Celeb Beauty Masterclass: How to Tightline Your Eyes Without Injury

It's a tried-and-true makeup trick that nearly every celeb (including Emma Stone and Kate Mara) calls upon when looking to give maximum smoulder—tightlined eyeliner that rims the eye so closely, it makes the eye shape appear more feline and the whites of eye look brighter.
When executed correctly, it's absolutely enviable in its sheer sexiness (ahem, Chrissy Teigan, much?). But precision is required! It goes beyond coloring within the lines; it's about coloring on the waterlines. Talk about daunting.
To help take us from simply lining the eyelid to creating meticulous points on the waterline, we talked to E! Style Collective member and celebrity makeup artist Ashley Rebecca for the skinny on how to tightline the eyes like a Hollywood pro.

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Pick the right tools: Like with any precise paint job, it's all about having the right tools. For this exacting look, Ashley suggested applying primer to the rims of lids and using a soft kohl waterproof pencil that's malleable and not hard, like Eyeko Making Eyes Automatic Gel Eyeliner. "It makes the process extremely easy and comfortable at the same time," she said.
Get down: "The most common mistake when trying to tightline their eyes is lining above the lashes," Ashley said. Instead, use your free hand to lift the upper and lower lids away from the eyeball. It might feel funny at first, but this gives a whole new vantage point from which to draw. "Line underneath and in between the eyelashes to get that tight line that you're looking for," she instructed. "This will give a very thin visible line and a very natural finish."

Avoid injury: Lifting the lids to expose the waterline can cause the eyes to water excessively—which can lead to major makeup mess. To keep eyes in check and comfortable, Ashely suggested placing a finger on top of the lid and gently lifting it. This allows you to place pencil in between the lashes without any poking or excessive blinking. "If eyes do begin to water, relax for a moment, allow time for the eyes to regain balance and clean up any makeup with a cotton swab," the makeup pro advised.
Add drama: After lining both waterlines, create more definition by using an ultra-fine tipped eyeliner brush (like Tarte Etch & Sketch Double-Ended Bamboo Liner Brush) dipped in gel liner to line the eyelid where the lashes meet the lid.