How to Enhance and Lift Downturned Eyes

Downturned eyes have a gentle, romantic appeal with their soft downward slope at the outer corners. While some may see this as a challenge, downturned eyes can be incredibly beautiful and alluring with the right enhancement techniques. The key is learning how to lift and brighten your natural eye shape.

Understanding Downturned Eyes

Downturned eyes are characterized by the outer corners sitting lower than the inner corners, creating a gentle downward slope. This eye shape often gives a soft, dreamy appearance and can convey warmth and approachability. Many people with downturned eyes have naturally full lids and defined creases.

The Art of Lifting: Key Principles

To enhance downturned eyes, we focus on techniques that create the illusion of lift and openness:

• Upward direction: All makeup application should flow upward
• Light colors up high: Use lighter shades on the upper lid and brow bone
• Strategic highlighting: Place highlights where you want to draw attention upward
• Avoid dragging down: Skip techniques that emphasize the downward slope

Eyeshadow Techniques for Lifting

The Lifting Gradient Method

1. Prime the lids: Always start with eyeshadow primer
2. Light base shade: Apply a neutral, light shade across the entire lid
3. Transition shade placement: Apply a medium shade in the crease, blending upward and outward
4. Outer corner strategy: Use lighter colors on the outer corner instead of darker ones
5. Inner corner highlight: Apply bright, light shade to inner corners
6. Brow bone highlight: Use a shimmery light shade under the brow

Color Placement Strategy

• Focus on the upper portion: Concentrate color and drama on the upper third of your lid
• Blend upward: Always blend eyeshadow in an upward motion
• Extend outward and up: Bring eyeshadow beyond your natural eye shape in an upward direction
• Avoid heavy lower lash line: Keep lower lash line makeup minimal and light

Eyeliner Techniques That Lift

The Uplifting Wing

The most important technique for downturned eyes:

1. Start with tightlining: Fill in between upper lashes for definition
2. Create the lifting line: Draw a line that lifts upward from the outer corner
3. Connect to upper lid: Link your wing back to your upper lash line
4. Thicken gradually: Make the line thicker as it approaches the outer corner
5. Extend upward: The wing should point up toward the end of your eyebrow

Lower Lash Line Strategy

• Light waterline liner: Use nude or white liner on the waterline to open up the eyes
• Minimal lower liner: If using liner on lower lash line, keep it very thin and light
• Focus on outer third only: Only line the outer third of the lower lash line if at all
• Smudge upward: If you do use lower liner, smudge it slightly upward

Mascara and Lash Techniques

Strategic Application

• Curl first: Always curl lashes before applying mascara
• Focus on outer lashes: Apply extra coats to outer corner lashes
• Brush upward: Use upward strokes when applying mascara
• Lower lash approach: Use minimal mascara on lower lashes, focusing on length rather than volume

False Lash Options

• Cat-eye style lashes: Longer lashes on the outer corners
• Individual lashes: Add a few long individual lashes to outer corners
• Half lashes: Use half strips on the outer portion of the eye
• Curled styles: Choose lashes with a natural curl that lifts upward

Eyebrow Shaping for Downturned Eyes

Your eyebrows can significantly impact how lifted your eyes appear:

Ideal Eyebrow Shape

• High arch: Create a defined peak to lift the eye area
• Extended tail: Let the tail extend slightly beyond the outer corner of your eye
• Clean under-brow: Keep the area under your brow well-groomed and highlighted
• Upward direction: Brush brow hairs upward for a lifting effect

Highlighting Strategy

• Under-brow highlight: Use concealer or highlighter under the entire brow
• Arch emphasis: Add extra highlight at the arch point
• Inner corner connection: Connect your inner corner highlight to your brow highlight

Best Eyewear for Downturned Eyes

Frame Styles That Lift

• Cat-eye frames: The upswept shape naturally lifts your eye line
• Upswept rectangular frames: Frames with a slight upward angle
• Frames with decorative upper details: Elements that draw attention upward
• Clear or light-colored lower rims: Minimize attention on the lower portion

Features to Look For

• Higher lens placement: Frames where your eyes sit in the lower third of the lens
• Upward angles: Any design elements that point upward
• Proportional size: Frames that don't overwhelm your eye area
• Light colors on bottom: Avoid dark, heavy bottom frames

Colors That Enhance Downturned Eyes

Best Eyeshadow Colors

• Light neutrals: Champagne, vanilla, soft peach for lifting
• Warm tones: Warm browns and soft golds for definition
• Soft pastels: Light pinks and lavenders for a youthful lift
• Metallics: Shimmery shades for special occasions

Colors to Use Carefully

• Dark colors on outer corners: Can emphasize the downward slope
• Heavy black liner: Can drag down the eyes if applied incorrectly
• Cool, harsh tones: Can make eyes appear more droopy

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Following your natural eye shape: Don't trace your natural downward line with liner
• Heavy lower lash makeup: Avoid thick lower liner or heavy lower lash mascara
• Dark outer corners: Don't place the darkest shadows on the outer corners
• Rounded eyebrows: Avoid overly rounded brow shapes that don't lift
• Ignoring the waterline: A dark waterline can make eyes appear smaller and more downturned

Step-by-Step Daily Routine

1. Apply eyeshadow primer
2. Use light, neutral shade across lid
3. Apply transition shade in crease, blending upward
4. Highlight inner corners and brow bone
5. Line upper lash line with upward-flicking wing
6. Apply nude liner to waterline
7. Curl lashes and apply mascara with upward strokes
8. Groom and highlight eyebrows

Professional Tips for Special Occasions

• Evening drama: Use the lifting techniques with more intensity and shimmer
• Photography: Slightly overdo the lifting effect as cameras can flatten features
• Longevity: Use waterproof formulas and setting spray for all-day wear
• Balance: Keep other makeup elements balanced so eyes remain the focus