How to Apply Eyeliner to Small Round Eyes

Use eyeliner to enhance small round eyes

If your eyes are small and round, you may have stayed away from eyeliner to avoid making them appear smaller. If this is the case, give eyeliner another chance. The secret to wearing eyeliner successfully is to enhance your eyes rather than overwhelming them. You can make your eyes appear both more wide open and somewhat elongated with the help of eyeliner.

Things You'll Need

• Eye primer
• Eyeshadow base
• Translucent powder
• Creamy waterproof eyeliner
• Eye smudge brush or cotton swab
• Waterproof liquid eyeliner
• Creamy light-reflective flesh tone or peach eyeliner

Instructions

1. Prep your eyes for makeup by applying eye primer on clean lids, from lash line to brow bone. When the primer absorbs, smooth on eyeshadow base, from lash line to brow bone as well. Primer and base are essential on your eyes, even if you don't plan on wearing eyeshadow. They brighten your lids and help your eyeliner last longer and appear vibrant. Dust translucent powder over your lids to set the primer and base.

2. Intensify your lash lines by working a creamy waterproof eyeliner into your upper lash bed. Use dark brown or gray instead of black to avoid making your eyes seem smaller. You aren't lining your eyes just yet---you're merely making your lash lines appear thicker and lusher. If you want some eyeliner on your bottom lashes as well, keep your hand very light and limit your product application to the outer corners of the eyes. Dark eyeliner on your bottom lashes will make your small round eyes look smaller and less open. Use an eye smudge brush or cotton swab to soften the eyeliner so it does not appear harsh or hard.

3. Use a waterproof liquid eyeliner in the same shade as the creamy eyeliner on your upper lash lines. Prop your elbow on a table or countertop as you position the tip of the liner brush in the center of your lash line, over your pupil. Keep the eyeliner close to your lash lines as you move toward the outer corner of your eye. Thicken the line gradually as you take the eyeliner farther out. Beginning in the center of the eye instead of at the inner corners prevents your eyes from looking small. Wing the liquid eyeliner slightly at the ends to open up your eyes. This cat's eye effect elongates the eyes.

4. Open your eyes further by applying a creamy light-reflective peachy or flesh tone eyeliner to the lower rim---or waterline---of your eyes. This is a trick to subtly brighten your eyes. Unless the product is very sheer or you are attempting to create a mod-inspired look, stay away from white eyeliners usually applied on the waterline, as these are not very natural.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to wear eyeshadow, apply it in place of the translucent powder in Step 1.

Resources

• Videos on eyeliner application