How to make your eyes look more lifted in five simple steps

Despite their popularity, some makeup techniques can actually make us look worse. Using dark eyeliner on the lower waterline, while fashionable, can make eyes look small and closed off. Lining the upper lid, which is meant to define the eyes, can make them look droopy if the eyeliner extends downward beyond the outer corner. And even though a smoky eye is always en vogue, dark eye shadow makes lids look heavy.

If you have small eyes or hooded lids, it’s time to try a new approach. Dark shadow isn’t off the table completely, but changing up where you place it will make you look more alert and bright-eyed. The following tutorial will walk you through five simple steps that will give your peepers a little extra oomph.

Materials
- Medium-brown eye shadow
- Fluffy blending brush
- Matte white or ivory eye shadow
- Small eye shadow brush
- Dark brown eye shadow
- Flat eyeliner brush
- Eyelash curler
- Mascara
- Tweezers
- Lash glue
- Demi-lashes

Instructions
1. Apply medium-brown eye shadow on the outer portion of the lid with a fluffy blending brush.

2. Apply matte white or ivory eye shadow on the inner corner and center of the lid and beneath the arch of your brows with a small eye shadow brush. Pale colors have a brightening effect and make you look more alert.

3. Instead of using liquid eyeliner, apply dark eye shadow with a flat liner brush at the base of your upper lashes. This defines the eye without overpowering the lid. Tip: Create a small feline flick by applying the same color to the outer corner at a slight angle.

4. Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler, then apply one to two coats of mascara.

5. For extra lash volume, apply a demi-lash strip to the outer corner of your lash line. Hold the lashes with the tweezers, and put a small amount of lash glue on the lash band. Wait 10 seconds for the glue to get tacky, then press the lashes in place. Tip: Partial strips of false lashes make the eye look more elongated without looking heavy.