If you have a dinner date and want your eyes to "pop" open just follow our 5 easy tips.

1. Prepare your eyes with concealer - To cover dark undereye circles, apply three dots of concealer under each eye. Put the first on the inner corner where the skin tends to be darkest, then one under the pupil and the third on the outer edge. Pat, never rub, with your ring finger (this finger tends to have the softest pad) until it disappears.

2. Apply eye base to your lid - Eye base is the secret to keeping your eye shadow in place for hours.  Use an eye base that matches your foundation and gently pat it into the eye lid using your ring finger

3. Apply shadow - Contrary to popular belief, dark, dramatic eyeshadow will not make your eyes stand out. In fact, it'll do just the opposite. If you have small eyes, keep it simple by using only light-coloured shadows, and never wear more than two shades at once. Brush a subtle base color from lash to brow, and then use a slightly darker shade to create subtle definition in the crease.

4. Follow with eyeliner - Eyeliner is the magic wand for creating the illusion of bigger, more expressive eyes. Line the entire top lash line and extend the line slightly at the corners. You can also line the bottom of your eyes, but concentrate colour only on the outer third and extend it slightly past the edge (but not to the extent that you look like Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra).  A soft, smokey look will open your eyes more than a thin, hard line. Stick to dark, neutral colours with a hint of black for lining.

5. Apply mascara - Lashes can also be a great eye-opener. Curl them three times before applying mascara -- at the base, halfway up and at the tip -- to create a gentle, rounded curl. Fan out your lashes while applying mascara. Brush the inner third in toward your nose, the middle third straight out and the outer third toward your temples. Be careful not to blink until the mascara is dry.