Large Eyed Ladies
Penelople Cruz, 38 / Zooey Deschanel , 32
Giuliana Rancic, 37 / Nichole Richie, 30 / Christina Ricci, 32 / Rachel Bilson, 30
I recently had a question from a reader about how to use makeup to make her large eyes look even bigger. This is a huge deal in Hollywood because large eyes are coveted. If you’re lucky enough to have them, these ladies use makeup tricks to make them look even larger so they will pop onscreen or in photographs.
Take a gently sharpened pencil eyeliner and carefully trace the water line rim of your upper eyelashes (being careful of the eye area). Make sure your liner has been opthamologist tested and deemed safe. After tracing the underside of your upper eyelashes, carefully dot the eyeliner between eyelashes and create a line on top of the outermost half of your eyelid only. Your goal is to blend a line directly into your eyelashes and not a thick line on your eyelid (which will make eyes appear smaller.) Try for a get a subtle wing-tip on your top eyelid.
If you are looking to get your eyes to look even bigger and more open, the next step you can take is to use a white pencil eyeliner on your lower eyelid. You will want to do the same as above and trace the inside of your water line rim. This tip has been known to make you look much more awake. (See Nichole Richie above for example.)
If you do not want to use the white liner, but you want to line your whole eye, you just need to be very careful because lining your whole eye will make your eye look smaller. After tracing your upper lashes, take a pencil liner and trace the lower eyelid waterline in black, brown or grey. Connect at the inner corners of your eye. By tracing the inside water line, it will make your eye shape stand out more without making your eyes look too much smaller.
Lashes
After applying eyeliner, two types of mascara will help to create the large eyes you are going for. Choose one as a lengthening formula and the second as a thickening formula. Make sure to only apply mascara to your top lashes to achieve the look of an open eye. Gently wiggle the lengthening mascara deep into the roots of your eyelashes and stroke upwards. Apply the thickening mascara in multiple coats brushing from root to tip of lashes, until they are evenly coated and appear longer.
Long and curved. Use your eyelash curler twice. Once at the base of the lash and hold for 10 – 15 second. Then curl again but move the eyelash curler just a little further from the base and hold again for 10 – 15 seconds. If you want them to really curl up, try heating your eyelash curler with a hairdryer for a few seconds. You can also try holding your curler under hot water, just make sure to wipe it dry before you put on your lashes and be careful not to burn your lids!
Be sure to check out How to Curl Your Eyelashes Safely. You don’t want to deal with any eyelash breakage.
False lashes are the going to be the most dramatic. There are many brands out there, but I have to suggest E.L.F. They are only $1! So if you need something in a hurry and inexpensively, this is the brand to get. Now, for one dollar, they are not the best on the market, but I can get them to last a full evening. Up to six hours as long as it is not too humid out. I find mine at Target. They have three styles. Natural, Dramatic and VIP. I use dramatic and I can usually get at least two uses out of them.
Eye Shadow
When you are working with eye-shadow, you want to work with an eye-shadow color that is going to bring out your natural eye color and help to draw attention to your eyes. The best way to do that is to apply eye-shadow that is the opposite color or your eyes to make them stand out. For that information check out:
Opposites Attract – Matching Your Eye Shadow to Your Eye Color to Make them Pop.
Video
Below is a good video tutorial on the best way to line your large eyes for a sultry look. The way that she does her eye-makeup does make your eye appear a bit smaller, but it makes up for that by accentuating the shape of your eye. It is a good look for a special night out. The video talks about using a liquid eyeliner with a sponge tip for a precise line and also fills in the gaps between your eyelashes which helps you to create a straight thin line as close to your lashes as possible.
The sponge tip liner also helps to get the perfect bat-wing or cat-eye sweep at the corner of your eye.
Liquid Eyeliner – Prestige Cosmetics $5.95
Video: How to Apply Eyeliner to Big Eyes — powered by typef.com
Hi! Just stopping by to let you know I tagged you in a post for the Liebster Award :) Posting at 7 p.m. today.
Girlfriends Are Like Shoes
hi- thx for posting these tips. always love what you put on here. and i’m lovin these beautiful ladies in this post…did you hear, giuliana and bill are in my city (denver!) waiting for the baby…who knows how long they will be here. i have my eyes open :)
Thanks Ruby and Taylor so much! I appreciate your comments and kind words!
xoxo