Look, we’d love to live in a world where we always get a full eight hours of sleep a night—but that’s just not reality. Sometimes we stay up way too late clicking around or binge watching our latest Netflix obsession. The result? Tired, bloodshot eyes. And when your eyes look exhausted the rest of your face looks follows suit. Since your eyes are the most important component in looking fresh and awake, we’ve pulled together our favorite makeup tricks for making them appear sparkling and bright.
Makeup tricks to brighten your eyes, eye shadow, eye liner, eye makeup
#1: Apply a dot of highlighter in the corner of your eyes.
The shadows in the corners of your eyes (right by the bridge of your nose) are the most visible. Apply a small dot of highlighter to help counteract these deep shadows. It will help reflect light and make your eyes appear wider and brighter.
#2: Apply nude eyeliner in your waterline.
Nude or white liner is one of the best ways to combat red, bloodshot eyes, especially if you apply it directly to your waterline. The neutral color will help the whites of your eyes appear even whiter and diminish any redness.
Product Recommendation: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil in Walk of Shame
#3: Curl your eyelashes.
Flat lashes will make your eyes look smaller, and, in contrast, curled lashes will make them appear larger. So, before you even reach for the mascara, make sure you’ve used an eyelash curler first.
Product Recommendation: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
#4: Shape and fill in your brows.
Whether you prefer waxing, threading or tweezing, make sure your brows have a defined shape. This helps frame and open your eyes. If you have naturally sparse brows use a pencil to fill in any thin spots.
Product Recommendation: NYX Micro Brow Pencil
#5: Experiment with shades of blue.
Blue is one of the best shades for achieving brighter-looking eyes as it counteracts dull, yellow hues and makes the whites of your eyes really stand out. If you don’t want to wear blue shadow, you can always try a little blue eyeliner instead for the same effect.
Product Recommendations: L’Oréal Paris Infallible Silkissimee Eyeliner in Cobalt Blue, Giorgio Armani Eye Tint in Minuit
#6: Line your eyes in a cat eye shape.
A cat eye helps open your eyes and makes you look more awake. Even if you don’t want to do a dramatic winged look, you can still throw in a small outward flick at the end to help widen those peepers.
Product Recommendations: Maybelline Eye Studio Master Graphic
#7. Apply under eye concealer in a triangle shape.
Erase dark circles by using an under eye concealer every morning. Instead of applying product in a curved shape just under the eye, make a triangle or V-shape and blend it outward. This helps create a lifted appearance and makes your eyes look super awake.
Product Recommendation: Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Concealer
#8: Go for a neutral lip color.
We know, we know. This isn’t your typical eye makeup trick, but hear us out. When drawing attention to the eyes, opt for a soft, neutral shade on your lips. This will help focus the attention upward and make your overall look feel soft and fresh.
Product Recommendation: NYX Lip Lingerie in Push Up
#9. Protect your eyes from the sun.
It’s just as important to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays as it is your skin! Always bring your sunglasses with you (even on overcast days) to help keep your eyes bright and healthy.
