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10/14/10

How To Tightline Your Eyes (tutorial) & The Actress I Learnt it From


Tightlining still confuses people. I still see "What did you mean by tightline??" comments on Youtube and blogs. Tightlining is when you apply eyeliner right onto the base of your upper lash line to give the appearance of thicker lashes and is a method used for most "no-makeup" looks.

I learnt to tightline my eyes back in the year 2000, when the movie 'Jungle' came out (Don't laugh! ;p) You know, the one with Urmila and Fardeen Khan? I loved that movie! I watched it about 4 times back then haha...

So, I was watching it and thought to myself, Urmila has no makeup on (coz she's a hostage in a jungle and all), but her eyes still look dark as though she has eyeliner on. How come?
I went close to the TV and stared at her eyes for a long time.
Ohhh...I get it! They applied eyeliner just on the inside! Yup,"the inside" was my exact thought. I was too much of a novice to think "lash line" and such words at the time.
From then on I started applying eyeliner there. I didn't know the term 'tighlining' until a few years ago.
*Now I don't know if I should send a 'Thank You' note to RGV or Urmila =D

Anyways, here's how I do it....

First, which type of eyeliners to use for tightlining:
Gel, pencil, kajal.
Gel~ With a flat/angled brush
Pencil & Kajal ~ Directly or with a flat/angled brush


~ With Pencil ~
Apply right on the roots of your lashes. You can also coat your lashes with it a little to make your lashes look darker.


~ Using a Brush ~
  • Push the brush right onto the base of your lashes. Fill in all the gaps
  • Use a Q-tip to wipe off any smudges outside your lash line.
  • If you have very thin lashes like mine, apply a coat of not-so-volumizing mascara on your lashes, concentrating on the base. On your lower lashes too if you want.
Optional : 1. Using an eyelash curler before mascara, 2. Putting false lashes (natural looking ones OR individuals), 3. Applying mascara on your bottom lashes.
    Don'ts
    • Avoid pulling and tugging at your eyes to prevent premature wrinkles and sagging. Instead tilt your head back so you can see the base of your lashes. If it's absolutely necessary for you to lift your lid, then use a Q-tip instead of your fingers. It's gentler for your delicate eye areas. 
    • If using a pencil, avoid applying in a haphazard way coz this might break or damage your lashes Use short strokes instead and try to apply in one direction.
    • Don't use a liquid eyeliner. It is not safe for the insides of your eyes, and it won't last anyways.
    I hope this is a helpful tutorial. Feel free to ask any questions.


    ♥ Cynthia Z ^.^

    45 comments:

    1. great tutorial Cynthia..Difference is quiet visible:)

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    2. Awww..that was a very detailed tute..loved it Cynthia. Now that calls for more tutorial demands.YAY!!
      I use tightlining too at times..but definitely without knowing the name till very very recently..lol
      Btw,you watched Jungle 4 times?? and "I went close to the TV and stared at her eyes for a long time."ROTFL

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    3. Nice post there. I generally use gel liners to tightline as I find it easier to manipulate the brush as opposed to the thick kajal pencil. I don't have the finnesse yet & can be clumsy at time. :P

      I sometimes use mascara to tightline. Kind of line deposit mascara at the base of the lashes using a short bristled wand.

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    4. I've done it for years..probably ever since i started wearing kajal..but had not heard of something like 'tightlining' i would just drag the same kajal over the upper water line( if thats the right term for that area) right under the lashes. it certainly makes alot of diff though, opens up the eyes in a subtle manner..esp good where u r not supposed to wear obvious makeup..and people go...'OMG! u have such beautiful eyes n daaark lashes! u dont need makeup for eyes' Quite fun! would love to learn about more such 'no makeup look' makeup tips!

      N

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    5. Of all the actresses that I thought of when I read the title, I never ever would have thought of Urmila in Jungle :D :D :D I use a pencil eyeliner for this..cannot remember where I learned from, though. Nice pic-tutorial :)

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    6. great tutorial hun! I loved jungle too :p

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    7. hahaha....I know! ;p. So idiotic :D. Yes 4 times or maybe more!

      ♥xx♥

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    8. Ya mascara can be deposited there too while applying. 2-in-1 :). I am clumsy too believe me ;p

      ♥xx♥

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    9. Yes Nila it gives a very nice look to the eyes and not overdone. I use to drag kajal n pencils too before, but I've stopped doing it coz I have very sensitive eyes and that makes it worse. But it's definitely the easier way :D

      Will do a no makeup look lotd sometime :)

      ♥xx♥

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    10. LOL....Jungle....such a funny word to associate with tightlining nah. Thanks Rads

      ♥xx♥

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    11. Thanks Shifs. Yay! It was a great movie :)

      ♥xx♥

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    12. love the way you tightline... :)

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    13. www.shoppingahoplic.comOctober 26, 2010 at 5:23 PM

      I have done it soemtiems but yes I didn't know the name!! DOn'ts are gona help me a lot.

      <3

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    14. LOL....I know! At least I learnt something :D

      ♥xx♥

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    15. I did a look today and used this technique. Thanks to you watching Jungle, of course :)

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    16. dint knw d name :(
      bt tried it many tyms....n m also clumsy...:(

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    17. Do you recommend tightlining for those who are wearing contact lenses?

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    18. Yes of course. It's perfectly safe if the liner is safe for contact lens wearers or optalmologically tested.

      ♥xx♥

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    19. I'll try this out first and then raise my ques ;)

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    20. I will sound like a dumbo here :( never done this...though my kajal does get transfered to the upper waterline on its own u knw...but I will def try this tom now!! lovely tute and LOL on "I went close to the TV and stared at her eyes for a long time"

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    21. LOL...i know I was such a doofus :D. Ya kajal transfers everywhere!

      Btw, I did a post for u long back n I think u didn't know :) http://www.indianvanitycase.com/2010/05/6-tips-for-long-healthy-nails.html

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    22. Hahaha...really?? Cool! :D

      ♥xx♥

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    23. wowww.. cynthia that was great. very nice tut. thanks

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    24. It was a nice tut, hun! I always get runny eyes everytime I try doing it haha!

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    25. Nice tutorial...but I STILL can't believe you watched Jungle 4 times. I was 12 or 13 when it came out and found it to rather...(I'll shush now since you watched it FOUR times...but hey, at least you learnt something from it) :P

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    26. very detailed of how to tight line! can you do a tutorial on how you remove the liners from lash line as well?

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    27. thanks, i didn't know about the term, but i always tried having a very thin liquid eyeliner on top to make my lashes appear thicker (i have the same thinness problem as u), but with ur tips, i think i can make it even more natural looking. thanks!

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    28. Great post ;)
      i wanna ask is it safe to use maybelline gel eyeliner for tighlining our eyes??? wont it be harmful ???

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    29. I cant use a liner on the inside because it then goes to the lower lid and then to the eye bag! I end up with black eye bags! I have to line very close to the eye lashes but on the outside, never on the inside.

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    30. Can you recommend me some good eyeliners to tightline and also to use on the waterline? Something herbal or with less chemicals that is good for the eyes!?

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    31. Love it! It really does make such a difference!

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    32. nice post cz...n that story isss cute...i m really addicted to tightlining these days..

      megaliving.net

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    33. I've been doing this for ages and had no clue that it has a special name :P

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    34. oh, finally someone cares about the distance between lashes and eyeliner! <3 love you!
      http://curlsandfrecklescs.blogspot.it/

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    35. Cynthiya... i always apply kajal on my upple last line and leave my lower lashline bare... I am doing it from my teenage, but only today came to know that this is called tightline :D
      It works beautifully for me as i have big eyes and pply kajal all over makes them look very big, so i always "tightline" my eyes :)

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    36. Like it. It's soo natural and I can do it for work:) Thanks

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    37. Thank you so much. I'm a novice at makeup and your tutorials are very easy for me to understand. :) I hate heavy makeup looks but I've never heard of tightlining, I just figured it was called "thin eyeliner" or something along those lines. You've opened new doors for me in terms of eye makeup!

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    38. Didn't know LEARNT was a word. Ugh.

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    39. Great tutorial! Didn't have a clue as to what tightlining was until this morning lol! Now I'm gonna try it for "date night" tonight!��������

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    I ♥ finding little notes in my Vanity Case, so do drop one. I read all of them & I try my best to reply to each & every one of them [check back in 2-3 days =D] but most times it's physically impossible! Either way, I love to hear from you & really appreciate you taking the time out to share your thoughts <3

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    ♥xx♥