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The Eyeliner & Brush

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

There were lots of questions about the eyeliner and brush that I use to "tightline" my eyes, so here they are. I use blue eyeliner, and the shape of the brush is VERY important:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/la.....-_-datafee

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/na.....d-_-women%

You need to dampen the brush with water and apply the eyeliner to the INSIDE of your lid. It's a little tricky at first, but you get the hang of it in no time. Practice makes perfect. Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ7vuHll5l4

Thanks for the correct "tightlining" term Aliona, and for the video Amy.

'Tightline' Cake Eyeliner

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#46 Push Eyeliner Brush

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I tightline too. For those of you who find powders & brushes a little tricky, an eyeliner pencil with a soft tip does the trick too. I use the pencil more often. But you HAVE to be gentle. And careful.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Maneera. You wet the powder so that it's liquid, and it glides onto the lid easily.

I have never poked myself in the eye with the brush technique. It's a lot easier than it looks.

Anonymous

I've made a mental note to pick up the LM eyeliner in blue. I don't think I've owned nor worn blue eyeliner or mascara in a million years, but I'm intrigued enough to try it again. Blue does have a brightening effect on white, so it only makes sense that this would be pretty. I do this once in awhile too, with Bobbi Brown powder liner in black or brown. It is effective, isn't it?

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Your brush technique does sound easy, Angie. I think I'm going to give it a go tomorrow! I have the right brush....I think I was missing the *wet the brush* part in the past!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

A Laura Mercier person showed me this trick a few years ago -- I love how it looks. However I can never seem to get the right consistency with the liner so that it doesn't get wetly into my eye and annoy my contact lenses. So I do it from time to time in conjunction with my regular LM slate eyeliner and not everyday.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous. Thank you, Angie. I like Laura Mercier products and can use them.

merwoman

Veteran

Great video - thank you! hmmm...wondering if I can get my dear SO 'trained' on applying this for me....

Aziraphale

Veteran

Angie, I watched the video and I do have a few soft twist-up eyeliners, so I just went and tried this. I'm not sure where the eyeliner is supposed to go, though -- they say you're supposed to get it right at the base of the lash line, in between the lashes, but on me there doesn't seem to be any space for it to go. There are no gaps in my lashes, and at the base they are growing very densely so all that happens is that the liner goes on the lashes themselves. I didn't realize my lashes were especially thick, so I'm not sure if I'm not understanding this, or if maybe it just won't work on me.

I looked up another couple of videos on tightlining, and both of those said to put the liner right in the waterline. Isn't that an invitation for an eye infection? My eye doctor would have a fit!

catgirl

Veteran

Here's a picture I found. I do this with my bottom lid but the top frightens me!

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deb

Veteran

I use the Stila waterproof eyeliners in various colors.

'smudge stick' waterproof eyeliner

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad this was helpful, ladies.

Elisabeth, I also have thick, dense and long lashes, and the spaces between my lashes is small. Una's step #2 looks about right - (but the model isn't wearing mascara!). The eyeliner goes UNDER the lashes and appears like a line between the lashes. The strategy is very effective. Perhaps you can see in the pic below.

Ladies, if you're still unsure, go to the Laura Mercier counter and let them apply the liner and mascara for you. You MUST wear mascara though. The line looks off if you apply it without.

Lisa, I LOVE blue liner and mascara, although my eyes are olive.

Merwoman, I wear specs daily and there is no smearing. Train hubs.

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Mochi

Veteran

I also wear contacts. Apart from the question of being able to see what you're doing, I wonder if it's effective to pop the lens in after you've done the liner, not before.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Probably, Nancy. Get very close to the mirror!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I used to use this technique, but found that the liner came off and migrated towards the inside of my eyeball very quickly into a blob. What was I doing wrong? I wasn't looking down when applying, because I wouldn't be able to see, but maybe I should try again putting the magnifying mirror at a different angle.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*just applied my eyeliner*

Ah, yes, Denise. That happened to me when the eyeliner is too liquid (mixed it with too much water). Ummlila, you can't make it too watery.

Anonymous

I just tried this with a regular cake eyeliner and the recommended style of brush. Despite being slightly nervous, I got it to go on right the first time. I have to say that it looks fantastic, and so much better than putting the liner on top of the lashes. I'm waiting to see how it gets along with my contacts, but so far so good. BEST BEAUTY TIP EVER, Angie!

catgirl

Veteran

Here's my cheat with this - I use the MAC Fluidline gel liner, apply a generous amount to my bottom waterline with the angled brush, then quickly blink hard (not super hard). This transfers the liner to the top waterline without poking a brush at it. Then I reline the bottom lid. It sometimes is a little RATE, but that's my look. :). An SA taught me this trick since my eyes water so easily. It dries waterproof and stays on all day.

The consistency of the MAC gel liner is PERFECT for this look. It's a very Indian look, and I used to do it with kohl from India before I found MAC.

I don't wear mascara - the LashMD growth formula has worked so well for me, and applying eyeliner gives my lashes a little boost without the fuss of mascara.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ma.....alizedsort

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Joy

Veteran

Way back in the 60's I had an eyeliner and brush and did this. I will be looking for your version for sure. My old one had a retractable brush that was pointed and a second brush to use the product to fill in brows. The color was a charcoal grey.

amiable

Veteran

The Nordstrom links didn't work. I'm going to try this technique soon! Thank you!

Scarlet

Veteran

Thanks for the information! I would love to try this sometime.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks Angie and Una. I think I'll try it again, but I might go to the makeup counter and get the right product, because it really does go right in the waterline, and my eyes are easily irritated.

Una, I can't do the trick you use where you put some on the lower one and blink to transfer, because I don't have the right kind of eyes. Putting liner in the lower waterline (or actually anywhere on the bottom) makes my eyes look tiny. This has been confirmed for me a few times by makeup people, too. I have been advised to use white liner in the lower waterline, and that does look good, but it's moot because it irritates my eyeballs.

catgirl

Veteran

I think the potential to make your eyes look smaller is an effect of this style. I like to do this and add some liner on top of my lash line to counter that effect.

Gaylene

Veteran

Like Joy, I used to do this back in the sixties when I didn't want to use mascara--back in days when waterproof mascara was nasty stuff!

My current technique is to use a Stila waterproof eyeliner like the one Deb mentions and stippling it in between the hairs instead of drawing a line under them. The result is more natural on my older visage and has less potential for irritating than tightlining on the waterline. The waterproof Stila pen dries quickly and stays put for the entire day, even if my eyes get watery from riding my bike in the wind. Tight lining on the waterline with a soft pencil or a brush has a tendancy to flake and migrate on my older eyes these days, and the straight line looks too noticeable for day wear because my lashes are't as thick and full as they once were.

Colette

Veteran

Thanks Angie, I'm going to try the powder liner. I'm getting a good result with the pencil I'm using but I'm in the mood to experiment.

K. Period.

Veteran

I love this too and have been doing it since a Paula Dorf (anyone remember that line when it was run by her and totally amazing) consultant showed me. I love it.

That Laura Mercier liner is great. I've used it before too. Currently, I'm using the Kat Von D liquid liner in the tattoo pen, which is practically indelible. For something smokier, the Trish McEvoy pencil worked into the lash line is great. Stila smudge sticks are my go to for above the lashline liner, but I find they don't dry fast enough for me for tightlining and they get all over my contact lenses. The Kat Von D doesn't--once it is on, it isn't going anywhere.

I think this is such a pretty and clean look, Angie. I'm glad you are highlighting it!

Anonymous

So guess who ran out to the drugstore a little while ago and bought a blue liquid liner and mascara ? Figured I'd not invest in LM until I decide I like it

Una - yes, yes to Mac Fluidline - I like it too. Looks great on you.

And I've heard rave reviews for the Kat VonD tattoo liquid liner too - must get some of that too soon.

And now we are all madly dotting liner between our lashes - from coast to coast and sea to shining sea

marianna

Veteran

Interesting... never heard of this technique!

catgirl

Veteran

Ha! Lisa, this morning I discovered my MAC Fluidline was dried out (which can happen quickly). It doesn't revive with water since it's water repellent. So I did indeed go by Nordies on my lunch hour and pick up both black and a bright blue. The SA suggested I do an ombre look on my lid where I do the inner top lid in blue halfway across, and then the rest in a black cateye, to match my hair.

The Kat Von D tattoo liner is awesome for a cateye but it's very inky wet and intense - I have tried it on my waterline and ended up with a completely black eye.

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks for the specifics, Angie. I already own both this brush and the LM eye color. Love when that happens!

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