How to Get Pretty Eyes Without Wearing Makeup

Co-authored by Shipra Taneja

Last Updated: September 20, 2021 References

There are many ways to help your eyes look the best they can without any makeup at all. From sleeping enough to staying away from smoking and alcohol, many of these suggestions are helpful for being healthier and having nicer skin overall. Keep in mind that most of our eyes look the way they do because of a combination of environment and genetics, so there are a limited number of ways to make your eyes look different -- these are ways to get your eyes looking the best they can.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting Rid of Bags Under Your Eyes

1
Get enough sleep. One of the main reasons people have dark circles under their eyes is lack of sleep. Make sure that you get eight uninterrupted hours. Keep your bedroom dark so that it’s easy to fall asleep and stay asleep.^{[1]
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2
Use moisturizer under your eyes. This helps to keep the skin soft. You might want to try a specific under-eye moisturizer that is specially formulated for that sensitive skin beneath your eyes. Some contain caffeine, others contain collagen -- both ingredients can help reduce the bags under your eyes. Moisturizers are the surest way to hydrate your skin -- drinking more water has been proven not to be effective at getting more moisture to your skin.^{[2]
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- Simply taking care of the delicate under-eye skin will definitely give you a brighter and more youthful appearance.Try cooling your eye cream beforehand for an added effect on your self-care routine.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Shipra Taneja
  Makeup Artist
  Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.}
- Try also using an ice roller around your eyes.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Shipra Taneja
  Makeup Artist
  Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.}
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3
Try an eye mask. Cooling eye masks can help shrink those under-eye bags. Figure out what works best for you. There are a number of choices that you can do at home, including
- Cucumber slices cut in thin slices and placed on your eyelids
- Tea bags from caffeinated tea cooled and drained, then placed on your eyelids
- Chilled metal spoons, taken from 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator and then placed on your eyelids^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Keeping Your Eyes Pretty

1
Maintain your eyebrows. Whether you prefer plucking or waxing, a good eyebrow shape can help make the most of your eyes.^{[6]
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2
Use an eyelash curler. Along with your eyebrows, getting beautiful eyelashes can highlight your eyes without makeup. A curler will keep your eyelashes looking their best and most uniform.^{[8]
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3
Keep time at the computer to a minimum. Most of us need the computer for work, but most of us also spend too much time watching tv or surfing the internet. Too much computer time can put a strain on your eyes.^{[9]
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4
Use a humidifier. Eyes get red and itchy if they don’t get enough moisture. If yours tend to get bloodshot, a humidifier can help make your environment more moist and help prevent dry eyes. This is also particularly good for environments that are highly air-conditioned -- air conditioning makes the air very dry.
5
Use eyewash or natural eye drops. If you find your eyes getting dry, check out the products at your local pharmacy. Steer clear of those similar to Visine or others that contain naphazoline or tetrahydrozoline. They work well for a while, but after that can actually make your dry eyes worse.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Skin

1
Wash your face. Use gentle cleanser twice a day. Keeping your skin clean helps reduce the impurities and gets rid of the oil and grime that naturally get on our skin.
2
Avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol can dry out your skin. The area around your eyes is particularly full of water, so alcohol has an outsize effect on it.^{[10]
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3
Stay hydrated. Even though it won’t necessarily show in increased hydration of your skin, it helps your overall health. It can also help you recover from dry environments and exposure to smoke or other irritants.^{[11]
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4
Don’t smoke. Smoking, like alcohol, dries out your skin. The constant smoke in your face also means that you’re going be crinkling up your eyes more to avoid the smoke, creating more wrinkles around your eyes. Smoke is also bad for your eyes themselves, and can cause irritation.^{[12]
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5
Use sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun is one of the most important steps you can take for skin health. The sun dries, wrinkles, and can cause permanent damage to your skin, particularly the sensitive areas on your face.^{[13]
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6
Wear sunglasses. Your eyes need to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun just as much as your skin does. Squinting as you look into the sunlight can also cause wrinkles in your skin. Choose ones with UV protection.^{[14]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Community Q&A

Question

I have dark circles under my eyes even though I sleep enough. I've tried creams and cleansers but they don't work - what can I do?

Community Answer

Try putting ice under your eye bags every day for 3 minutes, it'll sting, but it works.