Tight-Lining

What is tight-lining? If you're imagining some new act in Cirque du Soleil you're way off. Although for some women it conjures up the same sense of anxiety as if they were about walk a tightrope themselves. Tight-lining is when you line the inner rim (also called the waterline) of your upper and/or lower lids. I'm not talking about the area right above your lashes but the narrow space between the base of your lashes and your eyeball. Wait...what? You can do that?! But why?
The answer, quite simply, is because tight-lining your eyes really does give you a much more polished look. By lining this little strip of...I don't even know what to call it...you instantly create the illusion of more voluminous lashes. You also eliminate that blank space, so to speak, between your eye makeup and your eyes. This makes your eyes pop! You can also tight-line instead of applying eyeliner because it's a quick and easy way to add definition to your eyes without fussing over getting a perfect line.

Below, I will show you how to tight-line & the difference it can make. Cue the frightening close ups of my eyeballs...

Before tight-lining...

Fill in the upper inner rim...

Then the lower inner rim...

After!

To tight-line your eyes gently push your upper lid back and carefully pull down on your lower lid then lightly run the pencil (or whatever you're using) along the waterline. You can also line just the bottom rim and then tightly squeeeeze your eyes shut so the color from the bottom rim transfers to the upper rim. You can line either the upper or both upper and lower rims with a myriad of products including eye pencils, kohls, cream and gel liners and even powders. Just check to see if the product in question is waterline safe. What's really fun is lining with colors other than black. Not only can you line with brown for a soft, natural look but you can use any color you can think of (except I'd avoid using pinks and reds unless you want to look sickly). Think outside the box! Blues, greens, and purples can be used to enhance your specific eye color or you can use white or light flesh tones to brighten and enlarge your eyes.

Makeup Artist Trick #1: Setting Your Makeup

About 5 years ago I started doing the trick I'm about to share with you. It wasn't until a year ago that I learned that this has been a secret of stage actors for decades.
 
When you spend time and money to make yourself look your best you don't want all that effort sliding off your face. After you've completed your makeup and have applied a finishing powder (which also helps set your makeup) either pat a dampened cosmetic sponge lightly all over your face or use a spray bottle to gently mist some water onto your face (spray it sort of up into the air while facing upwards). This small amount of moisture is one extra - and free - step to ensure that your makeup stays where you put it longer. Not only does it help your makeup last but it also gives your skin a more natural, fresh and dewy look.

Brown n' Out

Over the past few months I've discovered a new appreciation for brown mascara. Before, I would never even have given it a second glance. I only happened upon my discovery by sheer accident. I mistakenly bought one thinking it was black but decided to try it out. All of my makeup life I've only ever used black mascaras. Once I believe I tried an electric blue but that can be a little festive for daily wear! Like a lot of women out there, I have a deep love for mascara. Well, I suppose it's not the mascara that I love but the long, thick lashes that I love. I've tried so many different brands, formulas, brushes...you name it. But never once did I try brown. Brown mascara. Egh. Why would I? It's just brown, right?
But the truth is brown mascara is actually wonderful. Although it might seem boring or that its defeating the purpose of mascara it really does have some good qualities. For starters, brown mascara is terrific for women who have light hair and fair skin. On these people, a black mascara looks unnatural and can wash you out. If you have light blond hair with soft blond brows and jet black eyelashes people are going to notice that something is not quite right. A brown mascara is dark enough to give your lashes the same definition without looking fake.
But brown mascara isn't just for the blonds. It's also for you ladies out there who aren't all that into makeup. It's a user friendly beauty product and is so subtle but is still very effective in opening up your eyes. Also, you can change up your eye makeup looks with this much neglected product just as you can change up your look by changing the color of your lips or the shape of your eyeliner. Brown mascara is great for a "no-makeup makeup" look or when you're trying to achieve a sun-kissed, beachy look or just to add a subtle softness to any look be it daytime office looks or a whimsical evening look.
When you wear brown mascara you still get long, thick lashes...they just look like they might be the lashes you were born with. And nobody needs to know otherwise...

Trina's Current Favorite: CoverGirl Lash Blast in Brown