Protruding eyes have a naturally bold and expressive appearance, offering plenty of space to play with eye makeup. However, the key to perfecting your look is to create balance, depth, and definition without making your eyes appear overly large or “bulging.” If you have prominent eyes and want to enhance their beauty while adding some visual balance, here are three game-changing makeup hacks you need to try:
1. Embrace Matte Shadows to Add Depth
Why it works: Shimmer and glitter can exaggerate the natural protrusion of the eyes. Matte eyeshadows, on the other hand, absorb light and help create the illusion of depth.
How to do it:
- Stick with matte shades for your crease and outer corners.
- Use medium to dark tones like taupe, brown, charcoal, or plum to recede the most prominent parts of your lids.
- Blend upward and outward, focusing on contouring the socket to visually “push back” the lid.
💡 Pro Tip: Try a soft cut crease using matte shadows to create more dimension without adding bulk.
2. Tightline and Define the Lash Line
Why it works: Eyeliner adds structure and frames your eyes, drawing attention inward and balancing the natural roundness of protruding eyes.
How to do it:
- Tightline your upper waterline with a dark pencil (black or deep brown) to create the illusion of fuller lashes and add subtle depth.
- Apply a thin to medium line of eyeliner on the upper lash line. Keep it close to the lashes to avoid closing off the eye completely.
- You can smudge a bit of liner or shadow along the lower lash line to ground the eyes and reduce the appearance of roundness.
💡 Pro Tip: A soft wing at the outer corner helps elongate the eyes horizontally.
3. Use Darker Shades on the Center of the Lid
Why it works: Applying darker shadows directly on the most protruding part of the eyelid helps to minimize the “pop-out” effect and make the eyes appear more balanced.
How to do it:
- After applying a neutral base shade, dab a slightly darker matte shade to the center of the lid.
- Blend it outward toward the crease and outer corner.
- Avoid placing shimmer or light shadows on the center of the lid, as it will make the lid look more prominent.
💡 Pro Tip: Finish with lengthening mascara instead of volumizing, and focus it more on the outer lashes to elongate the eye shape.
Final Thoughts
Protruding eyes are naturally captivating, and with the right techniques, you can play them up or tone them down depending on the occasion. Focus on adding depth, definition, and elongation to bring harmony to your features. With these three simple hacks, your eyes will stand out in the most flattering way possible.