If you’ve ever followed a full eye tutorial, stepped back, and felt like your eyes somehow looked smaller, welcome. You didn’t do anything wrong, and no, it’s not your face.
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. You do all that blending just for it to vanish? Rude.
The fix is simple: take your transition shade slightly above the crease and soften the edges upward. You’re basically creating a new crease that sits higher than your natural one, which instantly makes the lid look bigger and more lifted.
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 eyeliner starts sabotaging you.
Running liner 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 the waterline does the same thing. It’s perfect for a smoky, siren moment, but if your goal is big, bright, wide-open eyes… this isn’t helping.
Instead, think restraint. Keep liner soft and focused on the outer half of the upper lid. You still get definition where it matters, but the eye stays open, lifted, and a little more awake-looking.
Big eyes need space. Let them breathe.
3. Let Mascara Do the Lifting
Mascara placement is one of the most underrated eye-opening tricks, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
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 nourishing plant-based botanicals, so your lashes are getting stronger while they look better.
4. Add Light Where the Eye Naturally Opens
This is one of those tricks that seems obvious, yet somehow still gets skipped—and it makes a huge difference.
Tap a light, champagne-toned highlight at the inner corner and right at the center of the lid. Those spots naturally catch light when your eyes are open, so even a small amount instantly makes the eyes 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.
7. Stop Overdoing the Brow Tail
That super sharp, extra-long brow tail might be doing the opposite of what you think it is. When the tail is too dark or angled downward, it pulls the whole eye down with it. Even if your shadow, lashes, and liner are perfect big-eye vibes, the brow can cancel out all that lift.
Try this instead: keep the front and arch of your brow defined if you like, then ease up as you reach the tail. Use less product, lighter pressure, and let it fade naturally instead of extending it or snapping into a point.
It’s a small change, but the payoff is instant. Eyes look bigger and more open without adding a single extra step.
Why ATHR Eye Products Make This Easier
All of these tricks get way easier when your makeup isn’t working against you.
A lot of eyeshadows look incredible in the pan, then turn dry, chalky, or weirdly stripey the second they hit your lids. ĀTHR Beauty eyeshadows were created to do the opposite. Think rich, buttery pigment and the smoothest blend 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.
