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Wide Set Eyes: Your Complete Style Guide

A creative collage featuring close-up shots of various eye designs, blending human and animal elements, including a tiger and fantasy-inspired imagery.

"She has the eyes of a tiger" — how many people do you know who've earned such an intriguing compliment? Wide-set eyes are nature's rare masterpiece, a feature so distinctive that it transforms ordinary faces into extraordinary works of art. In a world where beauty standards often feel standardized, wide-set eyes always stand out, evoking comparisons to ethereal beings, porcelain dolls and majestic big cats alike.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to celebrate and enhance this remarkable characteristic, keeping in mind that it's not a feature to minimize, but rather a unique signature to embrace.

Identifying Wide-Set Eyes

A glamorous woman with voluminous curly hair and sparkling makeup, holding a shiny lipstick in a dimly lit setting, emphasizing bold eye makeup and glowing skin.

Gemma Ward. Instagram/@gemma

Wide-set eyes are characterized by having more space between them than the width of one eye. To determine if you have wide-set eyes, try this simple test: imagine drawing an invisible eye between your existing eyes — if there appears to be enough space to fit one eye and there's some extra room left, your eyes are considered wide-set.

Key characteristics of wide-set eyes include:

  • A distance between the eyes that exceeds the width of one eye
  • A broader nose bridge area
  • A naturally expansive forehead appearance
  • A tendency for the outer corners of the eyes to appear more prominent

Iconic Beauties With Wide-Set Eyes

Many celebrated beauties throughout history and in contemporary culture showcase the striking appeal of wide-set eyes. These women have not only embraced this feature but have made it their signature:

A natural portrait of a woman with straight blonde hair, wearing a soft peach sweater, with a relaxed pose against a minimal white background, showcasing understated beauty.

Anya Taylor-Joy. Instagram/@anyataylorjoy

A sophisticated blonde woman with sleek hair, wearing a pearl-embellished necklace and white outfit, leaning on a car door in a chic outdoor setting.

Halle Bailey. Instagram/@hallebailey

A confident woman with natural curls and glowing skin, wearing delicate layered necklaces and a strapless white top, posing in a modern indoor environment.

Arizona Muse. Instagram/@arizona_muse

A close-up portrait of a woman with minimal makeup, wearing a teal sleeveless top, standing against a backdrop of framed artwork in a well-lit room.

Georgia Palmer. Instagram/@georgiapalmer

A striking model with short textured hair, wearing bold silver statement jewelry and a denim top, standing against a clean white background.

Natalia Vodianova. Instagram/@natasupernova

And let's not forget about men:

A poised woman in a black turtleneck with subtle makeup and a delicate heart-shaped necklace, seated elegantly in a luxurious indoor setting.

Vincent Cassel. Instagram/@vincentcassel

A rugged portrait of a mature man with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a dark suit, with a blurred backdrop of glowing lights, exuding a mysterious charm.

Ryan Phillippe. Instagram/@ryanphillippe%%

Makeup Artistry For Wide-Set Eyes

Before we dive in, please keep in mind that you don't have to create visual balance unless this is what you want. You've been blessed with such a striking feature, so if you want to enhance it instead of balancing, feel free to do that! The recommendations down below would work for creating the illusion of closer eye placement, however any rules are made to be broken. Remember theatrical, exaggerated, doll-like makeup of Anya Taylor-Joy: it breaks all the rules making the eyes even more wide-set, however that kind of makeup became Anya's signature.

A vintage-style black-and-white close-up portrait of a young man with short hair, wearing a textured blazer, showcasing timeless classic features.

Instagram/@anyataylorjoy

Now, let's talk about essential makeup techniques that allow to create more balanced face proportions while celebrating your unique beauty:

  • Extend eyeliner slightly more toward the inner corners than the outer edges ("fox eyes" effect). Try not to get blown away with elongated wings in your outer corner
A whimsical editorial portrait of a woman in a pink tulle gown, adorned with a black bow, set against a luxurious pastel setting for a high-fashion look.

Kate Moss for Charlotte Tilbury's campaign. Instagram/@katemossagency

  • Position false lashes so they're slightly denser at the inner corners
  • Use darker shades on the inner corners to create depth. Smokey eye would work great, too
A portrait of a blonde woman with sleek, straight hair, showcasing elegant floral earrings and a gold necklace, posed against a soft gray background.

Instagram/@anyataylorjoy

  • Apply highlighter strategically along the inner bridge of the nose
  • Use nude eyeliner along the lower waterline to brighten the inner eye area
A vintage Vogue Korea magazine cover featuring a woman in a tailored blue blazer with a black scarf, exuding a chic and timeless fashion aesthetic.

Obviously, this eye makeup was exaggerated to create more drama, but notice how wide-open and bright Gemma Ward's eyes appear with white eyeliner on the lower waterline. Instagram/@gemma

One of the most crucial mistakes to avoid is over-plucking or drawing your eyebrows too far apart. While it might seem logical to match your eyebrow spacing to your eye placement, creating too much distance between your brows can exaggerate the width between your eyes. Instead, try to maintain your natural eyebrow spacing.

A young woman crouched in a stylish black halter dress with red detailing, accessorized with a small black bag and silver heels, set against a minimalist wall.

Over-plucked eyebrows can be a challenge for any face, so try to keep your brows natural. Instagram/@hallebailey

Selecting The Perfect Eyewear

The right eyewear can complement wide-set eyes beautifully while maintaining facial harmony. Consider these guidelines when choosing your next pair of frames:

Optimal Frame Styles

  • Narrower frames that don't extend too far past the outer corners of your eyes
A man in a winter jacket and beanie, wearing sunglasses, standing outdoors in a snowy urban setting, exuding a rugged and stylish vibe.

Instagram/@ryanphillippe

  • Frames with decorative elements or thickness at the nose bridge
  • Cat-eye shapes that draw attention inward
  • Rectangular frames that help create the illusion of closer-set eyes
A woman wearing oversized tortoiseshell glasses and a high-neck cream coat, looking confidently into the camera against a light gray background.

Instagram/@gemma

Try to avoid extremely wide frames that emphasize eye spacing or rimless glasses that don't provide enough structure.

Embracing Your Unique Beauty

A close-up portrait of a blonde woman draped in a vibrant embroidered fabric, highlighting colorful floral patterns and delicate gold jewelry.

Instagram/@anyataylorjoy

Wide-set eyes create a distinctive and often enviable appearance that sets you apart. While these styling techniques can help you enhance your features, remember that this characteristic has been celebrated throughout history and continues to be admired in the fashion and beauty industries. Your wide-set eyes contribute to your unique beauty signature, offering versatility in makeup application and style choices that others might not have.

Whether you choose to emphasize this feature or create subtle balance through makeup and eyewear, your wide-set eyes are an asset that adds character and intrigue to your appearance. Embrace them as part of your individual beauty story, and use these techniques as tools to express your personal style rather than strict rules to follow.

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