How To Create A Softly Winged Eye With TikTok's Invisible Eyeliner Trick
What if the perfect eyeliner were actually invisible? That's the question TikTok beauty creators have been asking lately. And with this seemingly contradictory beauty trend gaining traction, we wanted to break it down for you.
First off, why would anyone want an invisible eyeliner? As it turns out, this look can be both subtle and attention-grabbing in a super chic way. Instead of a black liner that can be too harsh for some natural, day looks, this alternative gives you the definition of eyeliner that shapes the eye without drawing too much attention.
The "invisible eyeliner" or "transparent eyeliner" has been trending on the app since a few months back when beauty creator May Akhtar (@maytahmi) posted a makeup tutorial using concealer as an outline for her lash line. Now, invisible eyeliner is getting a second wind of virality, rising in the ranks of must-try makeup looks for 2023.
Therefore, in this article, we'll give you a step-by-step breakdown of how to master this versatile trend and easily shape your look. From product recommendations to the easiest technique for achieving it, here's everything you need to know before jumping on the invisible eyeliner bandwagon.
Set the Base
Before starting any eye look, setting the base is the most important thing to do unless you want to deal with creases, oily lids, and the breakdown of your makeup before lunch. To make sure your products stay put all day, apply a thin layer of eyeshadow primer and let it sit and settle on the skin for two to three minutes. Once settled, blend the primer all over the lid using your fingers, a concealer brush, or a damp beauty blender.
Follow up with your foundation or concealer to even out the skin tone, as eyeshadow primers are usually transparent or white. Since your eye look is going to be subtle, you don't want any weird discoloration to show up.
Product To Try: Fenty Beauty – Pro Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer, $22
Erase the Creases
After setting the base, you will notice that your cream-based primer and concealer have settled into the creases of your eyelids. Since this will make for a lousy canvas, use a damp beauty blender or a dense eyeshadow brush to blend out the creases until they are no longer visible.
Once you smooth out the base to perfection, follow up with a lightweight setting powder to keep the creases away and make sure the makeup stays in place throughout the day.
Product To Try: Rare Beauty – Soft Radiance Setting Powder, $25
Bronzer as Eyeshadow
The “invisible eyeliner” look is all about subtlety, so you don't need to use any crazy eyeshadow colors or fancy techniques. Instead, take a small fluffy brush and swirl it into your bronzer or blush, and apply it all over the eyelid, on the corner of the eyes, and outer parts of the lid.
If you want to make sure this looks even more natural, grab a small brush and dip it into transparent powder before blending out any harsh lines left from the bronzer or blush.
Product To Try: Hourglass – Ambient Lighting Bronzer, $56
Concealer as Eyeliner
After applying your eyeshadow, instead of grabbing a liquid eyeliner, a pencil, or a darker eyeshadow to form a cat-eye flick, you want to pick up your concealer again, add a little bit of product on the back of your hand, and dip into it with a small eyeliner brush or an angled brow brush. Scrape the excess product off, and delicately draw a line from the outer corner of the eye outwards, just like you would using a traditional eyeliner.
Once you've shaped the lower line, take a small amount of concealer and focus the application on the upper lash line, starting from the center of the eye and taking it out towards the end of the lower line of concealer until the two meet and form an "invisible" inverted triangle. Finally, to make the look even more subtle, grab a thin brush and gently buff the concealer outwards to create a seamless eyeliner effect.
Optionally, you can also set everything in place with a little bit of translucent powder to ensure your invisible eyeliner stays put all day and won't get cakey or smudged.
Product To Try: Dior – Backstage Concealer, $29
Closing Thoughts
TikTok's “invisible eyeliner” makeup trend is perfect for anyone who wants to create a subtle look and a more elongated eye shape without using traditional eyeliners.
Excellent for a day look, a night look, or anything in between, this makeup technique is not only super easy to master but also an instant hit that's likely here to stay!
Love Evie? Sign up for our newsletter and get curated content weekly!