How to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

Thrive Causemetics
2025-09-29T15:51:33-07:00

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your eyes look bigger, you’re not alone. The good news is, it’s easier than you think. Whether you want to add subtle lift or go for full-on eye drama, the right products and techniques can help open up your eyes and bring your whole look to life.

And when it comes to enhancing your eyes without irritation, heavy layering, or harsh ingredients, Thrive Causemetics® delivers. Our lineup of clean, high-performance eye makeup products makes it easy to brighten, lift, and define your eyes, no makeup artist required.

Ready to master the look? We’ll walk you through easy, expert-backed steps to make your eyes look bigger, using simple techniques and Thrive Causemetics favorites that do the heavy lifting for you. Let’s get into it!

Why Eye-Enhancing Techniques Matter

Small changes = a significant payoff. Knowing how to make your eyes pop with strategic placement, color, and product choice can instantly transform your appearance, making you look more awake, refreshed, and expressive.

Bright, open eyes create an instant lift

Larger-looking eyes can completely change the energy of your entire face. When your eyes appear more open, you look instantly refreshed and more alert. It’s like a built-in pick-me-up! This effect is especially impactful when you use the right makeup strategically. A well-placed swipe of mascara, a defining touch of eyeliner, and a pop of shimmer from eyeshadow can work together to lift and widen the eyes, without piling on product. Think of it as sculpting with light and definition to bring out your natural eye shape and maximize every blink.

The right formulas make a difference

What you use matters, especially around the delicate eye area, where comfort, longevity, and performance are non-negotiables. If your products smudge, flake, or feel heavy by midday, they’re working against you, not for you. This is even more important if you have sensitive eyes or wear contact lenses, as irritation and migration can quickly compromise your appearance.

That’s why clean, weightless formulas are essential — they define and enhance without overwhelming the eye. Thrive Causemetics creates high-performance staples that check every box: they’re featherlight, long-wearing, and designed to stay exactly where you put them. So whether you’re tightlining, highlighting, or building serious lash lift, you get bold, beautiful payoff — minus the touch-ups or discomfort.

Step-by-Step Guide On How to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

Ready to master the art of enhancing your eyes? Here’s a breakdown of easy, pro-approved tips using our tried and true favorites.

Start With the Right Prep

The secret to eye makeup that looks smooth, fresh, and lasts all day? It all starts with thoughtful prep. Prepping the eye area properly minimizes texture, enhances product payoff, and creates a clean base that helps every step that follows perform at its best, especially when you're aiming to make your eyes look bigger and brighter. Here’s how to set the stage for success:

Use a lightweight eye cream: Hydrated skin is more pliable and less prone to creasing, which makes for a more seamless blend and prevents makeup from settling into fine lines. Look for an eye cream with ingredients like caffeine, peptides, or hyaluronic acid to target puffiness and dryness. Cooling gel textures are especially effective in the morning for reducing under-eye bags and prepping skin for smooth concealer application.

Our eye cream delivers ample line-smoothing hydration, helps brighten the appearance of dark circles, and offers the reassurance of being dermatologist- and allergy-tested. Bonus: the right formula is safe to use all the way around your eyes — lids, under-eyes, and even the corners — so your whole eye area feels refreshed and ready for makeup.

Apply an eye primer: Eye primer is a game-changer for the entire eye area. It smooths uneven texture, blurs the look of discoloration, and locks down product so it won’t budge or crease. A thin layer creates a grip for shadows while subtly lifting the lid, making your eyes look more awake and defined from the start.

Brighten with an under eye brightener: Darkness in the inner corners and tear troughs can make eyes look smaller and more tired. Our under eye brightener targets those shadows with soft, light-reflecting pigments while correcting discoloration with a touch of coverage. Focus on the inner corners, under the eye, and along the orbital bone to catch the light and create a more lifted, open appearance.

Conceal smartly: A heavy concealer can make the under-eye area look dry or cakey, which defeats the purpose of brightening. Instead, opt for a buildable, hydrating formula like our creaseless concealer. Dab it precisely where needed, typically the inner corner, under the lash line, and the outer eye, to correct without masking. Gently blend it upward and outward to visually lift the eye and neutralize shadows that pull the gaze downward.

Brighten the Waterline and Inner Corners

Strategic use of light tones is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to make your eyes look instantly larger and more awake. These subtle highlights catch and reflect light, counteract darkness, and draw attention to the most light-sensitive areas of the eye, making your gaze appear brighter and more refreshed in seconds.

Apply a brightening pencil to the inner corners: The inner corners of the eyes are often the first places where shadows and fatigue appear. Highlighting this area helps reverse that effect by mimicking the look of wide, well-rested eyes. Thrive Causemetics eyeshadow stick in a champagne or pearlescent tone, such as Stella, Estrella, or Izzy, is perfect for this technique because it blends effortlessly and adds a subtle, natural-looking glow. Simply dab our multi-tasking eyeshadow stick right at the tear duct and blend slightly along the lower lash line for a radiant, eye-opening effect.

Sweep highlighter along the brow bone: The space just under your brow’s arch is a key lifting zone. When you apply a light, reflective shade here, it gives the illusion of a higher brow, which in turn makes the entire eye area look more lifted and open. Use the same eyeshadow stick to softly trace under the brow and blend outward — no harsh lines, just an elevated, fresh finish.

Line your lower waterline with a nude pencil: While dark liner on the lower waterline can make eyes appear smaller or more closed off, a nude or flesh-toned pencil or eyeshadow stick does the exact opposite. It visually extends the whites of your eyes, creating a more open, doll-like look. This technique is beneficial on days when you're feeling tired or puffy, and pairs beautifully with brightened inner corners for maximum impact.

Apply Mascara for Length and Lift

When it comes to making your eyes look bigger, mascara is a power move. The way you prep your lashes and apply your mascara can dramatically impact the overall shape and openness of your eyes. From curling to placement to the formula itself, every detail counts.

Start by curling your lashes for maximum lift: Before you apply your mascara, reach for a lash curler. Curling your lashes helps expose more of your eye area by pushing lashes up and out of the way. This simple step makes your eyes appear immediately more open and alert. Focus the curler at the base of the lashes, then gently walk it upward to create a smooth, natural curve that holds.

Choose a tubing formula for clean, lasting length: Traditional mascaras can smudge, flake, or weigh lashes down, especially after a long day. Thrive Causemetics tubing mascara wraps each lash in lightweight, water-resistant microtubes to build length and definition without clumps or fallout. It’s ideal for sensitive eyes, stays in place all day, and removes effortlessly with warm water — no rubbing or makeup remover required.

Apply strategically to elongate and lift the eye: Instead of coating every lash the same way, tailor your application to enhance your eye shape. Start at the root, wiggling the wand upward to build separation and volume. Then, concentrate extra coats on the outer lashes to visually extend the lash line. This technique creates a subtle cat-eye effect, helping to elongate the eye and pull everything upward for a more lifted, wide-eyed look.

Faux lash clusters: For extra definition, try applying a few longer false lash clusters at the outer corners of your eyes for a soft, lifted effect. Ours feature an ultra-thin, clear band that practically disappears into your lash line, making them easy to blend with or without natural lashes. Made from premium vegan fibers that mimic the look and feel of the real thing, they’re lightweight, comfortable, and can keep their curl and shape for up to 25 wears when cared for properly.

Define Your Lash Line With Eyeliner

Eyeliner can be transformative, but it’s all about precision. The way you place your liner can either enhance your natural eye shape or unintentionally minimize it. Minor tweaks in technique can make a huge difference when your goal is to make your eyes look bigger, more lifted, and more defined.

Tightline the upper waterline for subtle definition: One of the most underrated tricks for fuller-looking lashes and bigger-looking eyes is tightlining, meaning you’re applying liner directly to the upper waterline (right at the base of your lashes) to create the illusion of thicker roots without any visible line. Our waterproof eyeliner is ideal for this step, thanks to its ultra-creamy texture and smudge-proof, all-day wear. It glides on effortlessly and sets to a waterproof finish, even on the most sensitive skin around the eyes.

Skip the full lower lash line: Lining all the way around the eyes, especially the lower lash line, can visually shrink them and make them appear more closed off. Instead, apply liner only to the outer third of the lower lash line (or skip it altogether) to maintain a lifted, open look. This technique keeps the focus on the upper lashes and avoids creating heaviness beneath the eye.

Wing it (gently) for a lifted effect: A well-placed flick can do wonders for elongating the eye. Try extending your liner just slightly past the outer corner, angling it upward toward the tail of your brow. It doesn’t need to be dramatic — a mini wing or soft lift is enough to subtly elevate your eye shape. If your lids are hooded or downturned, start your wing just above the crease to keep it visible when your eyes are open.

Shape With Eyeshadow for Subtle Definition

The key to making your eyes look bigger and more lifted lies in thoughtful placement and a well-chosen mix of light, medium, and reflective tones. When used strategically, eyeshadow can add depth where you need it and brightness where you want to draw attention, all without looking overdone.

Brighten the lid with a light-reflecting base: Start by applying a soft, neutral shade across the mobile lid. Light champagne, ivory, or soft beige tones, such as Blythe and Stella, help bring the lid forward, making the eyes appear more open. This pro tip is especially helpful if you have hooded or deep-set eyes, where the lid can sometimes disappear.

Build lift with a matte transition shade above the crease: To create the illusion of a more lifted eye, use a matte shade that’s slightly deeper than your skin tone (think neutral taupe, soft caramel, or warm brown), such as Callie, Tracy, Muna, Kaely, or Anise. Blend it just above your natural crease (rather than directly in it) to raise the perceived eye socket. This technique adds dimension while visually pulling the eye upward, making it appear more lifted and awake.

Add brightness with shimmer in key areas: A touch of shimmer can make the eyes sparkle — literally! Tap a pearlescent or luminous shade, such as Izzy, Estrella, or Marilyn, onto the center of the lid to catch the light and draw focus. For even more openness, apply a small amount to the inner corners to help counteract shadows and create the illusion of bigger, rounder eyes without adding heaviness.

Use multitasking products for easy, seamless application: As mentioned before, our Brilliant Eye Brightener™ is a versatile cream eyeshadow stick that does it all: it glides on effortlessly, blends with your fingertips, and sets to a soft, luminous finish. Use it across the lid, in the inner corners, or under the brow bone — no brushes or tools needed. It’s perfect for quick, on-the-go eye sculpting with minimal effort and maximum payoff.

Frame Your Eyes With Lifted Brows

Brows are one of the most powerful tools you have for enhancing the eyes, yet they’re often overlooked. A well-shaped brow can create the illusion of lift, structure, and openness, framing the eyes in a way that draws attention upward and outward. When your brows are balanced and defined, everything else on your face falls into place more naturally.

Shape with intention to lift the eye area: Use eyebrow makeup to softly fill in any sparse areas, focusing on building a gentle arch and a slightly extended tail. This shape helps create a natural lifting effect that visually opens up the eye. Thrive Causemetics offers a range of brow products, so you can find the perfect texture and tone for your preferred level of definition.

Avoid shapes that pull the eye downward: Steer clear of overly rounded, flat, or downward-sloping brows. These shapes can make the eyes appear droopy or tired. Instead, aim for a subtle lift in the arch and tail — nothing overly sharp or dramatic, just enough to create upward movement and balance with your natural eye shape.

Highlight strategically to add dimension and lift: Once your brows are shaped, add a soft, luminous highlight right beneath the arch to define the brow bone while creating the illusion of lift in the entire eye area. Our Brilliant Eye Brightener™ works beautifully here — its creamy, light-reflecting formula brightens just the right amount, enhancing your brows while tying your whole eye look together.

Your Eye-Enhancing Routine Starts Here

Creating larger-looking eyes comes down to using smart techniques and the right tools, not how much product you use. With a few intentional steps and clean beauty formulas, you can lift, brighten, and define your eyes in a way that feels natural and polished.

From everyday definition to more elevated looks, Thrive’s multitasking eye essentials are designed to work with your features, not against them, so you can put your best lash forward. Curious which eye makeup styles suit you best? Take our Best Eye Makeup for Me Quiz to discover your perfect match today!