Make your eyes look bigger when wearing glasses or sunglasses

Glasses are as much an accessory as they are a necessity. You probably selected your frames with great care, so wearing makeup that complements your features should still be a priority. Most application techniques apply to those who wear glasses as well as to those who don't. The following tips, however, are meant to help you look your best whenever you don your spectacles.

You probably already know that black eyeliner can make your eyes look smaller, so the images below will help you choose a more suitable option. Additionally, you'll learn how to balance your entire look by paying attention to your brows, eye shadow choices and even your lips.

Make sure your eyeliner is lighter than your frames
Even if you love wearing black or deep purple eyeliner on your waterline, consider switching to a lighter color. Dark eyeliner makes the eye look small. Put on a pair of dark-framed glasses, and your eye will instantly shrink even more. To make your eyes look larger behind your lenses, switch to nude, peach or pale pink eyeliner as seen in the image on the right.

Use white on your waterline to make your eyes pop
White eyeliner can look stark on some people, but it adds brightness and makes your eyes appear larger when you're wearing glasses. The white liner makes the whites of the eye seem bigger, and the lenses diffuse a bit of the light. The difference is remarkable when you see how much bigger the model's eyes appear in the image on the right.

Don't be afraid of bold eye makeup
Natural eye makeup is a fine choice when wearing glasses, but adding smoky eye shadow and a pair of false lashes makes the eyes look amazingly large. In the image on the right, the model’s eyes look enormous because the full lashes visually lift the eye, making it appear more open. In contrast, the image on the left emphasizes the skin of the upper cheek, since the model is wearing very little eye makeup.

Consider where your glasses touch your face and avoid putting a lot of makeup there
Before applying your makeup, look at the indentations left behind by your glasses. If you wear them all day, there's probably a telltale depression where the frames or nose pads press against your skin. Since makeup can easily shift and move every time you adjust your glasses, excess makeup in that area will pool at the sides and be magnified by the lenses. For the best results, lightly apply foundation, concealer and contouring products to your nose. The less makeup there is, the less likely transfer will occur.

Emphasize the brows so they frame your glasses
Glasses automatically draw attention to your face, so you may be tempted to leave your brows alone. Skipping this important step only attracts attention to an unfinished detail. Before putting on your glasses, fill in your brows with powder, pencil or pomade. It will give your eyes more structure and balance the attention that your frames receive.

Balance the look with a bold lip
Glasses can steal the show and leave your face looking imbalanced. A bold lip can correct that problem, so grab your favorite bright lipstick and watch the magic happen. The color choice also matters. Be sure your lipstick perfects your pout without muddying up the entire look. The bright pink shade shown in the image on the right really livens up the model's entire face.

To prevent products from sticking, try a matte moisturizer and setting spray
No matter how much you love your moisturizer, it can be your makeup's downfall. Products that don't fully dry have a tacky effect and will adhere to your frames. That's all well and good until you take your glasses off and discover that your frames have lifted makeup off your nose and cheeks. Using a mattifying moisturizer and setting spray will eliminate the tackiness while perfecting your makeup all day.

Stay pretty!