Easy Tricks for the Cat Eye Liner Look

We’ve been seeing cat eyes on and red carpets everywhere for the past couple of months but unless you’re an eyeliner expert, cat eye liner can be intimidating. So, here are a few tips and tricks for bringing out your inner sex kitten! (As least in terms of you your make-up.)

Use a Pot & Brush
Liquid eyeliner is fine for some; however, to get the sexiest cat eyes possible, gel or cream eyeliners that come in pot, such as Stila’s Smudge Pots or MAC’s Fluidline, are best. Also, toss the cheapie applicators that usually come with non-pencil liners and invest in a small, angular brush. Eyeliner brushes with stiffer bristles will give you the best control.

Keep a Straight Face
That open-mouthed, raised-eyebrow face we all make when applying our eyeliner? Not only is it not cute at the time, but it can also lead to equally not-cute make-up. Before you begin to draw your cat eye, relax the muscles in your face and keep your eyes as open as possible. Make sure, as well, to keep your faced relaxed when checking the symmetry of your cat eyes. Nobody walks around with that perpetually surprised expression, right?

Draw Your Cat Eye
The key to a sexy cat eye look is, of course, the perfect cat eye shape. How you achieve this, however, is a matter of personal preference. Most will find it easiest to start near the outer lash line and subtly flick the brush towards the outside tip of their eyebrow. Others may prefer to drag the brush from the eyebrow to the lash line “ or some combination of both! Likewise, some may want to build their wing gradually while others may prefer to create a larger wing right away and even things out with a moist, pointed Q-Tip.

Get the Perfect Shape
When shaping your cat eye, take notes from Angelina Jolie, the queen of cat eyes. Your liner should be barely visible near the inner corners of the eyes and significantly thicker near the outer corners. This will elongate the eyes and create a dramatic effect.

Stay in the Lines
When applying your eyeliner, try to keep the brush as close to the lash line as possible. For a flawless look, use a regular black eye pencil along the upper waterline. This will create a dark, heavy appearance that goes great with a dramatic cat eye. Avoiding any space between your liner and your lashes will take this look from amateur to just-left-the-runway.

Don’t Forget the Bottom
For daytime, lining just the upper lid is best. However, for a night on the town, line the outer third of your lower lash line and merge it with the wing. Again, try to stay close to the lashes and fill in any empty spaces.