If you’ve ever followed a full eye tutorial, stepped back, and felt like your eyes somehow looked smaller, you’re not alone.
Making your eyes look bigger isn’t about piling on more makeup. A lot of the go-to moves we’ve all tried — thick liner, dark shadow everywhere, extra lashes — can actually work against you when what you really want is that bright, open, wide-awake look.
It mostly comes down to placement. Where you add light, where you pull things outward, and where you leave a little space matters far more than how much product you use.
Here’s how to make your eyes look bigger with makeup — using subtle placement shifts that open, lift, and widen the eye in a few easy steps.
1. Blend Just Above the Crease
If your eyeshadow vanishes the second your eyes are open, it’s not you — it’s your placement.
Keeping shadow trapped inside the crease can make the lid look smaller than it actually is — especially on hooded or deeper-set eyes. Instead, take your transition shade just above the crease and blend the edges for a natural eye lift and that larger lid illusion.
This is where ĀTHR eyeshadows really shine. They’re incredibly pigmented and satin smooth for that effortless, borderless blend. If you’ve ever felt like eyeshadow just doesn’t cooperate, we’re here to reassure you - it’s your eyeshadow, not you.
And if you want an even more natural effect, swap eyeshadow for a soft wash of Diffused Refections Bronzing Powder instead. It gives the same lifted shape, just warmer — more “born-with-it” energy. Read our blog for 10 more ways to multitask with your bronzer (including a faux-lip filler moment).
2. Don’t Line the Whole Eye
This is where liner starts working against you.
Running it all the way across the upper lash line into the inner corner, especially when it’s dark or thick, can shrink the eye fast. Tightlining does the same thing. Great for a smoky, siren eye moment — not so great when you’re going for big, bright, wide-open doll look.
If you’re using liner at all, keep it soft and limited to the outer half of the upper lid. You still get definition, but the eye looks wider and lifted instead of boxed in. Big eyes love a little breathing room.
3. Let Mascara Do the Lifting
Strategically placed mascara is such an underrated eye-opening, lid lifting hack.
Curl your lashes with extra focus on the outer half, angling the curler slightly upward for lift. Then, apply mascara to all your lashes, but keep it lighter on the inner lashes and build a little more on the outer ones - especially the very corner lashes. That extra weight on the outside pulls the eye outward and upward, which instantly makes eyes look bigger and more lifted. It’s giving faux eye lift energy.
From there, it’s just about the aesthetic you’re after:
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Go Big Bang Mascara when you want dramatic, brow-grazing lashes with fluffy, falsie-level volume and that black diamond shine.
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Reach for The Comeback Mascara (now in a mini travel size!) when you want intense lift, length, and an ultra-defined, high-gloss las.
Both formulas are clean, vegan, and designed with unique faceted brushes that coat your lashes from root to tip for maximum lift, length, and volume. Plus, they’re packed with ultra-nourishing plant-based botanicals to boost your lash health as you wear them.
4. Add Light Where the Eye Naturally Opens
A tried and true tip to both illuminate and open up your eyes: tap a light champagne highlight shade at the inner corner and the center of the lid. Those are the points that naturally catch light, so even a small amount makes the eye look bigger, brighter, and more awake.
There’s a reason highlight shades are a staple, and it’s why every ĀTHR eyeshadow palette includes at least one. Crystal-infused for that diffused, luminous light reflection, you’ll get that alive, twinkly eyed vibe that looks like you slept 8 hours and remembered to hydrate (even if you didn’t).
5. Use Shadow to Lift the Outer Corner
Take a mid-tone brown shadow and using a thin angled brush, wing it out starting at the outer corner of your eye, following the angle of your lower lash line. Create a full wing or just a tiny flick of your brush before walking out the door.
Shadow works better than liner here because it diffuses. A too-sharp wing can cut off space and make the eye feel smaller, especially if it’s dark or heavy. Shadow creates lift without edges, which gives that big eye illusion we’re going for.
For the most vibrant color possible, wet your brush before dipping into your shadow shade.
6. Brighten the Waterline
Stealing a trick from drag queen makeup - run a nude or beige pencil along the lower waterline, extending right into the inner corner. Set with a matte, nude shadow for all-day wear - make sure it's a clean, eye-friendly formula.
The softer and closer-to-skin the shade is, the better it blends into the illusion.
Why ATHR Eye Products Make This Easier
All of these tricks get way easier when your makeup doesn’t fight you.
A lot of eyeshadows look stunning in the pan but on the eye, they’re drying, impossible to blend, and chalky or stripey. ĀTHR Beauty eyeshadows were made to be different. Rich color payoff and smooth blending that lets you diffuse, lift, and soften without overworking — it's luminous, light-catching magic that actually improves the look of skin as you wear it.
Same goes for mascara - say goodbye to the clumpy, flaky, drying formulas of your past and hello to lash-loving formulas that build easily, lift effortlessly, and give you all the fluttery length and dramatic volume without a spider lash in sight.
And bonus - every ĀTHR Beauty product is clean, vegan, and infused with literal crystals for skin-illuminating, energy-lifting sorcery in every swipe.
Your big eye questions, answered
How can I make my eyes look bigger naturally?
Focus on lighter placement, lifted shapes, and strategic brightness rather than heavy or dark makeup. Using soft shadows, subtle highlights, and lifted lashes helps the eyes look bigger while still feeling natural.
Does eyeliner make eyes look smaller?
Eyeliner can make eyes look smaller when it’s dark, thick, or applied across the entire lash line. Keeping liner lighter and focusing it on the outer portion of the eye helps maintain an open, lifted look.
Can you make eyes look bigger without eyeliner?
Yes. Lifted eyeshadow placement, focusing mascara on the outer lashes, and using light-reflective eyeshadow can all help open the eye without eyeliner.
What eyeshadow colors make eyes look bigger?
Mid-tone neutrals, warm shades, and light-reflective finishes tend to make eyes look bigger by bringing the lid forward. Soft browns, champagne tones, and luminous finishes help create a more open effect.
Does mascara placement matter?
Yes. Applying more mascara to the outer lashes helps lift and widen the eye, creating the illusion of bigger, more open eyes.
