My eyes keep disappearing!

[Souzan]

Help!!!! My eyes disappear when performing. They are back on my face right now, thankfully, but when I smile my eyes turn into slits.

I have a heart shaped face with wide, high cheekbones and deep-set eyes. with heavy lids. When I smile, my cheeks get wider and higher and my eyes become more and more narrow slits.

If I can figure out how to post photos on Bhuz I'll put up a performance pic where it looks like my eyes are nearly shut.

Any ideas on makeup, facial expression, where to look, etc. to make me look less like a grinning, sleepdancing idiot.

Souzan

[Lauren_]

I think that sounds cute, kind of like an anime character giggling!

My eyes are definitely smaller, relative to the rest of my head, as I get older. I don't know if these things will help you, but they help me:

1) No black/superdark liner any more -- it shrinks my eyes. I use bright jeweltones (sapphire, emerald) to line my eyes so the 'pop' more from a distance.

2) Curl lashes mightily & use lengthening mascara. They're actually harder to curl than they were when I was younger (?!?) so I'm experimenting with heated lash curlers (don't worry, they don't get really hot). Long lashes that sweep up from the lashline really enlarge the eyes. (I LOVE navy blue mascara these days, too -- see #1 above)

3) White eyeliner on the inner lower lid & inner corner of the upper lid. I've been experimenting with this, too, and I don't like it for everyday, but I think for stage it'll make my eyes seem MUCH bigger. I also like to sweep it below the outer corner & out/up from there. Creates a little bit of 'cateye' effect but not as harsh looking as dark liner sweeping out like that. Just below where the dark liner is (or would be).

4) Keeping my brows shaped with a nice high arch (but not too thin!) seems to help a lot, too.

[FayrouzFarasha]

tip your head forward\drop your chin to open them without changing your smile

[Lesgemini_Zafirah]

Being of Asian heritage, I have the same situation!!! :)

If you are already good at this, or are willing to practice, I find that false eyelashes help tremendously with opening up the eyes.

Hugs-N-Shimmies, Zafirah

[asimatiyat]

If you are onstage rather than in a restaurant or small party, a small red dot at the inner corner of each eye will make them seem more distinct and visible. Would look weird up close, though.