We all would like to look a little more AWAKE wouldn't we?! All eyes are beautiful but if you have small hooded eyes like me that are sometimes puffy, then learning a few tricks to make them appear larger (and make it look like I got a full nights' sleep) could really come in handy! Using clever makeup techniques and good skincare products can help create the illusion of larger eyes.
1. DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR EYEBROWS
Eyebrows can make a huge difference! Fuller, darker brows are more on trend right now because they appear more youthful, but fuller brows also help to frame your face. Often as we age, our brows tend to thin and disappear, especially on the ends and especially in photographs. When doing make-up for photoshoots, the brows are an essential part of doing the total eye look. Regular waxing appointments can give your face a little makeover in just a few minutes! Tidying up the stray hairs that visually drag the eye down can go a long way to lift the eye up and create a nice clean base for applying makeup.
PRO -TIP: To get fuller brows, use a soft shadow or liner, a few shades lighter than your hair to fill them in without looking scary.
2. SAY GOODBYE TO PUFFY EYES
Eyebrows can make a huge difference! Fuller, darker brows are more on trend right now because they appear more youthful, but fuller brows also help to frame your face. Often as we age, our brows tend to thin and disappear, especially on the ends and especially in photographs. When doing make-up for photoshoots, the brows are an essential part of doing the total eye look. Regular waxing appointments can give your face a little makeover in just a few minutes! Tidying up the stray hairs that visually drag the eye down can go a long way to lift the eye up and create a nice clean base for applying makeup.
PRO -TIP: To get fuller brows, use a soft shadow or liner, a few shades lighter than your hair to fill them in without looking scary.
2. SAY GOODBYE TO PUFFY EYES
 | The secret to bright eyes is treating them right, every single day. The swollen skin around your eyes can make them look even smaller. But the good news is, there are some simple ways to reduce the puffiness.
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3. BANISH THE DARKNESS OF UNDER EYE CIRCLES!
While it sounds like a Lord of the Rings quote, dark circles are actually pretty easy to rid yourself of, if only temporarily. Much the same as the previous advice (sleep, good diet, exercise), if you can't manage that, makeup sure can! While using an under eye concealer will not necessarily make your eyes look bigger, covering dark circles will make them look brighter, so this step is still important. A little concealer on the lid can also help keep eyeshadow in place and give a smoother base to apply colour. Ensure you use a shade just slightly lighter than your foundation to illuminate without making it look too unnatural.
4. HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOUR
Stick with lighter, neutral colours. Matte shadows work well but a little shimmer is perfectly lovely, as long as it's light. It's a good idea to follow the rules of contouring. Put light colours for the areas you want the light to reflect and darker shades for the areas you want to recede. Generally speaking the darker colours would be best in the crease and lighter colours on the arch and the centre of the eyelids will help bring those areas into focus. Contouring the crease helps create the illusion of deeper set eyes, which in turn make them appear larger. Use matte shade in brown, green or purple (depending on your eye colour and your preference) from the outer corner to the crease and blend it well. You can go a little above the crease for a more dramatic look or to help add contour to a hooded lid. Adding a little shimmer in a light colour to the inner corner creates a little something extra to your eyes and helps you look more awake.
While it sounds like a Lord of the Rings quote, dark circles are actually pretty easy to rid yourself of, if only temporarily. Much the same as the previous advice (sleep, good diet, exercise), if you can't manage that, makeup sure can! While using an under eye concealer will not necessarily make your eyes look bigger, covering dark circles will make them look brighter, so this step is still important. A little concealer on the lid can also help keep eyeshadow in place and give a smoother base to apply colour. Ensure you use a shade just slightly lighter than your foundation to illuminate without making it look too unnatural.
4. HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOUR
Stick with lighter, neutral colours. Matte shadows work well but a little shimmer is perfectly lovely, as long as it's light. It's a good idea to follow the rules of contouring. Put light colours for the areas you want the light to reflect and darker shades for the areas you want to recede. Generally speaking the darker colours would be best in the crease and lighter colours on the arch and the centre of the eyelids will help bring those areas into focus. Contouring the crease helps create the illusion of deeper set eyes, which in turn make them appear larger. Use matte shade in brown, green or purple (depending on your eye colour and your preference) from the outer corner to the crease and blend it well. You can go a little above the crease for a more dramatic look or to help add contour to a hooded lid. Adding a little shimmer in a light colour to the inner corner creates a little something extra to your eyes and helps you look more awake.
5. PAY ATTENTION TO THE WATER LINE
If you "tight-line" the upper water line with dark shadow or pencil and apply white, nude or gold eyeliner to the lower water line, you will dramatically enlarge the eye area. Lift your upper lid and apply a dark liner (I like to use either a pencil or a paste) to the line just below the lashes. It helps fill in the spaces between the lashes resulting in a fuller look, without false eyelashes. By applying a white, nude or gold liner to the bottom water line (the line between your lashes and your eyeball - be careful!), it brightens up your eye and makes your eyes look bigger. Dark colours on the bottom lashline will make the eyes look smaller, so we don't recommend that if enlarging the look of your eyes is the goal
6. EASY DOES IT WITH THE EYELINER
When using liner on the lower lashline to make your eyes appear bigger, make sure to only apply it to the outer third. Opt for a softer shade (rather than black or dark brown) and smudge it softly. As for the top lid, draw a line as close as you can to your lashes. If you are feeling flirty, you can create a tiny flick and gradually make it thicker at the end to add a visual lift to the outer edge of your eyes. Remember to practice with softer shades until you get the hang of it. It's always easier to increase the drama rather than having to wipe it all off and start over.
7. ADD MORE DRAMA WITH YOUR LASHES
Lashes really make all the difference. Nowadays with false lashes, lash extensions, volume boosting mascara formulas , lash curlers, lash tints and lash lifts, it makes it a lot easier to really draw attention to your eyes and ramp up the wow factor. Start with a good thickening and lengthening mascara in black or brown for your everyday routine. Curling your with a lash curler before you apply mascara is also a good idea. For a more permanent (lasts a few weeks), tinting and perming your lashes can have you waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed. If your schedule and budget permits, lash extensions are very popular. You barely need any make-up with those. And if you just want to play it up for a special occasion or photoshoot, strip lashes applied with a lash adhesive can really ramp up the drama and make your eyes look gorgeous!
There you have it! 7 ways (and then some) to make your eyes look brighter and bigger with make-up. I use these tricks and techniques daily on my own hooded eyes as well as when I do make-up for brides and boudoir clients. They work!
If you "tight-line" the upper water line with dark shadow or pencil and apply white, nude or gold eyeliner to the lower water line, you will dramatically enlarge the eye area. Lift your upper lid and apply a dark liner (I like to use either a pencil or a paste) to the line just below the lashes. It helps fill in the spaces between the lashes resulting in a fuller look, without false eyelashes. By applying a white, nude or gold liner to the bottom water line (the line between your lashes and your eyeball - be careful!), it brightens up your eye and makes your eyes look bigger. Dark colours on the bottom lashline will make the eyes look smaller, so we don't recommend that if enlarging the look of your eyes is the goal
6. EASY DOES IT WITH THE EYELINER
When using liner on the lower lashline to make your eyes appear bigger, make sure to only apply it to the outer third. Opt for a softer shade (rather than black or dark brown) and smudge it softly. As for the top lid, draw a line as close as you can to your lashes. If you are feeling flirty, you can create a tiny flick and gradually make it thicker at the end to add a visual lift to the outer edge of your eyes. Remember to practice with softer shades until you get the hang of it. It's always easier to increase the drama rather than having to wipe it all off and start over.
7. ADD MORE DRAMA WITH YOUR LASHES
Lashes really make all the difference. Nowadays with false lashes, lash extensions, volume boosting mascara formulas , lash curlers, lash tints and lash lifts, it makes it a lot easier to really draw attention to your eyes and ramp up the wow factor. Start with a good thickening and lengthening mascara in black or brown for your everyday routine. Curling your with a lash curler before you apply mascara is also a good idea. For a more permanent (lasts a few weeks), tinting and perming your lashes can have you waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed. If your schedule and budget permits, lash extensions are very popular. You barely need any make-up with those. And if you just want to play it up for a special occasion or photoshoot, strip lashes applied with a lash adhesive can really ramp up the drama and make your eyes look gorgeous!
There you have it! 7 ways (and then some) to make your eyes look brighter and bigger with make-up. I use these tricks and techniques daily on my own hooded eyes as well as when I do make-up for brides and boudoir clients. They work!
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