When you think of models like Atesh Salih, Sean O’Pry, Chico Lachowski, or Jordan Barrett, one thing stands out beyond their fashion sense or bone structure: their eye area.
The eyes are often the first thing people notice. They don’t just show emotions, they can completely change how attractive someone looks. In fact, during the pandemic, when masks covered most of the face, the eyes alone told us if someone looked confident, tired, happy, or beautiful.
So, what exactly makes the eye area attractive? Let’s break it down.
1. Eye Spacing
The distance between the eyes plays a big role in attractiveness. On average, the space between pupils is around 63 mm, but when the eyes are too close or too far apart, the balance of the whole face shifts.
Closer-set eyes → Can create a more intense look (example: Ian Somerhalder).
Wider-set eyes → Can give a unique or striking appearance (example: Anya Taylor-Joy).
The key isn’t “perfect” spacing—it’s how the spacing works with the rest of the face.
2. Canthal Tilt
This is the angle of the eyes, from the inner to the outer corners. It’s one of the strongest signals of youth and attractiveness.
Positive Tilt (outer corner higher) → youthful, alert, striking (common in supermodels).
Neutral Tilt (straight line) → balanced, but less striking.
Negative Tilt (outer corner lower) → can look tired or sad.
3. Eye Color
Eye color alone doesn’t determine attractiveness. Shape, spacing, and tilt matter more. But when paired with a good eye area, light colors (blue, green, hazel) often make the eyes stand out more.
Surveys with tens of thousands of people found:
Green eyes → most attractive (20% voted for them).
Light blue, hazel, and dark blue also rank high.
Still, plenty of attractive models like Chico Lachowski have darker eye colors and look amazing.
4. Eyelashes
Eyelashes frame the eyes and make them pop. Fuller, longer lashes can create the illusion of bigger eyes and are strongly tied to youth and health.
For women → long, thick lashes are a beauty standard (hence mascara, extensions, etc.).
For men → lashes matter too, but if they’re overly long, they can look feminine. A balanced, natural look is most attractive.
5. Eye Bags & Dark Circles
Nothing makes the eyes look more tired than eye bags or dark circles. Both are linked to aging, poor sleep, or health issues.
Eye bags create puffiness and facial asymmetry.
Dark circles make the face look dull and less energetic.
Studies show people with fewer signs of fatigue around the eyes are consistently rated more attractive.
6. Eyebrows
Eyebrows are the “frame” of the eye area. A strong eyebrow shape can completely transform how the eyes are perceived.
For women → arched or shaped brows can enhance femininity.
For men → straighter, thicker brows with slight angles look more masculine.
Even eyebrow tilt matters. Ian Somerhalder, for example, has a positive eyebrow tilt, which enhances his eyes and makes them look more striking.
7. Scleral Show (White of the Eye)
Too much white under the iris (lower scleral show) often makes someone look tired, aged, or stressed. A clear, bright sclera is linked to health and vitality, while yellow or red sclera can make a person look less attractive.
8. Upper Eyelid Exposure
How much of the upper eyelid is visible changes how masculine or feminine the eyes appear:
Minimal exposure → stronger, more masculine (ideal for men).
Partial exposure → balanced, attractive for both men and women.
Full exposure → bigger, more open, often feminine.
This feature is part of what creates the famous “hunter eyes” look, low eyelid exposure, positive canthal tilt, and sharp angles.
The Perfect Example: Atesh Salih
He has:
- Positive canthal tilt
- Downswing medial canthus (sharp corner)
- Blue eyes
- No upper eyelid exposure
- Balanced eye spacing
All of these features combine to create one of the most striking and attractive eye areas in the modeling industry.
The eyes really are the make or break feature of facial attractiveness. From spacing and tilt to brows, lashes, and color, every detail of the eye area changes how the entire face looks.
That’s why so many top models from Alessandro Dellisola to Sean O’Pry, owe much of their appeal to their eyes.