What Are "Dead Eyes," & Why Do Some People Have Them?

Have you ever heard someone say another person had a “dead eyes look” and wondered what they meant? When a person has “dead eyes,” it means they have a blank or lifeless expression, and while some people may go out of their way to avoid appearing dead-eyed, others may do what they can to achieve the look themselves! This article covers the facial characteristics, causes, and medical or psychological reasons someone might have a “dead eyes look.” We’ll also tell you how to avoid having “dead eyes”...or how to get the look with makeup!

What Is the “Dead Eyes Look”?

If someone has "dead eyes," they have an emotionless stare. Dead eyes may be caused by a number of reasons, like exhaustion, trauma, and psychological conditions. If you like the "dead eye" aesthetic, you can achieve the look with makeup or just by relaxing your face and staring at someone without blinking.

Section 1 of 6:

“Dead Eyes Look” Meaning

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“Dead eyes look” means having a blank, lifeless expression. When someone has a “dead eyes look,” they seem to lack any warmth or emotion, as if they were no longer living. They might stare with unfocused eyes or an overly intense gaze.^{[1]
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Research source} This expression may be unnerving to many people, but others find the “dead eyes look” attractive.
- In many cases, it comes down to the context or situation the person with “dead eyes” is in and the perception of the person looking at them.
- For example, someone might be bored and staring off into space in the direction of a person who thinks they’re staring at them with “dead eyes.”
- When someone says another person is “dead-eyed” it can also mean they’re an expert marksman able to hit something with perfect accuracy, but this is less common.
- The idea that people with “dead eyes” are attractive has recently appeared in TikTok videos featuring “dead eye” tutorials.
- There’s also been a backlash with some users posting videos pointing out that having “dead eyes” can mean they’re experiencing mental health issues.

Section 2 of 6:

“Dead Eyes Look” Facial Characteristics

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This look is characterized by blank eyes and relaxed facial muscles. The main characteristic of the “dead eyes look” is a blank, emotionless stare. This stare is usually combined with slack facial muscles, so there’s no sign of a smile—or any other emotion—around the eyes or mouth.
- To some, a blank stare means a gaze that’s unfocused, like the person is looking through you. Others see it as an intense, unblinking stare.
- Another possible trait of a “dead eyes look” is dilated pupils that make eyes seem black.
- Some people also associate droopy or hooded eyelids and dark undereye circles with a “dead eyes look.”

Section 3 of 6:

Common Medical Causes of Dead Eyes

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Exhaustion, dehydration, or congestion may cause temporary "dead eyes." Exhaustion or fatigue can cause depression and trouble focusing. Both can make your eyes appear tired and lifeless.^{[2]
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American Academy of Opthamologists
Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research

Go to source} Dehydration leads to fatigue and confusion, which may lead to a blank or unfocused expression.^{[3]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Allergies and nasal congestion cause some people to get dark circles called allergic shiners under their eyes. These dark circles make them look tired and sunken in.^{[4]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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Age and bone structure can contribute to a “dead eyes look.” As you age, your eyelid muscle (also called the levator muscle) stretches and weakens. This causes your upper eyelid to droop, which makes you look sleepy and less alert.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Opthamologists
Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research

Go to source} Getting older may also cause your eye muscles to get weaker and cause changes in the bone around your eye, which leads to having sunken eyes with dark circles.
- Lower fat levels—also caused by aging—in the space around the eye can make it look sunken.
- The natural shape of your eye socket can also make your eyes appear sunken and tired.
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Emotional trauma or pain may cause a “dead eyes look.” Depression is one of the most common psychological issues associated with empty, lifeless eyes. People often disconnect when they have strong emotions or experience traumatic events. When a person feels depressed or disconnected, it can show up in their facial expressions.^{[6]
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- There’s also some thought that traumatic experiences can cause someone to use a vacant stare to hide their emotions and seem less vulnerable, which might help them protect themselves from more emotional pain.
Certain hallucinatory and dissociative substances could cause the user to adopt a blank or dead-eyed expression. Additionally, these drugs could make the user act "spaced out," distant, and tired.^{[7]
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Some believe the eye patterns of people with autism lack expression. People on the autism spectrum may avoid eye contact or have an intense gaze that some might interpret as a blank expression. Some people with autism spectrum disorder find eye contact overwhelming. Avoiding it makes them feel more comfortable interacting with another person.^{[8]
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- When you’re talking with an autistic individual, try to respect their boundaries with eye contact.
- Try to remember that autistic individuals who have different gaze patterns aren’t being rude.
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Some claim psychopaths have dead eyes, but this isn't necessarily true. In movies and television, psychopaths are usually depicted as having an intense, predatory stare. It’s not clear whether the “psychopathic stare” is a real symptom of psychopathy. Some research has found that inmates with psychopathic traits spent less time looking at other people’s eyes.^{[9]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics

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- Some people with psychopathic traits use a cold stare to intimidate people, but others don’t stare at all.^{[10]
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Get the “Dead Eyes Look”

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Relax your face and stare at someone without blinking. If you want to give someone a “dead eye” stare, look directly at them but focus on their chin or forehead instead of on their eyes. Completely relax your face, especially the muscles around your eyebrows and mouth.
- Tilt your chin down and narrow your eyes slightly.
- Hold this look for at least 5 seconds.
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Use makeup to create dark circles around your eyes. Start by applying an eyeshadow primer or very light layer of concealer under your eyes. Add a mauve, pinkish-brown, or reddish matte lipstick under your eyes in an upside-down triangle. Then, blend it out with your fingertip.^{[11]
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- If you use lipstick, set it with a light dusting of an eyeshadow in a similar color.^{[12]
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- Add more layers or use darker shades for a more dramatic look.
- Apply a neutral matte eyeshadow all over your upper lid. Or, for a stronger effect, apply a mauve eyeshadow and blend it past the crease of your eye.
- Use a brown pencil eyeliner to lightly line your upper lid. Then, smudge it with your fingertip.

Section 5 of 6:

How to Avoid the “Dead Eyes Look”

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Blink, smile, and show your emotions on your face more. The easiest way to avoid looking like you have dead eyes is to have an animated face. Blink regularly and use your smile muscles to create a pleasant expression even when you aren’t smiling.
- Just tense your cheek muscles slightly like you’re about to smile.
- Crinkle the corners of your eyes or lift your eyebrows playfully when you meet someone’s eye.
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Avoid a “dead eyes look” in photos with good lighting. If you feel like you always have a “dead eyes look” in photos, add catch lights to brighten up your expression and make your eyes sparkle. To create catch lights, use a flash, lamp, or a natural light source when you take the photo.^{[13]
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- A catch light is a spot of light that reflects off your eyes in a photo.^{[14]
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- When you’re inside, position yourself near a light source, like a window during daylight hours or a lamp at night.
- Make sure there’s nothing between you and the light.
- You don’t have to look directly into the light, just make sure it’s reflecting on your eyes.
- The closer you are to the light, the larger the catch light will be.
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Drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep. Because dehydration and lack of sleep are common causes of dark circles and a listless expression, make sure you stay hydrated and get enough sleep. Shoot for about 15.5 cups (3.7 L) of fluids for men and 11.5 cups (2.7 L) for women.^{[15]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night on average.^{[16]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Applying a cold compress or moisturizing your undereye area can also help reduce the appearance of dark circles.^{[17]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- Don’t forget to treat nasal congestion from colds and allergies to help prevent sunken eyes and dark circles.
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Try cosmetic procedures for heavy eyelids and hollows under your eyes. For droopy or hooded eyes caused by genetics or aging, consider a blepharoplasty, or surgery that removes excess skin from your eyelids.^{[18]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} If you have hollows under your eyes, a dermal filler can help fill it in for a more alert look.^{[19]
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- Microneedling is when a healthcare provider uses thin needles to lightly damage the top layer of skin to help stimulate the healing process. Some feel it may help with undereye bags and dark circles.^{[20]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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Section 6 of 6:

Alternate Terms for “Dead Eyes”

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There are a few terms that mean the same thing as “dead eyes look.” Using “dead eyes” to describe a blank, emotionless expression has been around at least since the mid-1960s^{[21]
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Research source} But it’s not the only word to describe this type of lifeless expression.
- Shark eyes: This term references how a shark’s eyes appear black, lifeless…and terrifying.
- Kubrick stare: This refers to the creepy look commonly seen in the films of director Stanley Kubrick. It involves titling your head down and looking up from below your eyebrows.^{[22]
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- Death stare: A fixed stare that communicates extreme displeasure that’s even scarier because the person appears calm.