6 Ways to Make Your Eyes Pop

For many people, eyes are the windows to the soul, and they’re also some of our favorite features to play up and make pop. Regardless of their color, shape, or other distinguishing features, eyes of all types are beautiful, and there are tons of tricks out there for learning how to make your eyes pop.

Whether you want to go au naturale or prefer a glam makeup look, you’d be surprised how easy it is to make your eyes pop and feel incredible about yourself. Here are six methods that anyone can use to accentuate their eyes year-round!

With Makeup

Whether it’s for a big night out or an everyday look, a few low-effort tricks and tips can help you play up your best features and learn how to make your eyes pop with makeup.

Complementary Colors

Most of us know that to make our eyes pop, we should choose an eyeshadow color that complements our eyes’ shade. For example, blue eyes are best with brown and bronze, greens are best with deep purples, and browns are stunning when highlighted by blue shades.

However, it doesn’t have to always be that simple. Eyes come in tons of shades, and so do eyeshadows. Similarly, eyes are rarely just one color. Many of us have flecks or undertones that, if brought out with matching eyeshadow, can make your eyes stand out.

For example, if you have hazel eyes, purple eyeshadow would be stunning. But also consider bringing out the warmth in your eyes by accenting with bronze or gold. Also, consider your hair color and skin color when choosing how to accentuate your eyes best.

If your hair is dark and has a warm tone, playing off that with cool-toned shadows, like something silver or metallic gray, can go a long way to making your eyes stand out as the contrasting masterpiece inside a beautiful frame.

Properly Placed Eyeliner

Similarly, use eyeliner to frame your eyes. But be especially careful about the placement! The natural shape of your eyes will dictate the best eyeliner placement for enhancing their size and making them stand out.

Consider things like how deeply your eyes are set, how your lids are positioned, and the width your eyes are apart from each other, as well as their shape.

For example, downturned-shaped eyes look lifted with a thin cat-eye liner that flicks up at the ends, while wide-set eyes are maximized by applying the bulk of the liner closer to the inner corners of the eye.

Small eyes can be accentuated with metallic liner on the top lid only, and hooded and deep-set eyes look best with liner that’s the thickest at the outer corner of the eye.

In all these scenarios, eyeliner fills up space and helps bring balance to the eyes, making them shine. Also, don’t forget that most of us have asymmetrical eyes, even if only slightly. You can use eyeliner to balance this out as well!

Mascara

A good coat of mascara can do wonders for your eyes! Curling your lashes and applying a few coats of your favorite brand can help your eyes pop in any scenario. This is because curled and accentuated lashes help draw attention to the eyes while also opening them up, making them appear larger.

Without Makeup

Despite all the great ways to make your eyes pop with makeup, there are so many equally wonderful methods for how to make your eyes pop without makeup. These low-effort ways can help save you time while getting ready in the morning!

Clothes

Remember everything we learned about complementary eyeshadow colors? The same guidelines apply to clothing. While you certainly don’t have to limit your clothing choices and avoid colors you love, try a top in a complementary color when you want your eyes to look especially tantalizing.

Wondering how to make your blue eyes pop? Blue-green tops can make blue eyes sing, as can orange and bronze colors. For people with brown eyes, try a similar shade of brown or go with a jewel or navy blue.

Lash Lifts & Lash Extensions

If you want a lash-amplified look without mascara, try a lash lift! When done by a certified technician, this safe and effective process can help keep your lashes lifted and curled for up to eight weeks. The curling mold takes into account your eye shape, lash length, and other features to give your lashes the kind of lift that will make you look bright-eyed.

To take things up a notch, try a full set of lash extensions! Again, when applied by a certified technician, a custom set of lash extensions can elevate your eyes and eye lashes to new levels. Individual extensions or “fans” of extensions are attached to the natural lashes in a style that suits your preferences and eye shape. They fall out when your natural lashes fall out so you lose about 20% every 7-10 days and require a “refill” with your technician to keep them full. They are a commitment but you do not need mascara and they really add something special to your look.

Haircuts

Another great way to go after an eye-popping look is with a great, face-framing haircut. We’ve all seen Zooey Deschanel—those bangs complete her wide, bright-eyed look.

Even if you don’t think you can pull off straight-across bangs as she does, there are plenty of options that will flatter other face shapes. Consider curtain bangs or even face-framing layers that accentuate your great facial features to help complete the overall look that makes your eyes shine.

Avoid These Mistakes That Make Your Eyes Look Smaller

While you’re working to make your eyes pop, don’t forget to ditch these habits that could be working against you.

Don’t Overdo Lower Lashes and Lids

Not only can this give you a dreaded raccoon look by the end of the day, but framing your eyes with dark lashes and liner can make them look closed in and small. However, don’t be afraid to go for a half or even quarter-lined bottom lid if it works with your eye shape!

Don’t Overdo It with Color

If you find your perfect complementary shade that makes your eyes pop, don’t overdo it! Wear that shirt, but don’t dress from head to toe in that color. Use it as a primary eyeshadow color, but don’t fill in your entire upper lid with that color alone without ever deviating.

Variety is the spice of life. Overdoing it will draw the attention away from your eyes and to the thing that’s just an accent.

Final Thoughts

Eyes are naturally beautiful: all shapes, sizes, and colors. Finding the best ways to highlight yours and make them pop is easy.

The sky’s the limit, and whether you choose to accentuate your eyes with or without makeup, we can guarantee that you’ll feel like a million bucks and be much more comfortable in your skin when you use these methods to play up your gorgeous eyes.