How to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger​ (Even With Hooded Lids!)

If you have hooded eyes, or your eyes often look tired, this tutorial will show you how to make your eyes look bigger, brighter, and more awake.

By focusing on subtle contouring, strategic placement, and soft definition, you can enhance your natural eye shape without heavy makeup.

This method works for all eye shapes but is especially effective for hooded eyes.

Tools and materials

• Small blending brush or pencil brush
• Flat shader brush
• Matte eyeshadow palette (light “bone” shade + mid-tone shades + dark brown)
• Concealer
• Nude or flesh-toned eyeliner
• Angled liner brush
• Brown eyeliner pencil (waterproof preferred)
• Eyelash curler
• Eyelash primer (optional)
• Mascara
• Optional: soft cluster lashes

1. Prep and brighten the base

Apply concealer to the inner corner and lid of your eyes to neutralize darkness. Using a flat shader brush, apply a light “bone” shade across your lid, slightly above the natural crease. 

Pat any leftover product under your tear duct to instantly brighten and awaken your eyes.

2. Place the highlight strategically

Using the tip of your brush, bring the light shade just above your natural socket line (or above the fold if you have hooded eyes). This creates the illusion of more lid space.

3. Create a soft contour crease

With a small blending brush, mix mid-tone matte shades close to your skin tone.

Sweep this color back and forth just above the natural crease to mimic a natural shadow. Keep it soft and subtle to lift your eye.

4. Blend and soften the transition

Add a touch more of the light shade slightly above the contour to blend seamlessly. Use any leftover product to softly highlight your brow bone, ensuring no harsh lines remain.

5. Lift the outer corner

At the outer edge, gently extend the contour outward instead of rounding it downward. This keeps your eyes lifted and open.

6. Brighten the waterline

Apply a nude or flesh-toned eyeliner to your waterline. Avoid stark white, as it can look unnatural. This step instantly makes your eyes appear larger and more awake.

7. Add soft lash-line definition

Using an angled brush and dark brown shadow, tap and wiggle color into the outer third of your upper lash line. Keep it very soft, creating a subtle lift. 

Lightly diffuse any remaining product toward the inner corner and along your lower lash line.

8. Curl your lashes

Curl your eyelashes to open up your eyes. Choose a curler suited to your eye shape for the best results.

9. Tightline for fullness

Using a brown pencil on an angled brush, gently press color between your upper lashes (tightlining). This adds depth and makes your lashes appear fuller without visible liner.

10. Apply lash primer (optional)

Coat your lashes with primer and let it sit for about 60 seconds until slightly tacky. This boosts volume, length, and helps hold the curl.

11. Apply mascara

Apply mascara to your top lashes for a natural, lifted look. Optionally, add mascara to your lower lashes. If your lashes are long, apply lower mascara first to avoid smudging.

12. Add optional finishing touches

For extra polish, apply a couple of soft cluster lashes to the outer corners. This enhances lift and gives a more awake, refined finish.