How to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger: Optometrist-Approved Tips
Summary: Bigger, brighter eyes aren’t just about makeup. Your eyelid skin health, hydration, and good habits make a big difference. Learn optometrist-approved ways to support the delicate under-eye area and help your eyes appear more awake.
Your eyelids are among the thinnest, most delicate skin on your face, making them especially vulnerable to signs of ageing, irritation, puffiness, and discoloration. As dermatologist Dr. Anne Chapas explains, “The periorbital area has thinner dermis, minimal collagen and elastic support, and very thin stratum corneum — so it is more prone to lines and dehydration.” (Reference: Dermatologist Anne Chapas, quoted in RealSelf).
Here’s how to look after that fragile skin and help eyes appear bigger and fresher.
Keep the Tear Film Hydrated
Dryness can make eyes appear dull or heavy. A stable, healthy tear film helps prevent glare and irritation that can make your look narrower. Use Instant Relief Eye Spray, clinically proven to improve comfort after one use, to support hydration and ease.
Cleanse Gently with Balm Wipes
Swelling, redness, or irritation around the eyelids can drag down your eye appearance. Soothing Coconut Eye Balm Wipes are oil-based, preservative-free, fragrance-free, and designed for sensitive eyes. Use them nightly to remove makeup and debris without stripping or tugging.
Nourish the Eyelid Skin
Supporting your eyelid skin can enhance brightness and reduce fatigue. Our Eye Rescue Lidstick is crafted for overnight restoration, using:
- Oat Ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier
- Evening Primrose Oil to smooth fine lines
- Kakadu Plum, the richest natural source of Vitamin C, to visibly brighten
- Borage Oil to calm and soften
- New Zealand Manuka Oil to soothe redness and inflammation
This blend hydrates and supports the delicate skin, helping your eyes look more rested and open.
Promote Rest and Reduce Puffiness
Lack of quality sleep contributes to puffiness, dark shadows, and eyelid drooping — all factors that make eyes look smaller. Research links dry eye with poorer sleep quality, more disturbances, and worse rest overall (Reference: BMC Ophthalmology, “Association between sleep quality and dry eye disease”). Supporting your tear film and reducing irritation can help break that cycle. Use gentle heat (warm compress or Heated Eye Wand LED+) before bed to ease eyelid tension and help rest more comfortably.
FAQs
Q: Can dryness make eyes look smaller?
A: Yes. When the ocular surface is uncomfortable, eyes may narrow or look tighter.
Q: How should I remove eye makeup safely?
A: Use a gentle, oil-based wipe like Soothing Coconut Eye Balm Wipes. Avoid alcohol-based removers or harsh rubbing.
Q: Will brightening help the under-eye area?
A: Yes. Ingredients like Kakadu Plum (natural vitamin C) can improve brightness over time.
Q: Is better sleep really that important for eye appearance?
A: Definitely. Sleep helps your skin and eyes recover. Poor rest shows up first around your eyes.
Q: Where can I learn more about eye and eyelid skin fragility?
A: Look into dermatology sources on periorbital skin, the eye area is unique. Dermatologists note it has minimal structural support and is more vulnerable to dehydration and lines.
