I’d never heard of this phrase “tightlining” until about a year ago. Before this, lining your eyelids or lashes to me, meant lining above your lashes. This was the method I used when using gel eyeliner, as I have shown in a previous post on how to use a gel eyeliner.
However, I’d read a lot of raves about a method of lining your lashes called “tightlining” which was supposed to give the illusion of bigger more natural looking eyes. Anything that can make my eyes look bigger is great! So, I decided to try it out.
The theory is simple. Get your eyeliner as close to your lashes as humanly possible to fill in the gaps (if you don’t already have thick lashes). This technique works better I feel, for ladies with lashes that are more sparse or who have light coloured lashes. The most popular way of tightlining is from UNDER the lashes. Be warned of huge scary eye pictures after the jump! 
If you are still here, watch out for scary pictures below.
Anyway, when I first tried lining under my top eyelashes, I would end up poking my eye or drawing onto the sensitive water line prompting tears and destroying my eye makeup. However, after a spell and a lot of trial and error, I worked out my best way to tightline my lashes.
How I tightline my lashes:-
- I use my trusty Guerlain Kohl Pencil – the best ever! You can either use a soft eyeliner pencil or a liquid eyeliner with a fine tip. Gel eyeliners don’t work as well for some reason.
- I lift up my top eyelid gently (picture is exaggerated) enough for me to see the underside of my top eye lashes.
- Then I draw a line with the pencil right where the lashes start from. It takes practice because a little too low and you hit the sensitive water line which can cause tearing.
- The 2nd picture shows the finished line.
And that is how I tightline my eyes.
I tried capturing a picture that would show how different the eye looks with and without tightlining but I can’t get it to show up on camera. The difference is very subtle but it is dramatic. You look like you did not line your eyes at all, yet your eyes look markedly larger. Truly, an optical illusion that works like a charm. My Mom saw me with makeup one day and remarked how strange it was that my eyes were looking bigger now than they did before. So, I’d say its passed the acid test. 
What are the benefits of tightlining?
Well, it makes you look less made up for one. The traditional method of lining your eyes can be stark and it is quite obvious that you have put on makeup. So tightlining is wonderful for those days when all you want to do is slick on a simple champagne colored eyeshadow and mascara, looking natural yet polished.
The other benefit is that it doesn’t run as much, not for me anyway. I find that my line stays till the evening but that might also be due to the Guerlain pencil I’m using.
The effects of tightlining are subtle. No one can tell that you have lined your eyes yet your eyes look more defined in a very natural manner. Its quite impressive.
What are the drawbacks of tightlining?
You cannot draw a cat eye or do a nice smokey eye with tightlining. You need the usual sort of lining for that dramatic effect. Tightlining is too subtle.
If you aren’t used to it, it can you a long while to get ready. I used to suffer at it but now I have got it down pat so its no trouble anymore for me.
What you should use for tightlining
My recommendations point towards:-
- a liquid eyeliner with a fine tip – I’m told that Kate Super Sharp Liner is good though I haven’t tried it.
- a good soft kohl eye pencil with not too sharp a tip (I use the Guerlain Kohl pencil)
- Make Up For Ever Eye Seal with any dark eyeshadow and a fine tipped brush
Have you tried this method of lining your eyes? If so, do you have any other tips for those wanting to try it for the first time?
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Many people with sensitive eyes can’t do tightlining.. they wind up much too teary. I tightline all the time, never applied my eyeliner any other way, but I tried to get my little sister to do it and it irritated her eyes so much. I would definitely not recommend it for people with sensitive eyes..
And I use a MAC eyeliner.. my only problem is, I find that after a while my eyeliner will rub off and smudge underneath my eyes, due to the moisture of my eyes so close to the liner. Does anybody have any tips on how to prevent this?
@Julia : Yes people with sensitive eyes might find it a problem. I do find that using a product like Eye Seal from Make Up For Ever helps with sensitive eyes. And it doesn’t smudge either so might like to try that?
I started using tightlining about 2 weeks ago since i was introduced by a SA in Laura Mercier Counter. I was impressed by it. I have deep double eye lid and medium size eyes. I hate to use to eyelinear with traditional method. I thought it was too dramatic and i couldn’t recognize i myself after drawing eyelinear. I used Dior liquid eyelinear and loreal one before. i don’t like it ( might be my skill is not good) But even make up artist put them on me. I didn’t like it as well. Until i found tightlining skill.
I love it. So far, the one that i am using is Laura Mercier eye liner and its flat brush.(http://www.lauramercier.com/products/colour/eyes/eye_liner/eye_liner/) So far, i am happy with it and am free of smudge frustration thru the whole day. 
@Bostonian: Yay! Tightlining is a skill and takes a while to master, but once mastered you can’t ever go back! Glad its working for you and that you found a liner that doesn’t smudge!
Hey PB! I really like your tips. I had never done tightlining before, well at least until I read your tips few days ago
. I noticed my friend did it before, as her eyes looked so stunning, yet so natural ^_^.
Well, as for me, I’m using Red Earth Jet Black and also Big Fat Fun from Bed Head. They work well as the color is very intense and they’re affordable too. hehe.
I did not know that this method is called “Tightlining” but this is how I’ve been drawing eyeliner on my eyes as this is the only way it looks natural and clean. I’m currently using Anna Sui Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner. It actually doesn’t smudge much n it stays in between the eyelined area but bcoz I have oily lids so it does smudge. Maybe you could give it a try
i do this often too but often it leaves a mark on my bottom line :S
hi, im 22, from vietnam on which make up industry is just barely growing. a couple of years back whenever i went out on the streets there was noone with make up actually, but now it’s definetely changing. i never have any make up on until i got a boyfriend from abroad, he said i was pretty but can be prettier with makeup so i start stuff on my face since i was 20. i dont usually apply foudation, powder, concealer since my skin is kinda flawless and sensitive (easy to get irritation). all i do is just tightlining my eyes (apply mascara_ somtimes i dont, kinda lazy). but yeah, i love the effect of tightlining. just wondering if there is any harm of tightlining?
Thnx so much for this wonderful now-to! Usually when I try to tightline my eyes I end up getting those pesky “dots” on my upper eyelid. Now I get so many more compliments about how “rested” and “refreshed” I look. Haha! thanks!
I’m so glad it helped you!
I am the opposite, I was never able to line the top of my lashes because it looked weird on me! So I always did the underneath^^ I didn’t even know it was an actual method haha
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