11 Tricks To Make Your Eyes Look Bigger & Brighter, With & Without Makeup

“A little liner under the eyes can instantly make them appear bigger,” Patinkin once told us. However, you might not want to shade directly on the bottom waterline (unless you’re using a white or nude pencil), as this can actually narrow your eyes and make them appear smaller. 

Rather, take your liner and smudge just below the lash line. “By creating a subtle, horizontal shadow under the eyes, it creates the illusion that the bottom lash line is lower, which in turn makes the eyes look bigger and taller,” she says. 

The color matters, too: “Try soft shades of brown for this, unless the look calls for black liner,” suggests celebrity makeup artist A.J. Crimson. A black rim offers a more defined look, but if you’re gunning for a natural, soft beat, try a taupe, brown, or grey shade.