It’s the latest technique for defining eyes. Also called invisible liner, it adds definition without ever looking like eyeliner. In fact, if you can see it, it’s not tightliner…
It’s popular because it creates the look of larger, more open eyes so it even suits hooded, sagging eyelids as well as other eye shapes that don’t usually suit eyeliner. By heightening the contrast between your lashline and your iris, it flatters all ages and can be worn with both natural and bold make-up. And although the name is new, the technique goes back to the 1970s. (Well, what have we veterans not seen before?)
Elkie Phillips, Lord & Berry’s Expert Make-Up Artist, explains, ‘Tightlining is a way of applying eyeliner so close to your lashes so that it gives the illusion of naturally thick and dark lashes. It’s especially useful for people with skimpy lashes.’
It’s also easy to do. First, place your mirror flat so you’re looking downwards into it, then use your index finger to lift the outer corner of your eyelid so you can clearly see the upper waterline under your lashes. With your free hand, hold your pencil vertical and place the tip deep into the lashes at the outer corner. Wiggle it between your lashes to fill in gaps as you work the liner inwards (not outwards like normal eyeliner) along the underside of your lashes. Don’t take it all the way to the inner corners as this makes your eyes look smaller and more beady. Instead, stop where your lashes end naturally, then go over it a few times to emphasise and thicken your lashline. If you like, you can then ‘smoke’ or fade its outer corners outwards and upwards to echo the curve of your corner lashes.
Ellkie recommends applying Lord & Berry Smudgeproof Eye Pencil, £4.25, ‘Between the natural lashes by almost dotting the eyeliner between them. Be careful not to go above the lashline onto eyelid. Then lift the eyelid slightly further so you can apply it to the upper waterline.”
Other suitable liners include Barry M Blink Precision Eyeliner, £5.99, or Clarins 3-Dot Liner, £21, which has a handy three-point applicator to help you stipple colour between your lashes. (It contains lash conditioning and growth-stimulating ingredients, too.) If you prefer to apply your liner with a brush, try Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Gel Liner, £6.99, which is formulated to really stay put. Avoid soft, smudgy pencils which invariably transfer to your lower eyelids as soon as you blink – water-resistant formulas are best. There’s also no need to stick to black – the best shade matches your natural eyelashes. Also, although you don’t need to line your lower lashes as well, if you want to emphasis them, don’t draw your liner along the waterline, which invariably makes eyes look smaller and more closed. Dash the pencil under your lashes, instead.
For final emphasis, L’Oreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara, £6.99, has a special comb-brush that adds to the tightline effect. It helps you get super-close to the roots and, as it dries, you get a more defined ‘tightlined’ effect.
Have you tried tightlining? Let us know how it went!
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6 Comments
Ihave been doing this for years
That’s ‘cos you’re in the know Julie!
No need to make it so tricky. Just get a kohl pencil and touch the inner corner of your eye, close your eye and run the pencil across to the other side. Open eye, sorted!
Many thanks Maxine, appreciate your comment. I use a soft purple eye liner and to make it go on intensely, I do have to ‘tightline’. No doubt it’s all to do with the shape of one’s eyes and the eye liner one uses! Cyndy
I’ve been doing this for some time and being 40 I find it’s much more flattering way to add emphasis to you’re already gorgeous peepers. I do use avon glimmerstick which glides on and more importantly stays on 😉
Many thanks for the product tip Sarah!