Buzz
Huge, innocent anime eyes have become a trend among various subcultures. While colored contacts serve as an option, they often come with a hefty price tag and require professional advice to prevent eye damage. Alternatively, skillfully applied makeup can emulate the anime aesthetic. Once you master the technique, feel free to experiment with different products and styles to personalize your appearance.
Steps
Enhancing Eyes with Cosmetics
Start by applying concealer and foundation. These products are essential for concealing dark circles under your eyes and creating an even skin tone base. Opt for a foundation shade lighter than your natural skin tone.
Apply eye primer. Use eye primer to ensure your makeup stays in place and remains long-lasting. Apply it around your eyes, up to your eyebrows, but avoid applying it directly on top of them.
Utilize eyeshadow. Properly applying eyeshadow can give the illusion of larger, rounder eyes. Brush on eyeshadow around your eyes, opting for softer, lighter shades to enhance the adorable appearance commonly associated with female anime eyes. If using light eyeshadow, blend a touch of brown over it to distinguish it from the white eyeliner applied later.
Highlight with eye shimmer powder (optional). For a sparkling effect, add eye shimmer powder to the inner corners of your eyes. Skip this step if you prefer a more subtle look or if you don't have this product on hand.
Outline the inner eye with a light hue. Use white or light eyeliner to create a V shape at the inner corners of your eyes, extending slightly onto the waterline. This technique creates the illusion of larger eyes, especially when focused on the inner corners.
- The waterline is the area of the eyelid that touches the other eyelid when closed.
- Consider using specialized 'Big Eye' eyeliner products for this purpose.
- You can use either eyeliner pencil or liquid eyeliner.
Create a longer outline with dark eyeliner. Apply black or very dark eyeliner to both the upper and lower waterlines of your eyes to enhance their dramatic effect. Extend the eyeliner slightly beyond the waterline on the outer corners, and optionally create a small wing for added drama. However, be cautious not to overdo it, as excessively large wings may not align with most anime styles.
- To achieve a more natural look, close your eyes and follow the natural crease to extend the outline.
- Avoid using smoky eyeliner, as it can make your eyes appear smaller.
- While it's often advised to avoid applying eyeliner to the bottom waterline for those with closely set eyes, when done correctly, it can complement your overall appearance.
Apply black mascara. Opt for a volumizing and lengthening mascara to achieve full and lengthy eyelashes. Concentrate on making the outer lashes thicker, as they often appear more prominent in anime. You can choose between two main approaches for different effects: apply multiple thick coats for a bold look, or use one coat with three brush strokes across the lashes for a more subtle effect. Ensure each coat dries before applying the next one.
- If your mascara tends to clump, avoid applying multiple thick coats.
Try false eyelashes (optional). Enhance your look with false eyelashes if you desire additional emphasis. Opt for demi lashes or trim full-length lashes before application. Place them slightly farther back than usual to create the illusion of larger eyes, either on the upper waterline or just behind it. You can also consider adding lower lashes for further enhancement.
- If false eyelashes aren't your preference, you can achieve a similar effect by curling your natural lashes.
- Anime often features separated eyelashes. Try attaching sections of false eyelashes spaced 2–4 millimeters (0.08–0.16 inches) apart instead of applying them continuously.
Embracing Other Anime Characteristics
Change your eye color using contacts. Opt for large 'circle lenses' to achieve a dramatic effect, especially with unnatural colors. Prioritize safety by having your eyes measured by an optometrist and purchasing contacts from reputable sources to prevent eye damage. Consider trying 'sclera lenses' for an even more striking appearance, but remember to apply them before mascara.
- To avoid potential complications, always put on contacts before applying mascara.
Opt for a subtle lipstick or lip gloss. Avoid dark or bold lipstick, as it may draw attention away from your eyes. On most face shapes, heavily emphasized lips and eyes together can create an overwhelming or chaotic appearance. Instead, consider a light pink lipstick or clear gloss.
- However, if you're imitating an anime character with an exaggerated heart-shaped bow on the lips, you can recreate this feature.
Apply a soft pink blush. Enhance the innocent appearance of most female anime characters by delicately applying a light pink blush to your cheekbones. For a distinctly anime look, extend the blush across the bridge of your nose from one cheekbone to the other.
Experiment with colorful eyeliner. Achieve a less conventional appearance by using brightly colored eyeliners such as purple, blue, or green. Consider opting for colored eyeliner instead of black if you're aiming to imitate cyberpunk anime or other unconventional styles.
Draw on false eyebrows. Create a more animated look with thinner, higher-arched eyebrows, drawn boldly for emphasis. Optionally, you can also use unconventional colors.
- Flattening your natural eyebrows with a gluestick will enhance the effect.
Refresh your eyes with chilled teaspoons. Chill two teaspoons in the refrigerator or a cold cellar for 20–30 minutes. Place the rounded backs of the spoons over your eyes until they warm up. This temporary technique tightens the skin around your eyes, creating a wide-eyed appearance.
Pointers
- To achieve a more exaggerated or comical effect, extend the eyeliner outline further around your eye. Place false lashes just above your cheekbones and use pale eyeliner to elongate your eye downward toward them. For added effect, use white and black eyeliner to create a pupil and sclera on your closed eyelids, finishing with a white shine mark on the artificial pupil.
- Avoid making the eyes too eccentric as it may result in an odd appearance and potential ridicule.
- Feel free to express yourself while sporting anime eyes. You can even use Japanese phrases like 'Sugoi' or 'Kawaii'. Embrace your interests without fear of judgment and let others do the same.
The guidance provided in this section is drawn from the experiences of Mytour readers like yourself. If you have a helpful tip you'd like to contribute to Mytour, please share it below.
- If you have eyelash extensions, apply the smallest section directly beneath your eye's skin. Ensure that your eyeliner is prepped beneath the lash skin before attaching the extensions. Anime characters often feature noticeably long lower lashes, so this technique helps achieve the anime character look.
- Anime girls typically sport exaggerated bottom lashes. To replicate this, try placing small dots of black eyeshadow along your lower lash line, decreasing their size towards the center of your eye. You can also gently blend the dots downward with a brush to enhance the effect.
- Applying a gentle cream before makeup can give your skin an extra-smooth appearance reminiscent of many anime characters. Avoid using products that may cause adverse reactions on your skin.
Cautionary Notes
- Avoid using products that promise to enlarge your pupils, as they can cause serious harm.
- Always remove makeup before bedtime to maintain the health of your eyes and skin.
- Consult with an optometrist before purchasing non-prescription contact lenses to prevent potential eye damage.
- While having large anime eyes does not make you Japanese or an anime girl, feel free to pursue your interests without inhibition. Embrace your beliefs and don't let others discourage you.
