The waterline is the area of skin between the base of the lash line and the cornea, where the eyelids meet when closed. Applying eyeliner to the waterline is a technique known as tightlining, enhancing the eyes and making eyelashes appear fuller.
Lining the waterline is probably the most under-appreciated makeup trick ever. It's an easy way to brighten up the eyes or get a super-precise look—but that's only if you're strategic with the colors. "I love a dramatic eye, but very often black liner in the waterline can make your eyes look smaller," says Stiles.
Dr. Carver-Schemper does not recommend doing it at all — and no type of eyeliner is "safe" to put in your waterline either. "It doesn't matter what kind of eyeliner it is, all of them can obstruct the oils glands and cause irreversible gland damage," she said.
The waterline—a beauty term, not a medical term—is the line of skin between the eyelashes and the eye. It's as close to your eye as you can put eyeliner without actually drawing on your cornea.
Despite what you may have heard, it's not the best idea to apply dark eyeliner to your bottom waterline because this can actually shrink the appearance of your eyes. Instead, apply your go-to eyeliner just below your lower lashes to help make your eyes look bigger.
"When makeup is applied to the area known as the waterline, it can potentially block the glands known as meibomian glands that release an oily substance that contributes to the tear film, which can subsequently lead to dry eye or irritation," Garshick said.
Professionally, white eyeliner is a makeup artist trick for brightening up the face and making your eyes look bigger and more awake—particularly when used on the bottom waterline. When using a dark color on the bottom lash line, it can make eyes look smaller and drawn-down, but white has the reverse effect.
A ship's waterline is the line where its hull meets the surface of the water. A load line, also called Plimsoll mark,1 is a marking indicating the extent to which the weight of a load may safely submerge a ship, by way of a waterline limit.
White eyeliner is a makeup artist trick for brightening up the face and making your eyes look bigger and more awake, particularly when used on the bottom waterline. When using a dark color on the bottom lash line, it can make eyes look smaller and drawn-down, but white has the reverse effect.
On what shade to choose to brighten the waterline, Aharon notes that “it really depends on your skin tone, the natural color of your waterline, and the effect you're attempting.” For every day, she's partial to an off-white or nude shade that's a bit more versatile and subtle than a stark white.
To make your brown eyes appear brighter, go for colored eyeliner in contrasting shades. For instance, think shades of midnight blue and teal, shades of olive and emerald green, shades of vivid purple and soft purple for a regal look, and even grey and charcoal to bring out any gold flecks in your brown peepers.
As an incredibly sensitive area, the waterline requires a special type of eyeliner. (Just imagine the red and watery eyes brought on by irritation from a generic black eyeliner or worse, a liquid liner!) “I look for silicone-based liners that are longwearing and waterproof,” says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman.
But while liner can help to open up your eyes and brighten your appearance, tightlining your waterline, or the inner rim of your lashes, will only stand to make you look older. “First of all, makeup inside the waterline instantly creates the illusion of smaller eyes.
The obstruction of the glands, caused by the use of eyeliner in the waterline, means that the eye is “not producing healthy tears,” Dr Carver explained, adding in the caption that patients can experience dry eyes, or Dry Eye Disease, as a result.
Ditch liquid liners
Thick black lines don't do any woman over 35 any favours as it makes eyes that are already getting smaller with age look even tinier. And the rock-chick look is too harsh for ageing skin tones, so switch to brown or charcoal-grey.
Tightlining is an eyeliner technique that applies eyeliner to the waterline, the eye area where the top and bottom eyelids meet when your eyes close. Tightlining defines your eye shape and makes the lash line appear fuller.
There's a half-baked theory behind the white-dot makeup trick: By placing four dots around your eye in a diamond configuration — one on either side, as well as above and below your pupils — you're psychologically manipulating the person looking you in the eye.
Thankfully, there are plenty of eyeliner formulas out there that are perfectly safe to use on your waterline. Just be sure to be very gentle when going near your eyes with the pencil as you don't want to poke yourself. It's also best to use a waterproof formula to prevent as much transfer into the eyes as possible.
Depending upon what the pipe is made of, water lines will usually last anywhere from 20 to 100 years. Many people will live in the same home for decades without even knowing where the line is located!
For the entire water main replacement cost, the amount ranges from $1,500 to $12,000. The national average is reported to be about $3,750 for a 25-foot-long main water line made of galvanized steel using a trenchless installation, which is a popular choice of installation material and method for water lines.
The International Plumbing Code states that “Exterior water supply system piping shall be installed not less than 6 inches (152 mm) below the frost line and not less than 12 inches (305 mm) below grade.”
If you have brown eyes, blue, green, and purple liners will make them pop, though jet black can also be flattering. For hazel eyes, purple, green, gray, and taupe are all excellent choices.
Eye Makeup Tip #3: Line Your Waterline
Wearing eyeliner along your lower lashes is a surefire way to make your eyes look smaller, but if you want them to appear even smaller, there's a slight adjustment you can make. Rather than pressing the eyeliner into your lashes, apply it slightly above, along your waterline.
“Black eyeliner is a classic,” says pro makeup artist Lauren O'Leary. She explains that you can use a black eyeliner pencil to create an easy smokey eye or a liquid liner for an extra crisp cateye.