So, you’re trying to make your eyes look bigger and brighter with makeup — yet, you’ve somehow managed to make them look tired and teeny tiny. Not on purpose, of course. You just went a little crazy with the eyeliner or dark, smoldering shadow and stepped back too late to look at the final result.

Not what you were going for? You thought eyeliner was supposed to make your eyes pop and look beautifully doe-eyed, but does eyeliner make your eyes look smaller? These seven makeup mistakes will put things in perspective and have you better prepared for your next application!

RELATED: How to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

1. Lining Your Waterline with Black Eyeliner

So, does eyeliner make eyes look smaller? Yes, and no. Rimming your eyes in inky black does! We get it — black makes your eyes look piercing! But, on the other hand, it’s going to make them look squinty — especially if your eyes are already on the smaller side. Instead, make those peepers look wide-awake with a white or nude-colored liner like the NYX Wonder Pencil.

A light color opens them up, making them look rounder and larger. If you do want to use black, don’t line the inner rims of your eyes. Draw a light line above the lashes, working the product into the lash line.

RELATED: How To: White Eyeliner

2. Wearing too Many False Lashes

This almost seems impossible, right? But if you’re a faux lash queen, going overboard with the extensions or stacking strips can make your lids appear heavy. It can also just look plain silly if it’s overdone!

If stepping out without falsies is not an option (guilty!), opt in for a natural, wispy set for that bright-eyed, baby doll look — without the weight! You can even use single eyelashes for a customized look.

3. Not Using Mascara if Your Lashes Are Sparse

Hey! We weren’t all blessed with naturally lush lashes, ya know? If yours are a little on the short or sparse side (or both!), your makeup mistake is not coating those bad boys in lengthening mascara. Because if we could only pick one beauty staple (other than lipstick) it would definitely be mascara, are we right? A couple coats of this magical stuff and your peepers will instantly look much, much bigger!

4. Not Curling Your Eyelashes

So, you might never forget to apply mascara, but did you curl your lashes first? If not, you’re missing out — on statement eyes! You need to prep your eyelashes with a good curl before every mascara application. This really opens up the eyes. Check out the before-and-after in this lash-curling tutorial and see for yourself.   

5. Applying the Wrong Smoky Eye for Your Eye Shape

Landing the perfect smoky eye takes much skill, practice and an endless amount of patience. Now, perfecting one that’s specific to your eye shape — that’s a whole other level of expertise!

For some eye shapes (like hooded or deep set), applying dark shadow all over can actually accentuate your top lid and make it look sunken or heavy. Not the best look. The right smoky eye should make your eyes look big, bold and dramatic! Need help? Here’s how to master the perfect smoky eye for your eye shape.

6. Applying the Wrong Eyeliner Look for Your Eye Shape

On that note, the way you apply your eyeliner is just as important for your eye shape as a smoky eye. Too thick, and your eyes can look smaller. Wing out too long, and they can look smaller. Line all around your eye, and they can look smaller.

You get the gist. You want your eyeliner to lift and open up the eyes. Get it right with this eyeliner tutorial for your eye shape.

RELATED: How To Apply a Cat Eye For Your Eye Shape

7. Not Wearing Concealer with Dark Circles or Lids

Don’t you just love how serious lack of sleep (or whatever!) can take attention away from our beautiful eyes and shift the focus onto our dark under eye circles and eyelids instead?! (Sense the sarcasm?)

Darkness around your eyes detracts (and distracts!) from the size of your eyes. Luckily, the solution is a simple one. An illuminating concealer like Giorgio Armani Master Corrector will instantly brighten up your eye area and fade dark circles for a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed look! It will lift your whole face up and open up the eye area.

Now that you know what NOT to do, we’ve got some fab makeup tips and tutorials to have you looking like your best self! Photo: iStock