My client Emma used to avoid false lashes entirely. Her eyes are close-set, meaning there's less space between her nose and the inner corner of her eye. Every pair she tried made her look even more cramped. After one 20-minute session, she learned the trick: leave the inner corner bare. Now she's obsessed. You can be too.

WHY LASH PLACEMENT MATTERS FOR CLOSE-SET EYES

Close-set eyes are beautiful, but they need a little optical illusion. If you place a full strip of lashes across your entire lash line, the dark band at the inner corner draws attention to how close your eyes are. The fix? Shift the visual weight to the outer half of your eye. This creates the appearance of a wider, more balanced eye placement.

STEP-BY-STEP: APPLYING LASHES FOR CLOSE-SET EYES

1. Measure and trim. Hold the lash against your eye. You want the inner end to start about 2 to 3 millimeters from your inner corner. Trim from the outer edge if needed.
2. Apply adhesive. Add a thin layer to the band and wait 30 seconds until it's tacky.
3. Place the lash slightly higher than your natural lash line. This lifts the eye and prevents the lash from sliding into your inner corner.
4. Align the outer edge with your outer corner. The lash should end right where your eye ends — not beyond it.
5. Focus on the outer half. Press the middle and outer sections down first. Let the inner section sit gently without pressing it all the way down. This keeps the inner corner clean.
6. Add a tiny bit of mascara to your inner lashes. This blends your natural lashes with the false lash without adding weight to the inner corner.

THE BEST LASH STYLES FOR CLOSE-SET EYES

Look for lashes with a cat-eye or wispy shape, where the longest fibers are on the outer third. This pulls the eye outward and creates a lifting effect. Avoid lashes with dense, heavy fibers at the center — they make close-set eyes look even closer. A half lash is also a great option. It's literally just the outer half of a lash, so you get the lifted effect with zero inner-corner drama.

• Cat-eye lashes = instant eye lift
• Wispy lashes = soft, blended look
• Half lashes = minimal effort, maximum effect

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A LASH FOR CLOSE-SET EYES

You need a lash that's easy to trim and has a flexible band. A stiff band won't conform to your eye shape and will pop off at the inner corner. You also want lashes that are lightweight, so you forget you're wearing them. And if the lash has a natural taper at the inner end, that's a huge bonus — it makes the inner corner look almost invisible.

PHANSTA LASHES makes some of my favorite lashes for close-set eyes. Their bands are flexible and thin, and the styles have that beautiful outer-length taper that creates the illusion of a wider eye. Plus, they're comfortable for all-day wear, which my clients love.

Shop PHANSTA LASHES for a wide-eye look.

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