Tightlining is a method of lining the eye coined by make-up artist and make-up line mogul, Laura Mercier, but I’m certain a lot of us were doing the method before we actually knew its technical term!
You can use either use:
• a thin, stiff eyeliner brush with gel eyeliner
• pencil (recommended)
• liquid liner (if you dare, but not recommended for sensitive eyes)
1. Looking down into your mirror with your eyes half-open, press the eyeshadow brush/pencil/liquid liner right into the top set of lashes. Be sure to concentrate colour on the area just where the outer edge of the skin meets the inner membrane (wet rim of the eye). Line across this outer edge, also commonly called the ‘water’ line.
2. For more seasoned eyeliner users, you can attempt the same method on the bottom lashes, keeping the line tight on the area just at the root of the bottom lashes on the outer skin, but not on the wet inner membrane of the eye
To make eyes really stand out:
Use a light pencil* to line the inside rim of the eyes to make them appear larger. This contrasted with the tightlining effect really has the effect of making eyes ‘pop’.
*when lining the inside rim, to make eyes appear bigger use:
white pencil for light eyes
peaches and cream coloured pencil for darker eyes and skin tones