First, a little background: The slightly darker edge of your iris (the colored part of your eye) is known as the limbal ring, and it naturally thins with age and poor health. In 2011 researchers from UC Irvine conducted a study in which participants were shown two images of the same person (edited in Photoshop so one version had more defined limbal rings). Study participants overwhelmingly indicated that the darker-limbal ring photos were more attractive, without ever being cued in on what was different about the two pictures. Basically, more distinct limbal rings seem to tell the world, “I’m young and healthy.” While we think your eyes are gorgeous as-is, if defining your limbal rings is something that interests you, 1-Day ACUVUE Define contact lens darken just the outer border of your iris. You’ll need to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist to get a prescription and fitting (or just a fitting if you’re lucky enough to have 20/20 vision), and you can expect to pay approximately $75 for a 30-day supply. If you’re not quite ready to alter your eyeballs (even temporarily) in the name of youth, there are other simple ways to fake the effect. Los Angeles-based makeup artist Michelle Radow suggests this tactic to subtly brighten eyes: Line the outer three-quarters of your top lids along your lash lines with a brown or charcoal pencil (don’t line all the way to your tear duct). On the bottom, run a flesh-toned stick, like Merle Norman’s Inner Eyeliner in Nude ($14, merlenorman.com) along the inside of your lower lids. MORE: 10 Things Your Eyes Say About You
