How to Apply Eyeliner to the Waterline

Choosing Your Eyeliner

Applying eyeliner to your waterline can emphasize your eyes in one of two ways.  If you choose to use a darker color to line the top and bottom waterline, it can give the illusion of fuller lashes.  When lining your waterline, use a color that matches your lashes.  Lining your topwaterline is universally flattering, although those with small eyes shoulda void lining the bottom waterline as it can make your eyes appear smallerthan they are.  You can also use an off-white pencil on the bottom waterline to make eyes appear largerand brighter. Make sure you select an eye liner with a matte finish.  Shimmer, metallic, and colored liners are a no-no for the waterline, as these colors and finishes can leave you looking tired or washed out.  Whether you are using alight ordark eyeliner, the technique and application rules are universal.

Applying Eyeliner

For application, you want to make sure the rest of your look is complete, except for mascara.  Be sure to line your top and bottom lids as well, although you want to use a thinner line until you see the full effect.  If you are competing in interview or onstage, I would recommend lining your top lash line with black and the bottom with off-white to give the illusion of larger eyes and thicker lashes.  For appearances, feel free to experiment with both methods.

Start by gently pulling the top lid up, exposing more of the waterline and pulling it from the eye.  Then, you want to trace the waterline with youreyeliner, being sure to smudge the color into your lashes well.  This gives the illusion of thicker, fuller lashes if using a black or dark brown, and eyes that are more “awake” if you use an off-white. You want to avoid the inner corner of your eye, and stop the color where your lashes end. Repeat the same steps for the bottom lash line, stopping the inner portion of the bottom line at the endof your lash line. Make sure the eyeliner connects at the outer corner of your waterline.  If you’re using a lash-matching color, be sure to smudge the color into your lash line, once again to give the appearance of fuller lashes.  Finish your look with afew coats of mascara. 
Use falsies to really amp up the look and make your eyes a focal point.As with all makeup, be sure to thoroughly remove all eyeliner from your waterline and the inner corner of your eye at the end of your day andnevershare eyeliner.  You are more susceptible to infection if you use someone else’s eyeliners and mascaras, so play it safe and invest in your own product.  If you forget your eyeliner and absolutelymustborrow?  Don’t line your waterline.  It’s better to be safe than to contract pink eye.