How to Make Your Eyes Look Closer Together

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If the distance between your eyes is longer than the length of each eye, you have wide set eyes. Congratulations! You've joined the ranks of the iconic Jackie Onassis, the stunning Michelle Pfeiffer, and many others. While wide set eyes are beautiful, some people may be interested in downplaying the distance between their eyes. With a few contouring tricks, strategic makeup application, and flattering hairstyles, you can make your eyes appear closer together.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Using Shadows and Contouring

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  1. Before you start applying any product to your eyes, it's important to prime them. Makeup primer creates an even base for your makeup, and it helps ensure that the products will stay in place throughout the day. If you're going to spend the time applying makeup to flatter your wide set eyes, it's pretty important to start it off with a good base. [1]
    • You can purchase makeup primer at your local pharmacy or beauty supply store.
  2. For your base color, it's important to avoid super light shades and choose something closer to your skin shade. Use a shadow brush to apply the base color all over your lid, from inner to outer corner. Blend the darker shade that you've selected into the crease using a tapered brush. Again, go from corner to corner. Because you want your eyes to appear closer together, avoid blending it outwards from the eye. Stop it at the outer corner. Additionally, make sure you are bringing product all the way to the inner corner. [2]
    • For your base lid color, avoid eyeshadow shades like silvery white, and instead grab something in a darker shade, whether it's a brown, a pink, green, or any other color you desire.
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  3. People with wide set eyes sometimes have a wider or flatter nose bridge, which accentuates the distance between the eyes. If you want to make your eyes appear closer together, you can add dimension and depth to your nose with contouring. All you need for this is a small blending brush and a dark contour powder, which you can purchase at a pharmacy or a beauty supply store.
    • Dip your brush into the powder and tap off any excess powder. You want your nose contour to look natural, so avoid packing on too much product.
    • Apply the powder in two lines down your nose, going from the eyes down to the nostrils. The closer together the lines are, the skinner and smaller your nose will look. [3]
    • Blend your contouring lines thoroughly so they don't look dark and unnatural. Soften the contour by running over it with a fluffy brush and your favorite face powder.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Perfecting Liner, Lashes, and Brows

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  1. In many makeup tutorials, you'll be advised to line your entire top lash line, while only lining the outer half of your bottom lash line. If you have wide set eyes, however, lining the entire lash line on both the top and bottom can actually draw your eyes together. Begin in the inner corner and carefully line outwards. As you move outwards, decrease the thickness of the line. By putting a thicker amount to the inside corners, the eyes will look closer together. [4]
  2. [5] Some makeup gurus will advise those with wide set eyes to avoid winged eyeliner or cat eyes all together. By adding product on the outside of your eyes, it can make your eyes appear farther apart. If you want to wear winged eyeliner, though, you can rock it just like anyone else. If you are trying to make your eyes appear closer together, simply keep your wings shorter.
    • If you're someone who loves to rock the winged eyeliner but wants to minimize the distance between your eyes, try out the reverse-wing on your bottom lash line. [6]
    • Grab a flat eyeliner brush and your favorite gel eyeliner. Start at your outer corner, running the eyeliner along your lash line like normal. However, instead of curving into the very inner corner, run the line straight out. In other words, the bottom liner should extend in a straight line towards your nose, rather than curving upwards into your inner corner. [7]
  3. Before you apply your mascara, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler. However, instead of pressing your curler straight down on your lashes as you normally would do, hold your curler at a slight angle towards your nose. This may feel a bit funny at first, but it can make a big difference. By angling the lashes inwards, it will make your eyes appear closer together. [8]
    • Once you've curled your lashes, apply your mascara. Start at the base of the lashes and wiggle your wand to the ends, pulling your eyelashes at the same angle you curled them.
  4. An easy way to minimize the space between your eyes is to extend your eyebrows into it. [9] Using your favorite brow pencil, powder, or gel, elongate your brows inwards. Be careful not to overdo it, or it will look unnatural. Use short, soft strokes to mimic hair, and don't extend the tail of the brow.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Styling Your Hair

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  1. If you have wide set eyes, you have the perfect features for bangs. Straight across bangs draw attention to the center of the face and draws your eyes together, making them appear closer together. Longer bangs also minimize the amount of skin shown between and around your eyes, giving them the illusion of being less wide set. [10]
  2. Slicked back, tight hairstyles can call attention to your wide set eyes and make them look farther apart. Instead, let your hair fall around your face. Waves, tendrils, layers, and messy pieces are all perfect ways to add volume around your head, thus making your eyes appear closer together in the center. If you insist on an up-do, even leaving a few pieces out or teasing the sides a bit can minimize the distance between your eyes. [11]
  3. If you already have a wide face and don't want to add more width with hair on either side of your face, side-swept styles might be the perfect compromise. These can be worn for both casual and formal affairs, and they can add a lot of volume and interest around your face without making it appear too round. Try pulling your hair into a loose bun or a braid on one side, leaving small pieces around your face to frame it. [12]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can you fix wide set eyes with makeup?
    Anjuli Yera, MD
    Certified Professional Makeup Artist
    Dr. Anjuli Yera is a Certified Professional Makeup Artist based out of West Palm Beach, FL. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in makeup artistry, airbrush application, and bridal and wedding party makeup. Her work has been featured in St. Louis Bride, STL Today as well as the Miami Times. She has received the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award, Best of The Knot Award, and Top Pro Status on Thumbtack. Additionally, Anjuli has been invited to KSDK’s, 'Show Me St. Louis,' to cover Makeup Trends of the year. Anjuli is a self-taught professional makeup artist who received further training from the Artistry Makeup Academy.
    Anjuli Yera, MD
    Certified Professional Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
    Yes, for sure! To make your eyes look closer together, just drag your inner corner eyeliner a bit closer to your midline, creating a peak or fine point as you continue the liner into the lower lash line from the inner corner out. Repeat on the other eye to create a symmetrical appearance.
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  • Question
    How do you make your eyes not look so far apart?
    Anjuli Yera, MD
    Certified Professional Makeup Artist
    Dr. Anjuli Yera is a Certified Professional Makeup Artist based out of West Palm Beach, FL. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in makeup artistry, airbrush application, and bridal and wedding party makeup. Her work has been featured in St. Louis Bride, STL Today as well as the Miami Times. She has received the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award, Best of The Knot Award, and Top Pro Status on Thumbtack. Additionally, Anjuli has been invited to KSDK’s, 'Show Me St. Louis,' to cover Makeup Trends of the year. Anjuli is a self-taught professional makeup artist who received further training from the Artistry Makeup Academy.
    Anjuli Yera, MD
    Certified Professional Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
    You can try extending your eyebrows closer together towards the midline of the face with a brush. Just draw them in!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/16/what-is-makeup-primer_n_6463190.html
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ1VPAi9iWs
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpTtLT_OLLw
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5a2bRFhZSo
      5. ↑ Anjuli Yera, MD. Certified Professional Makeup Artist. Expert Interview. 29 September 2021.
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZETEjxXS5SE
      7. ↑ Anjuli Yera, MD. Certified Professional Makeup Artist. Expert Interview. 29 September 2021.
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ1VPAi9iWs
      9. ↑ Anjuli Yera, MD. Certified Professional Makeup Artist. Expert Interview. 29 September 2021.
      1. ↑ http://www.hairworldmag.com/hairstyle-ideas-for-wide-set-eyes/
      2. ↑ http://www.hairworldmag.com/hairstyle-ideas-for-wide-set-eyes/
      3. ↑ http://www.hairworldmag.com/hairstyle-ideas-for-wide-set-eyes/
      4. Videos provided by Toria Serviss

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