If you follow the trends on Instagram, you may at some point consider applying your makeup like a drag queen, using milk of magnesia as a makeup primer, smearing gorilla glue on your forehead before attaching a lace front wig or setting your baby hairs with snot. While all of these things have their place, I don’t think any of it is ideal for regular everyday life. Unless you are in fact a clown. The perfect cat eye, however, is timeless and there’s seldom an occasion for which it’s inappropriate.
A great looking cat eye can be a bit challenging for some. Like most things in life, practice, practice, practice, makes perfect. I asked celebrity makeup artist, Alejandro Falcon, Artistic Director for Osmosis Colour Cosmetics, to share some tips to help you get the perfect cat eye.
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Start with a simple natural lid. I love using the Osmosis Colour Matte Collection Shadows for a classy, natural look.
- Using the Osmosis Colour Liquid Eye Definer draw a thin, crisp line starting from the outer corner of your eye and pull the line up at an angle towards the tip of your brow. You can choose how long or short you want the “tail” to be.
- Starting from the middle of your line, create a small triangle which expands onto your lash line. This will keep the point of the tail sharp.
- Fill in the triangle and begin to pull the rest of your line into the inner corner of your eye.
Everyone can wear a cat eye, you just have to tweak your application to suit the uniqueness of your eyes. Alejandro offers the tips below:
- Close set eyes – add Osmosis Opal Water Color Eye Shadow to the inner corners of your eyes to create the illusion of space.
- Hooded eyes, start the “tail” closer to the mid-section of your eye (before you reach the outer corner) and extend the tail upwards towards the tip of your brow.
- Mature lids – Follow the same steps but make a “kitten” tail. Meaning, make the tail smaller, and shorter in length.
Liquid Liners for The Perfect Cat Eye
Covergirl Get in Line Liquid Liner $7.99
Palladio Herbal Liquid Eyeliner $6.99
One of the easiest ways for me to get a cat eye is using a felt liner. They’re like Sharpies for the eyes. These foolproof products are easy to use and can help you create a super sharp cat-eye even if you are a makeup newbie. Follow the steps above using one of the products below.
Felt Liners for The Perfect Cat Eye
It Cosmetics Super Hero Liner $27
Laura Geller Eye Calligraphy $24
Elf Cosmetics Intense H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen $6
I’m fairly new to using Gel Liners for cat eyes. These liners offer flexibility in terms of the types of lines I can create. Following the techniques above gives me a sharp, well-defined cat eye. I can also feather out the lines as I move inward to the center of the lid for something a bit more fun. For this, you need the perfect firm angled brush (usually not the one included with the product.)
Gel Liners for the Perfect Cat Eye
Maybelline New York Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner $9.99
BOBBI BROWN Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner $27
I’ve talked about liquid liners, gel liners and felt liners — If you still think you can’t master the cat eye, how about a stamp or a stencil?
This product allows you stamp on the trickiest part of the cat eye to achieve, the tail. The dual-ended VampStamp comes in three sizes: Kitten, Medium and Large. While the stamp gives you tail outline, it still requires some dexterity to get your cat eye perfect. But once you do, it will definitely stay put. The cushion ink pot used with the Stamps is water resistant and is packaged with an angled brush to help you complete the cat eye once you stamp on the tail. ($45 at vampstamp.com)
Don’t feel like you have to get sucked into the Instaglam vortex of over-the-top makeup tutorials. You can pick one thing at a time to master and go at your own pace. Hope this post will help you to flick your wrist to create the perfect cat eye for YOU!
