Last Updated on July 20, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Is lining your lashline dangerous? I remember back in high school, one of my friends decided to try tightlining. I had never heard of it then, but she swore it’d make her eyes more defined and her lashes look longer and fuller. That was the idea. But when she gave it a go, she just stabbed herself in the eye with the pencil. Ouch!
Thankfully, she didn’t suffer any long-term damage, but the pain was excruciating. We both got the message: applying eyeliner to your lashlines is dangerous. If someone as meticulous as she can poke herself in the eye with it, can you imagine what awful things could happen to someone as clumsy as me? The horror!
But, as the years passed and the memory faded, I thought my reaction had been a bit too extreme. I love the way tightlining defines your eyes and thought that, with some practice and caution, there would be no risk of the pencil slipping into my eye and doing some serious harm. It took a while, but I got the hang of it.
But applying eyeliner on my lashline is something that still makes me uneasy. No, I’m not worried about poking myself in the eye anymore. Still, the question remains, are there any other risks?
- The Real Reason Lining Your Lashline Is Dangerous
- 1. Apply Eyeliner Below The Lashline
- 2. Take It All Off At Night
- What Type of Eyeliner Is Best for the Waterline?
- Can Tightlining Damage Your Vision?
- Why Does My Eyeliner Always End Up In My Eye?
- Are There Alternatives To Waterline Eyeliner?
- Can Contact Lens Wearers Use Eyeliner on the Waterline?
- The Bottom Line
The Real Reason Lining Your Lashline Is Dangerous
If you look at your upper and lower lashlines closely, you’ll notice some little holes. They secrete Meibum, an oily substance that prevents your tears from drying up. When these little openings are somehow blocked, your eyes become dry. They can them become inflamed, causing blepharitis.
Although it usually doesn’t cause permanent damage (phew!), it’s still not fun to deal with it. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, eyelids sticking together, and a gritty sensation like something foreign has got stuck inside your eye. So uncomfortable!
Should we stop using eyeliner on the lashlines? Well no. I still do so, just not every day. But even daily wear can be safe, if you’re aware of the risks and know how to avoid them. Here’s what you can do:
1. Apply Eyeliner Below The Lashline
Rather than applying eyeliner right on the waterline, try putting it on just below it. Wait a while, and some of the color will naturally migrate to the lower lashline (and even inside the eye). This way, your eyes are still beautifully defined and your eye glands remain (mostly) free and open. Another trick: use a tight, flat brush to smudge a gel liner into the base of your lashes instead of going straight for the waterline. It gives the same impact with way less risk to your glands.
2. Take It All Off At Night
Regardless of where you apply your eyeliner, some of it will end up in your eye. To avoid it blocking your glands, make sure you take it all off at the end of the night. I know it’s a chore and you cant wait to get into bed, but it only takes a couple of minutes and could save you a lot of discomfort later on. And no, face wipes don’t count. Get in there with a gentle eye makeup remover and give your lashline a proper clean. Micellar water on a cotton bud is your best friend.
What Type of Eyeliner Is Best for the Waterline?
Something creamy that doesn’t feel like it’s scratching your eyeball. Gel pencils are usually the easiest. They go on smooth and don’t slide off five seconds later. Just avoid glittery ones unless you want sparkles literally in your eye.
I love using a light shade, like cream or pale mint green, there. It opens up my small eyes and makes them look bigger (dark shades make them look smaller). The problem now is to find a pencil that won’t disappear after 5 minutes! Not an easy task. The most longlasting I’ve found are Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils, but even they need to be retouched during the day.
Related: My Full Review Of Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils
Can Tightlining Damage Your Vision?
Not really, but it can mess with your eyes if you’re doing it all the time and not cleaning properly. You might get dry eyes, styes, that gritty “why does my eye feel weird” vibe. Basically: no, it won’t ruin your vision, but yeah, it can get annoying if you overdo it.
Why Does My Eyeliner Always End Up In My Eye?
Because eyeliner has one goal and it’s to betray you. If it’s too creamy or you put it too close to the inner corner, it just melts and slides into your eye like it’s trying to escape. Try stopping before the tear duct and set it with a little eyeshadow. That usually helps.
Are There Alternatives To Waterline Eyeliner?
Totally. Smudge some dark eyeshadow into your lashes instead. It gives you that soft definition without going into your eye. Or skip liner and get your lashes tinted. Less effort, same vibe.
Can Contact Lens Wearers Use Eyeliner on the Waterline?
Yeah, but you’ve gotta be a bit more careful. Put your contacts in first, and don’t use stuff that flakes or has glitter. If your eyes start feeling weird, maybe don’t wear it every day.
The Bottom Line
Tightlining looks amazing, but it’s not totally risk-free. Use the right kind of liner, don’t jam it into your eye, and actually take your makeup off at night (yes, even when you’re tired). And if your eyes start acting up? Ditch the liner for a bit. It’s not that deep.
I think maybe I’ve gotten lucky, because I do this all the time and haven’t had a problem. Then again, I also wash my face, so…that’s probably why!
Trisha, this is one of those things you never think may happen to you until they do, isn’t it? But of course I hope it never will, and am so glad you never had any problems yet.
I always have eyeliner on the waterline! I use MAC chromographic NC15/NW20 daily and like to wear Marc Jacob’s Brown Out on the upper lashline, sometimes a bit of the waterline as well. Hmm, I didn’t know this! I’ve had issues with dry eyes in the past but have assumed it was my contacts.
I love the look of liner on the waterline though and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
I will be more cautious and perhaps focus more on the lashline but I don’t think my nude liner is as heavy as a black gel or creme.
Janessa, I don’t think you should stop lining your waterline if you like it. Just make sure you remove everything carefully at the end of the day. That’s something a lot of us forget to do because we assume all the eyeliner has already disappeared, and that’s what can really cause problems.
I loved lining my waterline when I was a teen, and didn’t have any problems with it, thankfully.
I have a question and think you’re the one who can help me with an answer:
Do moisturizing masks work, long-term?
I kinda get the impression that all the good effects of that kind of mask are very temporary – they are washed off the first or second time you wash your face after applying them.
If that is the case, it seems they are just glorified stronger moisturizers, and it’d have similiar effect if I just applied a thicker layer of my regular cream.
Ana, I’m glad you didn’t have any problems with it.
And you’re absolutely right. Their effect is only temporary. I think they’re great to use when your skin needs a quick pick me up or for a special occasion, cos they give your skin that extra oomph. But it doesn’t last long.
I’m not sure applying a thicker layer of your moisturizer would do much, though. There is only so much product that can be absorbed by the skin. If you use too much, it’ll just sit there, and may feel uncomfortable too.
Thank you, Gio ^_^ !
My pleasure!
Gio, I have blepharitis and dry eye. It happens to some of us as we get older, unfortunately. To treat both, I take Restasis and I have tiny plugs put into those little holes by my ophthalmologist every 6 months to prevent the tears that my eyes produce from draining back. So it works the opposite of what you’ve written.
I didn’t know that essence made eye makeup remover. I don’t think it’s out in the US yet!
Allison, I’m sorry you are suffering from both conditions. It must be so frustrating for you.
After receiving your comment, I did some more research. It seems that, if makeup clogs these tiny holes, it can cause inflammation and blepharitis indeed. At this stage, plugs aren’t advised. They could make the condition worse. They become an useful option after the inflammation has disappeared to keep the eye hydrated. But I will do some more digging and let you know what I find.
I can’t line my waterline; it bothers my contact lenses.
It is incredible to me that there are people who don’t remove all their makeup every day…really?? That’s just basic hygiene…isn’t it??
Jessica, I used to be one of those people when I was a teen… I couldn’t be bothered when I came home late at night :oops. Now, I shudder even just to think how reckless I was… I always remove everything now. You’re right it’s basic hygiene.
I got that “condition once. It was terrible. I got it from applying my mascara too close to my lash line and accidentally getting some on it. I was always very good about removing all my makeup at the end of the day but it didn’t matter. The pore got clogged and infected. No amount of makeup could make that eye look normal. Eventually the swelling went down and I was left with hard bump under my eyelid…. like a very deep hard blackhead that you can’t squeeze out because it is larger than the pore it would have to travel through. I tried to hide it with makeup but if people got too close they would inevitably ask “what is wrong with your eye?” I eventually (after a year or two of trying other options or just trying to ignore it) had to get it surgically removed ( they flip your eyelid over, slice it down the back and get all gunk out). Ever since I have disliked mascara and when I do wear it, I am soooo careful not to put it near the waterline. I can not imagine intentionally putting makeup there! It is not worth the risk!
Shivani, oh no! I’m so sorry this happened to you, how awful! Thank you for sharing your story, hopefully it will prompt other women to stop lining their lashlines.