How to Enhance & Brighten Eyes in 4 Easy Steps (Really!)

02 Dec 2021

IT Cosmetics explains how to brighten and enhance your eyes

By IT Cosmetics Pro Beauty Team

Sometimes it can feel like the world’s conspiring against your ability to get some decent shut-eye. Maybe you were burning the midnight oil trying to meet an urgent deadline, the baby kept you awake, or you just couldn’t help but tell Netflix that yes, you were still watching.

Whatever the case, we’re happy to share that you can absolutely brighten eyes and fake a full night’s rest. The key is having the right eye makeup and skincare products on hand and knowing exactly how to use them to your advantage. The next time you’re aiming for sparkling eyes that say, “Yep, I got a full eight hours!” (even if you didn’t), just follow these four simple steps.

Step 1: Prep Your Under-Eye Area

Skincare is an often overlooked step when brightening your under eyes, but it’s super important. After cleansing your skin and before applying makeup, gently pat dry and reach for an eye cream. This area of our skin is incredibly delicate and needs special TLC, especially if your mission is to enliven your eyes and nix the look of dark circles.

Our top choice is Confidence in an Eye Cream, a nourishing moisturizer that’s made specifically for your eyes. It’s formulated with IT Cosmetics’ exclusive apricot tint and Drops of Light Technology™, which help visibly color-correct and brighten eyes. The formula also has hydrating, firming, and wrinkle-smoothing benefits via ingredients such as licorice root, peptides, niacinamide, ceramides, and collagen. So not only will you see the results immediately, but when used consistently the look of dark circles and tired eyes will improve over time.

Simply dab the eye cream onto cleansed skin using your ring finger. Alternatively, use the Heavenly Skin 2-in-1 Tap & Smooth Eye Cream Brush #706. This custom-cut makeup brush features Heavenly Skin hair on one end, which is infused with anti-aging collagen, silk, and peptides. The other end features a handcrafted aventurine stone on the other to soothe and cool puffy eyes. Follow up with your favorite face moisturizer.

Step 2: Conceal Dark Circles

Once your eyes have been prepped with a nourishing eye cream, you can move on to under-eye concealer. Simply apply a pinhead-sized dot of Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer, our award-winning* waterproof concealer that delivers ultra-pigmented, long-lasting coverage. One dot is all you need to improve the look of dark circles, eye bags, redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, age spots and discoloration.

Available in 24 shades, it won’t betray you by creasing, cracking, or smudging thanks to IT Cosmetics’ proprietary Expression Proof™ Technology. If you want even more radiance, swap in Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination Anti-Aging Concealer, which contains Drops of Light Technology™ for a lit-from-within glow.

IT Cosmetics BBUE Illumination

Step 3: Define Your Eyes With Light Makeup

Now that the stage is set, it’s time to go back in to define your eyes with a few makeup staples. We recommend a touch of eyeshadow, some complementary eyeliner, and a few swipes of your favorite mascara.

Start by applying Superhero No-Tug Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick in a light to medium shade—such as Silk Armor, Courageous Cream, Passionate Pearl, or Transformative Taupe—which can help further brighten eyes. Lighter shades can also help make your eyes look bigger and more wide awake. Blend the shadow out using your fingertips.

Next, grab either your Superhero No-Tug Retractable Eyeliner or, if you’re craving some color, Superhero No-Tug Sharpenable Gel Eyeliner. Gently apply the eyeliner to your upper lash line, then smudge it out with an angled eyeliner makeup brush. Be careful not to apply too thick of a line, which can actually make your eyes look smaller.

Finally, apply one or two coats of an eye-defining mascara, such as Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara. The formula is clinically tested to give your lashes super volume, super length, and super elastic stretch.

Step 4: Perfect Your Brows

To go above and beyond on your “how to brighten eyes” quest, look no further than your eyebrows! Eyebrows are the frame for your entire face, so when your brows look their most beautiful—your eyes will, too.

Reach for an eyebrow pencil that mimics the look of real hair to instantly fill and define, such as Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil. For flawless, completely customized eyebrows, follow our guide on eyebrow mapping. Top things off with a tinted brow gel that tames and makes brows look fuller at the same time.

Now that you’ve learned how to brighten under eyes, read through some more of our eye makeup tips and guides. Start with our guide on how to apply eyeliner for beginners, then level up your game by learning how to create a subtle, smokey eye.

*#1 concealer formula for IT Cosmetics brand in the US.