If you have spent years trying to conceal every under-eye shadow, aegyo-sal makeup can look puzzling at first. Why would anyone draw a new shadow there on purpose?

Look closely, and you will see that the line is not meant to imitate dark circles. It sits just below the small, rounded area directly under the lower lashes. A soft highlight above the line and a faint shadow below it make that area appear fuller. The effect can be subtle enough to look like part of your natural expression—or bright and sparkly enough to become the focus of your makeup.

What Is Aegyo-Sal?

Aegyo-sal is the slight fullness that can appear immediately beneath the lower lashes, especially when you smile. In makeup, the goal is to bring attention to that shape. It is different from trying to emphasize a larger under-eye bag or the hollow area farther down the face.

The technique works much like contouring on a smaller scale. Light draws attention to the rounded area; shadow gives it an edge. That is why an aegyo-sal look may use both a bright shade and a softer shading color. You are not drawing an entirely new feature; you are using color to change how light and depth appear around your eyes.

How Do You Find the Right Place?

Smile gently in a mirror. Notice the narrow area that rises right below your lower lashes? That is the shape to follow. When you relax your face, you may still see a faint line beneath it.

Start with a light matte shade or a restrained shimmer on the rounded area. Peach, beige, or soft pink can work, depending on your skin tone and the rest of your makeup. Keep the color close to the lashes rather than spreading it across the whole under-eye.

Next, use a muted shade to trace just beneath that fullness. Think of a short, soft line, not a dark stripe from corner to corner. Blend its edges with a small brush or fingertip. Step back from the mirror: if the line is the first thing you notice, soften it a little more.

You can stop there. For a more playful look, add a touch of fine shimmer near the center of the highlighted area. The placement creates dimension; glitter is optional.

Why Can It Look Like a Dark Circle?

Placement makes the difference. A line drawn too far below the lashes can land in the area where you would usually see under-eye hollows. A shade that is too dark or left unblended can also read as discoloration rather than gentle contour.

Try making the shadow lighter and shorter than you think it needs to be. A color only slightly deeper than your skin tone often gives you more control than a dark brown liner. You can practice with eye makeup you already own before deciding whether you want a dedicated pencil.

What Can You Use for Aegyo-Sal Makeup?

The NAMING. Perfectail Eye Designing Pencil Dual Liner on Trendy Picker offers different options for this look. According to its product page, Peony Pink and Baby Peach pair a light matte tip with a glitter tip for brightening the under-eye area. Ombre Nudy is an option for drawing a delicate aegyo-sal shadow. Check the selected shade before adding it to your cart, since the options have different uses.

If you want more sparkle, too cool for school Art Class Eye Glitz is a glitter pen that can be applied to the aegyo-sal area. Add a small amount to the center of the highlighted area to catch the light. It adds shine; it does not replace the soft shading line that creates the contour.

You do not need to use every finish at once. For a quiet daytime look, a soft highlight and barely visible shadow may be enough. For a photo or an evening out, you might add shimmer. Either way, keep the makeup close to the natural shape you found when you smiled.

At first glance, drawing a shadow under your eyes seems to break a familiar makeup rule. Once you see the highlight and shadow working together, aegyo-sal makeup becomes a lesson in how much a few carefully placed millimeters can change a look.