The problem (and blessing) with eyeliner is that it can very easily make your eyes look smaller or bigger. Lots of makeup artists will apply bottom eyeliner, whether it’s to the waterline or underneath the bottom lashes, to create a smokey eye. Whilst this does work to achieve a smokey and sultry look, it does have its downsides.
When applying eyeliner directly underneath the bottom lashes, you run the risk of potentially making your eyes look smaller. This is especially the case if you are wearing eyeliner on the top lid, as too much black will create the illusion of disappearing eyes. This is why lots of people like to wear eyeliner purely on the top lashes, as it alludes to the idea that your eyes are bigger than they are.
Some people will also apply eyeliner to the waterline, but this can absolutely make your eyes look much smaller. However, we recommend using a white eyeliner for this, as this will help to create the illusion of a larger sclera (the white part of your eyes).
If you want to apply eyeliner (or eyeshadow) underneath your eyes, there is a way to do so without making your eyes look smaller.
The same rules apply to the top lid as they do for under the eye. When using dark colors (like black eyeliner or eyeshadow), you should only keep these at the outer corners of your eyes. If you want to apply eyeliner underneath the eye, create a small line just at the outer edge of the eye. Try to avoid connecting the line from the lid to your new line, as this can give a cross-eyed illusion!
For example, if you have a winged eyeliner on your eyelid, make sure the bottom eyeliner doesn’t connect to this. Instead, keep the line tightly near your bottom lashes and only 1-2 centimeters long.
One problem with applying eyeliner to the bottom of your eye is that it can often crease into your natural fine lines. This means that the color of the eyeliner can blend down these lines, which will only enhance them. This can lead to smudging and a whole load of mess to deal with!
It ultimately comes down to your eye shape. Some people may find that bottom eyeliner helps to make their eyes look bigger, while others will experience the opposite. This is why it is important to practice different looks to see what suits you best!