How TikTok users are using 'transparent' eyeliner to subtly enhance their eyes

Only TikTok users could have come up with a trend for so called "transparent" makeup. Photo composite: AFP

TikTok users are getting creative in their quest for more natural beauty looks, sharing all kinds of tips, each more original than the next.

One of the recent tricks involve the use of "transparent" eyeliner to create a doe-eyed look without plastering on layers of makeup. Confusing, but really quite effective.

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Nothing is less certain at a time when makeup is about all things natural. If some women have completely given up on makeup, others are turning to tricks that hide their imperfections and highlight their assets without plastering on the product.

One such trick is transparent eyeliner, which is going down a storm on the Chinese social network.

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Barely there makeup

Only TikTok users could have come up with a trend for so called "transparent" makeup.

After all, what could be more natural-looking than that? After emerging around a month ago, the phenomenon has become so big that the #transparenteyeliner hashtag now counts no less than 1.7 million views.

And if the origin of the trend is attributed to TikTok user and eye makeup specialist May Akhtar, there are now plenty of videos on the subject on the social network, reflecting the scale of the craze for this original technique.

The idea is essentially to hack the original eyeliner technique by drawing a virtually transparent line in the shape of your choice.

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But here, instead of drawing a line, or a flick or wing, with a black or colored liner, the idea is to use a neutral shade, as light as possible, in the place of traditionally more visible colors.

Specifically, Akhtar uses a light shade of concealer to draw on winged eyeliner effect.

Unlike what you're probably used to doing, here, you don't fill in the "wing", but just create an outline, then blend the product outwards to highlight the shape.

And that's it. In a very subtle – but not so transparent – way, eyes appear enlarged and enhanced without looking too made-up. A "natural" technique that's perfectly fitting for the summer season. – AFP Relaxnews