If you need to cry for a role or want to attract attention, the ability to fake tears can be quite useful. Crying can elicit empathy from people and make them believe your words. You can rely on your own emotions or use special techniques to induce tears more quickly. However, remember not to misuse this technique for manipulative purposes!

Tapping into Emotions

Step 1: Recall a Sad Situation.

Step 1

Try to remember a real or imagined sad situation. Reflect on moments when you felt sorrow and attempt to rekindle those feelings. If you’re fortunate enough not to have experienced such events or don’t want to feel upset, create a scenario that makes you sad, or recall a touching scene from a movie that made you cry.

  • Here are some examples: the loss of a beloved pet or a close person, memories of someone you’ve lost, or a painful breakup.
  • If you’re playing a character, think about what your character is going through to find a suitable situation.
  • Focus on the feelings you want to experience rather than the outcome. If you only think about needing to cry, you distract yourself from what truly matters — feeling it in the moment. Concentrate on your body, breathing, and facial expression.[3] X Competent Source Ben WhitehairActing Consultant Specialist Recommendation

Step 2: Open Your Eyes Wide and Keep Them Open.

Step 2

Open your eyes wide and try not to blink. This will create dryness, leading to tear production. Imagine you’re playing a staring game and avoid blinking for as long as possible. If tears don’t come but you feel the urge to blink, hold your eyes open with your fingers.

  • Wave your hands in front of your face to speed up the drying of your eyes and stimulate tear production.
  • Sometimes, slightly narrowing your eyes can cause tears to form at the corners.
  • Be careful not to get anything harmful in your eyes. It’s best to do this indoors, as the risk of dust or insects getting in is lower.

Step 3: Increase Your Breathing Rate.

Step 3

Breathe in a shallow, intermittent manner. When we cry, our breathing becomes erratic or quickened due to emotions. To mimic crying, recreate this effect by taking short, shallow breaths. This will not only add to your believability but will also help your body start producing tears.

  • To calm down, try taking deeper breaths.
  • Avoid hyperventilating, as this can lead to a lack of oxygen in your blood. When you want to induce tears, only take short series of quick breaths.

Step 4: Create a Sad Facial Expression.

Step 4

Form a sad facial expression. Think about what your face looks like when you’re truly crying. Recreate these emotions by trembling your lips and furrowing your brow. Practice in front of a mirror to ensure your expression doesn’t look overly dramatic and seems believable.

  • Rewatch your favorite films with crying characters to see how they look in those moments and try to mimic their facial expressions.[7] X Competent Source Ben WhitehairActing Consultant Specialist Recommendation

Step 5: Combine Different Techniques.

Step 5

Combine various techniques and find what works for you. Try each method in front of a mirror to see if you can induce tears. If you don’t succeed on your first attempt, keep practicing until you achieve the desired result.

Use Special Products to Induce Tears

Step 1: Apply Eye Drops to the Corners of Your Eyes for a Tear Effect.

Step 1

Put moisturizing eye drops in the corners of your eyes to create a tear effect. Purchase any moisturizing drops or artificial tear substitutes from a pharmacy. Apply them either directly in your eyes or on the skin at the inner corners. Use the drops just before you need to showcase tears.

  • Eye drops can quickly run down your cheeks, so use them only as a last resort.

Step 2: Apply Vaseline Under Your Eyes for a Crying Effect.

Step 2

Put a thin layer of Vaseline under your eyes to create the appearance of having just cried. Apply a small amount of Vaseline under your eyes and on the tops of your cheeks. This will give your face a glossy look, as if you’ve been crying for a while.

  • Avoid getting Vaseline in your eyes, as it may cause irritation. If this happens, rinse your eyes with cold water.

Step 3: Use a Menthol Product Under Your Eyes for Real Tears.

Step 3

Apply menthol ointment under your eyes to induce real tears. Use menthol cold ointment or a menthol stick and carefully apply it under your eyes with your finger or a cotton swab. Menthol will cause mild irritation, leading to tear production. Your eyes will also become red and puffy, adding to the authenticity.

  • Menthol ointment is easily available at pharmacies.
  • Be cautious not to get the product in your eyes, as it may cause serious irritation. If this occurs, rinse your eyes with water immediately.

Step 4: Ask Someone to Blow on Your Open Eyes to Induce Natural Tears.

Step 4

Keep your eyes open and ask someone to blow on them to induce natural tears. Don’t close your eyes and have your partner blow on each eye. If you need to blink, keep your eyes open with your fingers.

  • Some online cosmetic stores offer special tear-inducing products (tear blowers) containing menthol to speed up the process.