The No-Makeup Makeup Way to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

By Stephanie Saltzman

We’ve got nothing against bold smoky eyes (in fact, we’re quite for them), but sometimes it’s nice to look like you really were born with it. “It” in this case, being big, beautiful, Disney princess eyes. Here, four steps to making your eyes look bigger—in a supersubtle way (as told by Sophia Panych in the February issue ofAllure).

Skip the beige shadow. “Smooth foundation over your lids instead,” says makeup artist Diane Kendal. “It already matches your skin tone, and the point is to make your eyes seem larger—without looking as if you’re wearing makeup.”

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Enhance the creases. They’re naturally darker than your lids, so brush on a color that’s a smidge deeper than your skin tone. Cool light taupes look good on pale skin (try NYX Nude Matte in Bare My Soul). Medium browns (like L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Singles in Smooth Latte) are perfect for olive skin. And espresso is ideal for dark skin (we like Maybelline New York Eyeshadow Singles in Made for Mocha).

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Line your eyes. Run an angled eyeliner brush over the tip of an eyeliner pencil, then press it along the roots of your upper lashes. Make three dots along your lower lash line and smudge them together with a cotton swab. Go with a brown pencil if your skin is fair to medium (try Wet n Wild Color Icon Kohl Eyeliner in Simma Brown Now) or a black-brown shade if your skin is dark (try Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Demolition). Wiggle lengthening mascara into
just the roots of your lashes. If your lashes are pale, don’t stop there; brush one coat through to the tips.

Make everyone think your brows are that good. Comb on a tinted brow gel, like Benefit Gimme Brow, focusing the most color on your arches (where brows are naturally darkest).

More from Allure:
35 Hairstyles to Try in 2015
Find the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape
Top Anti-aging Products $25 and Under
32 Affordable New Beauty products You Have to Try!

photo: Kyle Ericksen/WWD