What are close set eyes? Based on the name alone, you can probably guess exactly what close set eyes are. They’re eyes that are close together—it’s really that straight forward! If you think your eyes might be a match for that definition, you’ll want to stick around. Not only are we sharing how to tell once and for all if you have close set eyes, but we’ve also put all of our best beauty tips for close set eyes together into a makeup tutorial. So, break out your eye shadows, eyeliner, and mascara and get ready to learn.
How to Determine if You Have Close Set Eyes
Determining your eye shape can be just about as big of a challenge as finding out your face shape. Thankfully, when it comes to close set eyes, there’s an easy trick for telling whether or not you have them. And all you need is a ruler or measuring tape. If you aren’t positive if your eyes qualify as close set, here’s how to tell for sure: Measure the space between your eyes. If that measurement is smaller than the width of one of your eyes, it’s confirmed—your eyes are indeed close set.
How to Wear Makeup When You Have Close Set Eyes
Hopping on the internet and watching any old makeup tutorial won’t necessarily teach you how to successfully do your makeup. Even if the beauty expert’s eye shadow turns out flawless, the same techniques might not work for you. The reason being that different eye shapes require different makeup application. If you have close set eyes, you won’t want to do your makeup exactly the same way as your friends with hooded eyes or wide set eyes. Here’s how to do makeup for close set eyes.
Step #1: Prime your lids. No matter your eye shape, the first step in doing your eye makeup should be the same. Before you can move on to the pretty shadows and pigmented eyeliner, you need to prime your eyes. Dot a small amount of eye makeup primer onto your eyelids and beneath your brows, then blend out with your finger.
Step #2: Create a shadow gradient. Applying a single eye shadow won’t do close set eyes any favors. To make your eyes appear wider, you’ll need multiple shades. Pick a palette that contains 3-4 coordinating colors, like one of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadows. Apply the shades from lightest to darkest, working your way from the inner corner outwards. This gradated effect will help visually widen your eyes. Just be sure to take time and carefully blend each shade into the next for a seamless look.
Step #3: Highlight the inner corner. To instantly make your eyes look even wider, apply a highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes. Choose a light, shimmery shade from the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette in Moonkissed, and use a small eye shadow brush (or your finger) to press the highlighter into the area around your tear ducts. Not only will they look less close set, but your eyes will appear bigger, too!
Step #4: Partially line your eyes. For anyone with close set eyes, eyeliner is a total game changer. Still, that doesn’t mean you should go ahead and line your eyes any way you like. If you’re used to lining all the way around your eyes, put a stop to that. Lining the inner half of your eyes can actually make them appear even closer together. Instead, focus the eyeliner on the outer half of your eyes (top and bottom). Any style of eyeliner will do—skinny or thick—but a cat eye can be particularly flattering, helping to make eyes appear further apart. Whichever style of liner you choose, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil to get the look.
Step 5: Apply mascara. No eye makeup look is complete without mascara. Brush a coat or two of a fiber-infused formula, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Mascara, onto your lashes, focusing more product on the outer lashes.
Editor’s tip: For an extra wide-eyed look, you can always place a few individual false lashes at the outer corner of your eye. (Here are 7 Hacks to Make Applying False Lashes Easier.)
Step 6: Extend your eyebrows. Don’t forget, your eyebrows can make a major difference in how your eye makeup looks. Use an eyebrow pencil, like the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Shape & Fill Mechanical Pencil, to fill in your brows and extend the ends further. Your brows will look super bold, and your eyes will seem as if they’ve been extended, too.
Now that you know all about doing eye makeup for your eye shape, you can switch your attention over to creating the perfect looks for your eye color. Next, head over to our article on The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Every Eye Color.
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