"Tightlining" refers to that slim, cool line of color drawn right on the inner waterline of eyes. Those crisp lines of eyeliner frame and enhance your eyes with minimal makeup—it's daytime friendly and complements any makeup you pair with it.
Tightlining, also known as invisible eyeliner, is a technique that involves applying eyeliner along the waterline, which is the thin strip of skin between the base of your eyelashes and your eyeball. The goal is to create the illusion of fuller, thicker lashes.
Eyeliner under the lower lashes is best applied by gently pressing the product into the lash line using a brush and cream liner, which allows for more control. Apply eyeliner subtly under the lower lashes with beauty advice from a certified aesthetician in this free video on makeup.
Tightlining is one of my favourite eye-lining techniques. It gives great definition but still looks subtle and natural, plus it also makes your lashes look thicker. It is great for all eye shapes especially those with hooded eyelids because it doesn't take up any lid space.
Some argue that this eye shape makes it difficult to apply makeup or lash extensions, yet others argue that these are the most conventionally attractive eye shapes because of their natural inclination toward “bedroom eyes.” The most notable feature of hooded eyelids is a prominent brow bone.
What Should You Not Do With Eyeliner? DON'T line your whole eye. DON'T tight line your waterline on top and bottom.
Does Bottom Eyeliner Age You? In certain circumstances wearing eyeliner on the bottom lid can make someone appear older or hardened as it can make the eye seem more sunken.
Is it safe to put eyeliner on your waterline? "It depends on how you define safe. Applying anything to the conjunctiva or waterline is at higher risk than some other areas of the skin of causing infection, clogged pores, irritation, and allergy," explains dermatologist, Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD.
Tightlining is an easy technique of lining your upper waterline for a subtle yet impactful finish. It enhances the eye area and makes your lashes look fuller.
Making sure your waterline doesn't smudge or wash away throughout the day is a concern. You'll want a flat or angled eyeliner brush for applying the powder to the waterline, that you can use with powders, gels, or creams. Take your eyeliner brush and dab it into a powder to seal it in, then tap it to remove any excess.
If you're still a fan of the look, you'll be happy to know that this makeup trend is pretty classic. Lining the rim of your eyes, also called tightlighting, requires placing eyeliner on your waterline, aka the inner rim of your top or bottom eyelid.
Tightlining is lining the lash line and waterline is the area between the lashes and eye. I think they can both be really noticeable if not done. It also depends on the look your going for. Usually when people refer to tighlining they're referring to lining the upper lash line.
Waterline Eyeliner Hack 2: Prep the Lash Line
To get the most out of your liner application, gently glide a tapered cotton bud along the upper and lower waterlines to lightly dry the area. This should help the eyeliner grip easier to the waterline, meaning your liner look will go the distance.
DON'T wear mascara on your lower lashes. Playing up your lower lashes can make your eyes look droopy and draw attention to dark circles. It makes the eyes look older and accentuates the under eye wrinkles.
Clogged Pores: Heavy or oil-based makeup can clog pores, leading to the formation of blackheads and acne. Over time, this can result in skin texture issues and an aged appearance. Lack of Proper Cleansing: Failing to remove makeup thoroughly at the end of the day can hinder the skin's natural overnight renewal process.
"If you have light eyes and light skin, black liner will show up more dramatically on you," says Giglio. Simply put, "If you're very fair-skinned and don't want the drama of a black liner, opt for the brown." "Brown eyeliner creates a softer, more natural look.
As Dr. Hilal-Campo puts it, there are certain ingredients in our makeup that damage specific layers of this film and leave the eye vulnerable to infection. The biggest culprits, she says, are glittery eye shadows, lash serums, and tightlining—the art of lining your waterline to make your eyes pop.
“Mascara always last after eye shadow and liner as you want to keep it clean with no particles in it,” advises Vogue beauty and health director Sigourney Cantelo. This also helps to achieve a more precise result with your eyeliner: “It's easier to see where you're drawing if you have nude lashes,” she says.
We've got something new for you to try: puppy dog eyeliner! Whereas cat-eye liner swoops up and out at the eyes' edge, puppy liner goes down. It's unusual, it's sexy and once you get the steps, it's easy to do!
Laura Mercier Caviar Tightline Eyeliner
And experts say a waterproof gel pencil is ideal, as it offers smudge-proof, transfer-proof, and long-wear benefits. "This eyeliner boasts 12-hour wear and 16-hour crease-proof performance while maintaining a smooth, irritation-free glide," says Jafri.
Tightlining is so minimal yet so effective. It's the perfect look to experiment with color you wouldn't normally use on your eyes. No need to stick with black—experiment a little! Blue, purple, green, brown all look amazing used as a tightline eye color.
Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Liner
She'd even recommend it for tightlining. The formula can spread a little during application, but our tester says it's easy enough to fix with a fingernail.