Tightline Eyes

Tightlining, also called invisible eyeliner, is a technique in which you line your upper waterline to subtly define and thicken the appearance of your eyelashes. While this technique might seem complicated because you’re lining your upper waterline, it’s actually quite easy and produces a slight yet noticeable enhancement.

Steps

Readying Your Eyes For Tightlining

1. Wash your hands. Whenever you are going to be touching your face (especially around your eyes), wash your hands. Your hands can transfer dirt and oils to your skin, and your eyes are extremely susceptible to infection and irritation.
2. Pick your eyeliner. Since tightlining requires applying eyeliner closer to your eyeball, make sure that your chosen eyeliner is waterproof. Tightlining is easiest with a pencil eyeliner, but you can use a cream or gel eyeliner. The eyeliner can be any color, but for a “natural” look, try to use an eyeliner that matches your eyelash color (brown, light brown, or black).
   • Avoid using liquid liner for tightlining. The liquid liner will not dry quickly and can leak onto your actual eyeball, causing pain and irritation.
   • If you choose to use a pencil liner, consider using a plastic twist up liner rather than a wooden pencil liner. The wooden edges of the liner can irritate your eyes.
   • If you choose to use a gel or cream liner that doesn’t come in a pencil style, apply with an angled or flat edged brush. This will help you apply the liner accurately.
3. Sharpen-an-Eyeliner-Pencil. Your waterline is more vulnerable to infection than the rest of your eyelid. To remove bacteria that can collect on makeup implements, sharpen your eyeliner pencil each time before tightlining. A sharp pencil is also easier to use for this precise task.
   • Do not borrow someone else's eyeliner.
4. Hold your upper eyelid in place. Raise your chin to tilt your head back a little bit and look up. While your eyelashes are grazing your brow bone, use a cue tip or the end of a dry makeup brush to press your lashes upward and hold them in place on your brow bone. Now you can look down while keeping your upper waterline exposed.
   • If you're having trouble exposing your waterline, gently increase the upward pull on your lashes until your eyelid is stretched taut.
   • You may use your finger instead, but the heavier pressure may cause creases and make even application more difficult.

Applying The Eyeliner

1. Line your upper waterline. Start by placing your eyeliner vertically on the outer corner of your waterline. Your waterlines are the moist rims near the base of your eyelashes, which come in contact with each other when you blink. Trace your upper waterline back and forth with your eyeliner. Do this two or three times, depending on how deep you want the color to be. Repeat on your other eye.
   • Don’t trace your eyeliner all the way into the inner corner of your eye. This will make your tightlining look unnatural. Stop when your get to the area where your tear duct starts, or where your lashes start to thin out.
   • If you plan to only tightline your upper lid (which makes your eyes look bigger), take care not to blink while applying. If you blink before the eyeliner dries, you'll transfer a little eyeliner to the lower lid and lose the effect. Using eye drops before you begin may help.
2. Fill in space between lashes. You may use the same eyeliner for this, or an eye shadow of a similar color. If using eyeliner, gently stipple and dot the spaces between your lashes. If using eye shadow, push it up into the base of your lashes.
   • If you use eye shadow to fill in the spaces between your lashes, make sure to use an angled edged brush. This will help add pigment with precision.
3. Emphasize your lower lashes (optional). If you would like a little more pop to your look, gently run your eyeliner near the base of your lower eyelashes. Most people apply this just below the lower waterline, not directly on it. Be aware that dark eyeliner on your lower lids can make your eyes look smaller.
   • Try not to make this lining too thick or too dark, because it will detract from your natural makeup look. Do this on both of your eyes.
4. Curl your eyelashes (optional). If you like, use an eyelash curler to curl your lashes. Open up the curler, fit your lashes in the curler’s open space, and gently close the curler shut. Make sure the rubber strip of the curler is right at the base of your eyelashes. Softly squeeze the curler with a pulsating rhythm. Curl both of your eyelashes in this way.
   • For added curl, after squeezing the curler vertically, turn the curler horizontally (following the curve of your eyeball) and squeeze a couple more times.
   • Always curl your eyelashes using light pressure. If you feel pain or discomfort, adjust the curler and try again.

Tips

• You can make the line as thick or thin as you like, although a thin line is more desirable.
• It helps to look in the opposite direction to where you are applying eyeliner. When you're lining the inner corner, look toward the outer corner, and vice versa. This should minimize eye watering.
• If you don't manage this well the first time, simply wipe it off and try it again. After some practice, you'll know how to tightline your eyes in less than a minute.

Warnings

• Be careful to not poke your eye while lining. Take it slow.

Related Articles

• Apply Artsy Eyeliner
• Apply Eyeliner
• Remove Eyeliner
• Apply Liquid Eyeliner

Sources and Citations

See also

• Do Floral Eyeliner
• Wear White Eyeliner
• Apply Eyeliner
• Apply Pencil Eyeliner
• Remove Eyeliner
• Apply Artsy Eyeliner
• Do Winged Eyeliner
• Make Cat Eyes With Eyeliner
• Apply Makeup on Round Eyes
• Put Eyeliner on Small Eyes

Read more ...

What links here

• Have Bohemian Style
• Make Cat Eyes With Eyeliner
• Wear White Eyeliner