eye make up

8 make-up artist tricks for bigger, brighter looking eyes

November 28, 2016

When it comes to eyes, we all want bigger, brighter and better. So to help us on our quest, we enlisted the help of top make-up artist Buster Knight, (whose clients include Tamara Ecclestone and Laura Whitmore) to show us how to create that enviable doe-eyed look. 

For a real eye-opener, opt for a nude

"Instead of a bright white, use a flesh toned pencil to draw inside the waterline. This will neutralise any tiredness and give the illusion of a brighter eye, whatever your skin tone.  A soft creamy nude like Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Roll Eye Cheat, £19, will ensure you won't irritate the eye – it also has some serious staying power."

Wake up tired eyes with metallics

"In all art, light brings forward, dark retracts. So a light- reflecting eyeshadow dusted on the lid will make the eyes look more awake. Make-up Revolution have some highly pigmented palettes and they are very affordable."

To widen small eyes, define and shade

"Add a shade colour into the socket and you will immediately see the brow look lifted and the eye more defined. I find a good trick is to use a matte contour powder for a natural look. I like Kat Von D's 'Shade and Light' palette, £32.40, to buff through the socket."

Make your peepers pop with a gloss

"Glossy eyes are super edgy for evening and beautifully catch the light to make eyes pop.  On a photoshoot I'd use a clear lip-gloss, but for a more wearable option? Apply a thin layer of Kevyn Aucoin's new Exotique Diamond Eye Gloss, £30.50 – it's a lightweight gloss that gives any eyeshadow a high-shine glassy finish, minus the thick sticky film."

For an instant lift, brush up your brows

"Never underestimate the power of a defined brow. Use a brow pencil to softly add some depth and texture. My favourite is Tom Ford's Brow Sculptor, £35. It's angled, making it easy to fill in and draw on hairs, without looking too made up or overdrawn. Remember to keep things natural, it's much more flattering and youthful."

Fake eight hours sleep with a highlighter

"On most of my clients, I use a touch of highlighter on the inside corner of the eye. I also brush a small amount of highlighter on the lid. Not only does this look pretty when you blink as it catches the light, but it has a brightening effort, making the eye look more awake and vibrant. I love MAC's new highlighter Beaming Blush, £24, in a universally flattering soft rose gold tone."

Maximise your eyes with a curler

"Shu Uemura have the best easy-to-use lash curlers. Looking in a mirror, tilt your head back making sure all the lashes are in the curler before clamping. Using light to moderate pressure, pump the handle five - seven times to make sure the lash is optimally curled. Keep mascara light and avoid a clumpy lash, as your eyes will look so much brighter."

For optimum length, wing it

"A good lengthening cheat is to slightly wing your eyeliner. Use Delilah's gel liner, £22, and their amazing eye brush, £26, to extend the bottom lash line upwards; this is the 'wing'.

Then take the brush and paint a thin line across the top, making sure you get as close to the lashes as possible. Join the wing and the liner up and you've got that feline eye à la Kate Moss that will elongate any eye shape."

Transform your routine with expert advice from our beauty and wellness team

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