to the outer corners until you achieve the effect you’re after—this mascara is designed for endless buildablility, and won’t clump no matter how many coats you apply. 

6. Subtly lengthen your brows 

Your brows play a major role in framing your eyes, and small adjustments can make a big difference in balancing close-set features. Using a precise brow pencil or pen (we love the L’Oréal Paris Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen), extend the tail of your brows just slightly past their natural endpoint. This subtle lengthening effect helps draw the eye area outward, complementing your eyeliner and shadow placement to create the illusion of wider-set eyes.

Additional Tips for Close-Set Eyes

Perfecting makeup for eyes close together can take a little bit of trial and error. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure your makeup always looks its best.

• Choose your eyeshadow wisely: Apply lighter shades in the inner corners and deeper shades on the outer edges to create a balanced gradient. Steer clear of anything too dark, which can visually close off your eyes. 
• Avoid heavy inner-corner liner: Applying dark eyeliner in the inner corners can make eyes appear closer together. Focus your application on the outer corners, or visually elongate your eyes with winged eyeliner. 
• Choose flared false lashes: If you wear falsies, opt for lashes that flare at the outer corners, like cat-eye styles. These elongate the eye shape and reinforce the illusion of more distance between the eyes.
• Try white or nude eyeliner on the waterline: A light-colored liner brightens the eyes and opens up the space, giving a fresh, wide-awake effect.
• Highlight the brow bone and inner corner: Subtle highlights here can reflect light outward, visually expanding the eye area.
• Keep inner brows soft: Avoid filling in the inner part of your brows too heavily. A softer start near the bridge helps prevent the eyes from looking crowded.

Next Up: Eyeliner Hacks That Will Change the Way You Do Your Makeup

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris