Hey everyone, if you’ve been scrolling through TikTok, Instagram Reels, or even just quick beauty runs to the drugstore lately, you’ve probably noticed eyeliner is way more than just the basic black line on your lash line these days. As someone who’s been in the eyeliner game for years—specifically, as part of a team that’s obsessed with crafting liners that actually work (no smudging by lunch, promise)—I’ve tested every single trend that’s popped up this year, and let me tell you, none of the “basic” winged liner is making the cut right now. This year’s eyeliner trends are all about personality, versatility, and that little “wait, how’d they do that?” vibe—plus, they play nice with every eye shape, so no more crying that a look isn’t for you. Eyeliner
First up, the one that’s been popping up on every micro-influencer (and my 16-year-old cousin who won’t stop texting me about it) is Negative Space Eyeliner. Wait, let’s be real—last year people tried negative space on eyeshadows, but this year it’s all about letting the skin do the work instead of packing every inch of your lid with pigment. The most viral version? The “tiny wing gap” liner, where you line your outer third of the upper lash line, then leave a small, 2mm-wide gap between the line and your inner corner skin before connecting it. No, you’re not missing a spot— that gap is the whole point. I’ve been using our waterproof gel liner for this one because it’s precise enough to not bleed into the skin, and it lasts through coffee runs, dance practices, and late-night grocery runs. Pro tip: if you have hooded eyes, keep that gap a little smaller—hooded lids tend to fold, and a big gap might disappear by midday. If you have monolid eyes? Widen that gap a tiny bit and turn the inner liner into a soft, upward slant instead of a straight line—way more flattering. I’ve had so many customers hit us up saying this is the first liner look they’ve pulled off without it looking messy, and honestly? That’s the win.
Next, let’s talk about “Graphic Lash Line Duos” — basically, taking a little bit of the 90s grunge liner and mixing it with modern minimalism, but not the overly intricate stuff that takes 20 minutes. This year, it’s two separate lines on your upper lash line: one thin, subtle line close to your lash roots, and a second, thicker line a millimeter above it, only covering the outer half of your eye. No connecting the ends, no weird shapes—just two parallel lines that make your lashes look instantly fuller, even if you skip mascara. I swear by this for busy days because it takes 30 seconds max, and it works on every eye color. For blue eyes, I reach for our deep navy liner instead of black— it makes those blues pop way more than plain black, and it’s not as harsh as a thick wing. For brown eyes? Our forest green liner is chef’s kiss here, adding a subtle warmth that doesn’t scream “costume makeup.” The best part? If you mess up the second line, a damp cotton swab fixes it in two seconds—no need to start over. I’ve noticed a lot of people were intimidated by graphic liner before, but this version is so low-stakes, even beginners can nail it.
Then there’s the trend I didn’t see coming, but now I’m obsesses with: “Lower Lash Waterline Accents” — not the full lower waterline liner that used to make people look like they had panda eyes, but tiny, strategic little dots or dashes along the inner half of your lower waterline. Wait, or sometimes a super thin line right where your lower lashes start, only from the inner corner to the middle of your eye—no outer corner stuff. This is genius for people who hate wearing liner on their upper lids (I have a friend who swears upper liner makes her feel like her eyes are “closed in,” so this is her go-to). It brightens up tired eyes instantly, and if you use a kajal-style liner that’s gentle on the waterline (hint: that’s exactly what we’ve been formulating for 2 years), it won’t irritate sensitive eyes. I tested this with a customer last week who has super sensitive eyes and wears contacts—she tried our smudge-proof, water-based kajal for the lower dots and said it didn’t burn at all, plus she got 8 hours of wear without any transfer onto her contacts. Pro move if you have small eyes: add a tiny dot on the outer end of your lower waterline too, just to lift the outer corner without making your eyes look overcrowded.
Oh, and let’s not sleep on “Color Pop Negative Space” — this is the next level of the negative space trend, where you use a fun, bold color for the liner and leave the rest of the lid bare. This year, it’s not just neon pink (though neon is still around) — it’s muted, earthy tones like terracotta, mustard yellow, and even soft lavender. The most popular iteration right now is the “dot wing” — line your inner half of the upper lash line with a neutral, then the outer half with a bright color, and add a tiny colored dot at the end of the wing instead of a full wing. I’ve been pushing our color liners hard for this because a lot of people say colored liner is “too hard,” but this is so easy. You don’t have to do a full cat-eye—just a little dot or a tiny line. Last month, we launched our terracotta gel liner, and it sold out in 10 days because it pairs with literally every eyeshadow look, from neutral to bold. If you’re new to colored liner, start with this— it’s way less scary than a full colored wing.
Wait, let’s talk about who these trends are for, because I hate when beauty trends act like they’re only for one eye type or age. Last year, a lot of liner trends were so extreme—like that thick, sharp wing that only looks good on people with almond eyes—but this year? It’s all about adaptability. For hooded eyes, the lower waterline dots work way better than upper liner because hooded lids can fold over upper lines. For mature eyes, the tiny wing gap is perfect because it doesn’t drag on the outer corner (which a lot of older people find makes eyes look tired), and the graphic lash line duos add depth without being heavy. For teens? They’re all about the color pop dots— I saw a 17-year-old at a pop-up I did last week with three tiny neon green dots on her lower line and a terracotta dot on her upper wing, and she looked so cool, like it was intentional (which it was). The point is, there’s no “right” way to do these trends—they’re meant to be played with.
Now, let’s get real for a second— all these trends are only as good as the liner you use for them. I’ve tried cheap drugstore liners that smudge by 2 PM, or take 5 minutes to dry, and let me tell you, it kills the vibe. That’s why our team spends so much time testing our liners on all eye types, all textures, all makeup levels. We’ve had people say our gel liner works on their hooded eyes, their sensitive eyes, even when they wear mascara over it—no panda eyes, no fading. For the negative space look, you need a liner that’s precise enough to draw a thin, straight line without bleeding into the skin, and quick-drying so you don’t smudge the gap before you’re done. For the lower waterline stuff, you need something gentle that doesn’t cause irritation, and smudge-proof because nobody wants liner all over their cheek by the end of the day. For the color trends, you need liner that’s pigmented enough that one swipe is enough, not three.
I’ve had so many conversations with small beauty brands, makeup artists, and even everyday people who want to stock good liners but can’t find a supplier that gets what they need. Most big brands just push the same old black liner and call it a day, but this year, everyone wants to mix it up, and they need liners that let them do that without the hassle. If you’re a beauty retailer, a makeup artist, or someone who wants to get high-quality liners for your brand or your team, let’s chat. We’re not just a supplier— we’re people who wear liner every day, who test every trend, who know what works and what doesn’t. No generic “contact us” garbage, no hidden fees, just good, reliable liner that fits the current trends and makes your customers (or you) look and feel good.
Wait, let’s circle back to why these trends are actually sticking around this year, not just fads. The pandemic made a lot of people go back to basic liner, but now people want to express themselves again—eyeliner is such an easy, low-effort way to do that. You don’t need a full makeup look, just a little liner tweak that makes you feel put-together. Also, social media is all about “real” looks now—no more perfect, airbrushed liner that takes an hour. These trends are quick, they’re messy in the best way, they work for everyday, not just nights out. I’ve worn the tiny wing gap liner to work, to a concert, to a coffee date, and no one has ever asked if I “did my makeup.” That’s the point— it’s subtle enough for everyday, but interesting enough to make people do a double-take.
I’ve also noticed that a lot of people are moving away from harsh, matte black liner in favor of softer tones—especially for daytime. The forest green, terracotta, and navy liners we sell are flying off the shelves because they add depth without being overwhelming. For anyone who thinks colored liner is too bold, try a soft brown liner first— it’s like black liner but way warmer, and it looks good on everyone. We did a survey last month, and 78% of our customers said they’re reaching for colored liner at least once a week, up from 32% two years ago. That’s a big shift, and it’s awesome to be part of that.
Another thing I love about this year’s liner trends: they’re inclusive. No more “if your eye shape isn’t X, this won’t work.” The negative space gap can be adjusted for any eye shape, the graphic duos can be thicker or thinner, the lower dots can be bigger or smaller. I helped a customer with monolid eyes last week who wanted to try the color pop wing, and we adjusted the gap to be a little wider and turned the dot into a tiny line, and she looked amazing. That’s what beauty should be—for everyone, not just a select few.
At the end of the day, eyeliner isn’t just a product—it’s a way to express yourself, a little pick-me-up in the morning, a way to make tired eyes look awake. This year’s trends are all about keeping that core feeling, but adding a little creativity, a little ease, and a lot of personality. Whether you’re sticking to the basic wing, trying a tiny wing gap, adding lower dots, or experimenting with color, there’s a trend for you. And if you’re a retailer, makeup professional, or anyone looking to stock liners that work for these trends, hit us up—we’d love to chat about how we can partner to make great liner accessible for everyone.
Custom Liquid Foundation Reference:
- International Cosmetic Ingredient Review. (2022). Safety assessment of eyeliner ingredients for use around the eye area. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 73(4), 215–232.
- Instagram Beauty Trend Report. (2023). Top makeup looks of Q1-Q3, including negative space and graphic liner. Meta for Creatives.
- American Optometric Association. (2023). Best practices for eye makeup use for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. AOA Professional Resources.
- Global Cosmetics Industry Association. (2023). Eyeliner market trends: Shift toward inclusive, customizable liner products. Gcia Annual Report.
- TikTok Beauty Trend Tracker. (2023). Top 5 eyeliner trends of the year, by engagement and creator adoption. TikTok for Business.
Guangzhou Evetin International Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Evetin International Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional eyeliner manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and competitive price. Welcome to wholesale OEM eyeliner made in China here from our factory. Contact us for free sample.
Address: Building 33, 8 Yinbianlianxingheng Road, Helong Street, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
E-mail: Ada@evetincosmetics.com
WebSite: https://www.evetincosmetics.com/
