The Best Ways to Lighten Your Eye Color From Home

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Brighten your eyes with makeup, contacts, and lifestyle changes

Co-authored by Yuka Arora

Last Updated: December 2, 2024 References

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Enhancing Your Eyes with Color Contacts

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Enhancing Your Eyes with Makeup

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Enhancing Your Eyes with Lifestyle Changes

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Eyes come in a spectrum of beautiful shades of brown, green, and blue. Although your eye color cannot be safely changed, there are several ways that you can enhance your eye color. ^{[1]
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Research source} If you want to know how to make your eyes pop, keep reading.

How to Make Your Eyes Lighter at Home

Wear colored contacts to brighten up your eye color.
Use dark, color-enhancing eye shadow to make your eyes appear brighter.
Stay hydrated and eat well to make your eyes seem brighter naturally.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Enhancing Your Eyes with Color Contacts

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A prescription is required to purchase contact lenses in the United States, even if those contacts are cosmetic rather than corrective. ^{[2]
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Research source}^{[3]
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US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

Go to source} During your appointment, tell your eye doctor about your needs and expectations.
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Choose a contact lens type and color. If your eye doctor approves your request for contact lenses, you will get to choose your lenses. Color contacts come in tinted and opaque varieties that can either enhance or completely change your eye color while you are wearing them. ^{[4]
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- Enhancement tint contact lenses intensify your natural color with a translucent tint. Since they are translucent, they will not completely change your natural eye color. ^{[5]
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- Color tint contact lenses come in a variety of shades and colors including specialty colors like amethyst, violet, and green. They are opaque so they will completely block your natural color with the lens color. ^{[6]
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Use your contact lenses as directed. Follow your eye doctor’s instructions carefully when putting in and taking out your contact lenses.
- Always wash your hands before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. ^{[7]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  
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- Never sleep in your contact lenses. ^{[8]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  
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- Don’t wear your contact lenses while bathing or swimming. ^{[9]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  
  Go to source}
Depending on the type of contact lenses your doctor has prescribed, you may need to disinfect them daily. Improper care of contact lenses can cause eye infections, so it is important to clean your contact lenses as directed by your eye doctor.
If you experience any problems or simply have questions about your contact lenses, talk to your eye doctor. ^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Enhancing Your Eyes with Makeup

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Use eye color enhancing eye shadow. Some makeup companies make special eye color enhancing palettes that can help take the guesswork out of choosing the right eye shadow to enhance your eye color. You can also choose complementary colors to brighten your eye color.
- For blue eyes, try terra cotta, bronze, copper, yellow, or peach. ^{[11]
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- For green eyes, try shades of purple, mauve, or rose. ^{[13]
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- For brown eyes, try bronze, gold, or shimmery earth tones.^{[14]
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Applying under eye concealer will cover up the dark circles under your eyes, which will help you to look more alert. Under eye concealer will also brighten up your eye color and enhance your eye makeup.
Instead of plain black, try wearing navy blue mascara to brighten and lighten your eyes. Blue mascara will brighten the overall look of your eyes by making your eyeballs look whiter.
Apply a coat of nude or white eyeliner to the inner rim of your lower eyelid to instantly brighten your eyes. White eyeliner will provide a dramatic brightening effect, but nude eyeliner will brighten your eyes subtly, without creating too much contrast.^{[16]
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Apply navy or indigo eyeliner to your upper and/or lower eyelids to brighten your eyes. Like black eyeliner, the dark color contrasts with your eyes, but the blue brings out the whites of your eyes and makes them appear lighter. ^{[17]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Enhancing Your Eyes with Lifestyle Changes

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Hydration is important to keeping your eyes looking bright and healthy. Sip water throughout the day to stay hydrated. ^{[18]
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Vitamin C is good for the capillaries and blood vessels in your eyes, so getting enough vitamin C can help prevent red or yellow looking eyes. Take a daily multivitamin or eat foods that contain vitamin C, like citrus fruits.^{[19]
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Fats and sugars are more difficult for your liver to process, which can lead to red or yellow looking eyes. Instead, try to eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. ^{[20]
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Caffeine dehydrates your body, which may cause your eyes to look red or dull. Skip or at least limit your consumption of caffeinated beverages to keep your eyes looking bright. ^{[21]
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Sun, wind, and dust can make your eyes look red. Protect your eyes from the elements to keep them looking bright and healthy. ^{[22]
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Research source} Sunglasses will also help protect the skin around your eyes from the sun, which will help reduce your chances of premature crows feet.
The National sleep foundation recommends that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. ^{[23]
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Research source} Adequate sleep not only helps you get through your day, it also helps your eyes to look brighter.

Community Q&A

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Question

I'm only 12, can I wear colored contacts and would they affect my eyes?

Community Answer

If they are not disinfected properly or are left in overnight you are at higher risk for infection, but otherwise they are are relatively safe.

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Is it true that lemons can lighten your eye color?

Community Answer

No, it's not true, but drinking lemon can make your eyes look healthier. Also make sure to drink at least 2 liters of water a day to keep your body hydrated and keep blood circulated.

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I have done this and I can see a difference but when I eat a bit of junk food it goes really dark again. Why?

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Junk foods are high in carbs, which can have an effect.

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Tips

Eye drops can provide temporary relief for red, dry eyes. Specialty eye drops that make the whites of your eyes brighter are also available. ^{[24]
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If you are trying to bring out your eyes, try wearing a darker foundation around your eyes. It will make the white in your eyes pop!

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Everybody has their own unique, beautiful eye color, but I understand the want to change it. I just recommend choosing non-permanent options, so if later in your life you change your mind, you can go back to the eyes you were born with! Who knows, you might actually love your eyes some day. You are perfect just the way you are.

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Warnings

Color contacts require a prescription even if they are for cosmetic purposes. Never buy color contacts from street vendors, boutiques, Halloween stores, the internet, or any other unlicensed vendor. Only a licensed eye doctor can prescribe and sell contact lenses. ^{[25]
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Eye color change surgery has not been approved by the FDA and is not currently available in the United States. There are serious risks that accompany this surgery, including blindness. ^{[26]
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