New makeup trend?: What's behind the popular reverse eyeliner

Ever since Audrey Hepburn and her unmistakable, elegant eyeliner, it has been one of the most popular eye makeup techniques in its many variations. Whether classic with a curved wing, rock-style smudges, or subtle to only slightly emphasize the eye – eyeliner makes a huge visual impact, and that's precisely why new variations and trends are constantly emerging. While classic eyeliner is applied to the upper lash line and drawn from the center outward, a new look is now bringing a breath of fresh air and literally turning the familiar technique on its head.

Reverse eyeliner has already arrived in Hollywood and is now making its way onto our radar. To make it easy to recreate, we're sharing the best tips and tricks for this new makeup trend.

In contrast to traditional eyeliner, the new reverse eyeliner trend focuses on the lower lash line. Whether gently blended or precisely drawn, the eyeliner runs along the tear trough all the way to the outer corner of the eye. For the typical cat-eye effect, it's very important to extend the line slightly beyond the corner of the eye.

Since the technique flatters almost every eye shape, the trend spread rapidly across social media and went viral on Instagram and TikTok. The look can be varied depending on your taste and occasion – for example, with gel eyeliner, creamy eyeliner pencils, or even eyeshadow in different textures.

Reverse eyeliner creates an intense, expressive look and makes the eyes appear larger and more awake. By specifically emphasizing the lower waterline, the eyes appear fresher and more radiant. The effect is particularly striking when the lower eyeliner is combined with dark eyeshadow and blended thoroughly. Reverse eyeliner is also ideal for smoky eyes. Especially for droopy eyelids, eyeliner offers a sensible alternative. The gaze appears more open, the eye is visually lifted, and the look remains expressive.

Brigitte