by Nora Spero

Created on: January 09, 2009

How to Make Your Eyes Look Larger

The eyes are the focal point of anyone's face. If your eyes aren't perfectly large and luminous, or they are deep-set, or maybe set a tad too close together, creating the large, wide-eyed illusion isn't all that difficult. Here's how to do it:

1. Make certain you have plucked/removed any low-growing brow hairs from the upper eyelid before applying any make up or moisturizer. Brows should frame the eyes, not obscure them!

2. Start by applying a bit of vitamin E (comes in a stick form like a lipstick) or other eye area moisturizer/emollient first, blend evenly over the entire eye area from under the eye to the brow.

3. Dab a bit of concealer or foundation which should be a shade lighter than your skin is over the entire eye area. This will provide an even tone, hide dark circles and generally lighten the eye area, bringing them "out." Blend the edges well so you can't see them, both into the sides of the bridge of the nose, and outward toward the temples.

4. Apply eyeshadow powder over the entire upper lid from lashes to brows only. Use a color that is lighter than your skin tone, flatters it and complements the clothing you are going to wear, for example, a pale pink tone with all your pinks, reds, wines, etc, or a peachy tone with earthy colors. If you like a bit of a glow and don't have wrinkled eyelids, a lightly frosted powder will highlight and make the lid and the eye area look larger; if you do have fine lines, try a matte powder in the same light tone.

5. Lightly pencil in brows if you need to darken and define them. Brush and blend the pencil in for a soft, natural look.

6. Draw eyeliner from outer edges in toward the nose, so the thickest part of the line is at the outer corners of the eyes. The line should extend up and out just a bit beyond your lashes. How close you draw the upper lid line in toward your nose depends on you and what you like, just make certain you do both eyes the same, and taper the line so it grows narrower and smaller as it comes toward the inner eye. Using a soft pencil will prevent tugging and mistakes. Using a color that harmonizes with your shadow colors will be softer than a harsh black line; try wines, plums, taupes, and greys to emphasize your own eye color. Bright colored liners detract from the color of your iris, so try to avoid them.

Use the same liner color to draw the line on the lower lid. You can use little dots or strokes to emphasize eye lashes, or a smooth line, again tapering in from

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