Try to avoid using so-called “sweet” onions (like, for instance, Vidalia onions), as these generally don’t produce as much irritation and tearing. For best results, use a strong-flavored white or yellow onion. [2] X Research source For a gentler approach, place a few pieces of the onion into a tissue or handkerchief and rub the handkerchief beneath your eyes. The barrier will protect your eye itself from coming into direct contact with the onions, but the irritant should still have an effect as long as the material in the tissue is not too thick. If you’re trying to fake the appearance of crying, for an added effect, try rubbing a little inside the bottom of your nostrils to encourage a runny nose.
Peppermint oil can be found at most high-end grocers, specialty food retailers, and health food stores. However, if you don’t already have any, it may be more cost-effective to use menthol or an onion, as peppermint oil is usually more expensive by volume.
For added effect, try looking at a light while you hold your eyes open. Do not use a very bright light or the sun, however, as this can cause lasting eye damage and even blindness.
In addition, be sure to keep your eyes closed and to avoid touching the eye directly. Doing this can transfer bacteria from your hands (which can pick up millions of bacteria from ordinary daily activities) to your eyeball, potentially leading to a painful infection]]. [5] X Research source
Salt water pools also work well for this purpose. However, some eye health resources claim that saltwater is less irritating than chlorine, so the effect may be lessened. [8] X Research source
However, missing out on sleep repeatedly is something you’ll never want to do, as this can have major consequences for your health, including: reduced cognitive ability, decreased sex drive, depression, and increased risk for serious ailments like stroke and heart disease. [10] X Research source Remember never to drive when you’re severely tired or groggy. Because sleep deprivation dulls your reflexes and impairs your split-second decision-making ability, it can make you a major danger on the road. One Australian study found that people who have been awake for 24 hours have a level of impairment equal to someone with a blood alcohol concentration of . 10 (the legal limit in most countries is generally about . 08).
Just a few more examples of things you might want to think about are: romantic breakups, recent arguments, troubles at work, times when friends or family betrayed you, people that have drifted out of your life, and times when you’ve been very fearful for yourself or someone close to you. It can be especially helpful to try to convince yourself that all the people you know “have their lives together” except for you. Try to evoke feelings of hopefulness and despair — think to yourself, “This is it — I’ll never be successful and happy. " However, be sure not to let yourself wallow in this mindset after you need to fake being sad. The last thing you want to do is to make yourself genuinely depressed.
One critically acclaimed actor, Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame, has revealed in interviews how his most intense inner fears have helped him give a convincing performance of someone in a tortured mindset. Speaking of a scene in which his character witnesses the death of a younger female actor’s character, Cranston said: “My real daughter’s face took her place, so it just hits me . . . She’s just a girl — she could be my daughter. "
Just a few more examples of things you may want to think about are: times when you’ve been “passed over” for an award or promotion, times when your enemies have succeeded over you, times when you’ve been treated unfairly by someone with power over you, and times when you’ve witnessed or experienced social injustices.
Movies: The Notebook, The Green Mile, The Fault In Our Stars, Titanic, Dumbo, Up, Come and See (Russian film) Books: ‘The Kite Runner, The Giver, Wuthering Heights, The Idiot, any of the later Harry Potter installments, any books that the movies above are based on. Songs: Yesterday (Beatles), The Needle and the Damage Done (Neil Young), Brenda’s Got a Baby (Tupac Shakur), Bad Religion (Frank Ocean), virtually any Elliott Smith song.
Apply small dots of red eyeliner around the outline of your eye. You can also use a red eye shadow or red lip liner, but make sure that any lip liner you use is mild enough to use near your eyes before applying it. Place the dots along the entire bottom lid. For an even stronger red effect, you can also apply the dots along the upper lid. Smudge the liner over your skin using a cotton swab or makeup smudge stick. In order to make your eyes look red, you will need to cast a somewhat muted red “shadow” around their lids. None of the original lines or dots should be visible, so continue smudging until you can no longer see the original dots. This will take 2-3 minutes.
Some theatrical supply companies make custom-crafted contact lenses for movies and stage productions, so you may want to shop here if you’re looking for a high-quality product. However, these aren’t likely to come cheap — professional-quality lenses can easily cost over $100.
Note that since the “active ingredient” in a tear stick is menthol, this method works exactly like the menthol suggestion in the section above.
In addition, since your eyeballs are so delicate, touching them directly can sometimes cause physical injuries. Even the smallest scratches can be quite uncomfortable when they’re on your eye, while more serious injuries (like an irritated cornea) can require medical attention.
