Science Confirms What We've Believed All Along
A recent study published in Nature.com Scientific Reports1 investigated the relationship between eyeliner use and dry eye symptoms in more than 1,300 participants from 28 countries. The findings were striking. Regular eyeliner users were significantly more likely to report dry eye symptoms than non-users (42.93% vs. 33.38%). But one finding stood above the rest:
People who applied eyeliner directly to their lid margins (the waterline) had an even greater prevalence of dry eye symptoms, with 48.17% reporting elevated Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores.
In other words, where you apply eyeliner matters just as much as what eyeliner you choose.
That’s Why We Made Our Eyeliner Liquid
For years, people have asked us the same question:
"Why doesn't Eyes Are The Story make a pencil eyeliner?"
The answer has always been simple.
Because we designed our eyeliner to help keep it off your waterline.
Now, new peer-reviewed research has validated exactly why that decision matters.
Your Waterline Isn't Meant for Makeup
The waterline (also called the lid margin) isn't simply another place to add definition to your eyes.
It is one of the most important structures protecting your vision.
Running along this delicate edge are the openings of the meibomian glands - tiny glands responsible for producing the lipid (oil) layer of your tear film. This oil slows tear evaporation, keeps your eyes comfortable, and maintains a healthy ocular surface.
When eyeliner is placed directly over these gland openings, several things can happen:
- Cosmetic particles migrate into the tear film with every blink.
- The meibomian gland openings can become obstructed.
- Tear film stability may be disrupted.
- Irritation and inflammation may increase.
- Dry eye symptoms can worsen over time.
This is exactly why eye care professionals routinely advise patients with sensitive eyes, dry eyes, or meibomian gland dysfunction to avoid lining the waterline.
Design Is a Safety Feature
At Eyes Are The Story, product design begins with ocular surface science, not beauty trends.
When we developed our Liquid Eyeliner, we intentionally chose a precision felt-tip applicator rather than a traditional pencil.
Why?
Because a liquid felt tip naturally guides application along the lash line, where eyeliner enhances the eye without encouraging placement directly over the meibomian gland openings.
Could someone still misuse it?
Of course.
But compared with a sharpened pencil specifically designed to glide across the waterline, a liquid applicator helps promote a healthier application technique.
That wasn't an accident.
It was by design.
Beauty Should Work With Your Eyes, Not Against Them
The beauty industry has long celebrated "tightlining" - placing eyeliner directly on the waterline, as the ultimate way to create fuller-looking lashes.
Unfortunately, the ocular surface often pays the price.
The new research showed that eyeliner users applying product at the lid margin had the highest proportion of elevated OSDI scores. The authors explain that eyeliner placed closer to the eye surface increases the likelihood that cosmetic particles interact with the tear film during blinking, potentially affecting both the ocular surface and the meibomian glands.
For many people with:
- Dry eye disease
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
- Contact lenses
- Sensitive eyes
- Ocular rosacea
- Blepharitis
… this seemingly small makeup habit can make a meaningful difference.
It's Not Just the Formula - It's the Technique
People often ask us:
"Is your eyeliner safe?"
The better question is:
"How should I use it safely?"
Even the gentlest formula should be applied thoughtfully.
We recommend:
- Apply eyeliner just above the lashes, not on the waterline.
- Remove makeup thoroughly every evening.
- Replace liquid eyeliner approximately every three months.
- Never share eye makeup.
- If you have dry eye disease or sensitive eyes, discuss your cosmetic routine with your eye care professional.
These recommendations mirror those highlighted by the researchers as practical steps for protecting the ocular surface.
Beauty That Respects the Blink
When we created Eyes Are The Story, our goal was never simply to make another eyeliner.
We wanted to rethink eye cosmetics through the lens of ocular surface science.
Years later, emerging research continues to reinforce that philosophy.
Sometimes innovation isn't adding more.
Sometimes it's intentionally designing a product to help people avoid one of the most common, and overlooked, mistakes in eye makeup.
Beautiful eyes begin with healthy eyes. And sometimes, the safest place for your eyeliner is just above the lashes, not on the waterline.
