There is no problem with the face - that is the first thing to say. But makeup can change perception, and with eyes that sit closer together, a few small strokes create the impression of a more open and brighter gaze. The features do not change; the visual centre of gravity is simply shifted outwards.

The first step is preparation. Concealer on the lid and in the inner corner of the eye evens out the tone and adds brightness. This base is what opens up the eyes before you have even picked up a pencil.

The second step is the eyebrows. They are shaped naturally, but with a conscious avoidance of the line towards the inner corner, and the tail is slightly extended to lead the gaze outwards. The eyebrows are the frame of the eye - if they lead towards the centre, the whole face looks pinched.

The third step is the shadow, and here is the key. Light, satin shades go on the inner third of the lid, and the medium and dark tones are reserved for the outer part, blended towards the temple. Light attracts, dark pulls back - so you put the light where you want space, the dark where you want depth.

The fourth step is the eyeliner. It does not start from the inner corner, but from the middle of the lid, and the thickness grows towards the outer corner with a small upward flick. The fifth and final step is mascara, applied especially to the outer lashes, top and bottom.

None of this requires an expensive product or a visit to a professional. Only the understanding that makeup is a game with light, not a mask. And one piece of advice that holds for a lot in life, not just for the eyes - small changes, made in the right place, change more than dramatic ones.