Dec 05, 2024

How to Do a Cat Eye Makeup Look

Want a look as purr-fectly fierce as you are? The classic cat eye is one of the most popular makeup looks in the world. It traces its roots to ancient Egypt, where Queens like Nefertiti and Cleopatra paved the pathway for this iconic look. The timeless trend gained momentum in the 1950s with the introduction of liquid eyeliner and the influence of iconic stars like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. Achieving a bold cat eye is often the goal, and you can learn how to get the look through this tried and tested cat eye makeup tutorial.

Choosing the Right Eyeliner

The instruments you use will influence the look of your cat eye. Every tool achieves a different result, from liquid, pencil, and gel eyeliner options to the steady hand doing the work.

Types of Eyeliner

Everyone has their favorite type of eyeliner. Some might prefer pencil eyeliners while others prefer liquid liners. Liquid liners are perfect for creating bold, precise, sharp edged lines while pencil eyeliners are better for softer, diffused lines.

While all formulas are great, choosing the right eyeliner for your desired effect and your preferences is important to doing a cat eye successfully.

The ColorStay Line Creator™ Double Ended Liner offers a liquid liner with a tapered precision brush tip on one end, perfect for creating sharp, dramatic lines, and a creamy kohl retractable pencil on the other end for creating soft, smoky looks. It is available in four double-end shades and lasts up to 48 hours.
Revlon's ColorStay™ Liquid Eye Pens are a waterproof, transfer-proof, smudge-proof, and smear-proof jet-black liquid liner with tip variations — the slim, tapered tip, ballpoint shape, and an angled tip for easy wing drawing.
The ColorStay Skinny™ Liquid Liner creates ultra-skinny lines because of its 0.1 mm tip. The brush-like wand gives you total control to draw excellent skinny lines that will last up to 10 hours.
So Fierce!™ Chrome Ink Liquid Liner has three long-lasting molten metal colors — Gunmetal, Bronzage, and Ultraviolet Foil. The liners are waterproof, smudge-free, and transfer-resistant.
ColorStay Multiplayer™ Liquid-Glide Eye Pencil offers a liquid-like glide application that delivers 12HR waterproof wear available in 6 rich shades for all skin tones.

Color Options

Black eyeliner is a popular choice for the cat eye look, but you can also use other colors to create different effects. Brown eyeliner can give you a softer, more natural look, while white eyeliner can make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

Looking for something bolder? So Fierce!™ Vinyl Eyeliner comes in high-impact waterproof colors like royal blue, and burgundy.

Finish

You’ve got two main finishes to choose from: matte and glossy. Each one has its own unique charm and can totally transform your look.

Matte eyeliner is like the reliable friend who's always there for you. It's versatile and can work with any look you're going for. It sets into your skin, giving you a smooth, flat finish that's perfect for a more subtle or professional look.

Glossy eyeliner is like the life of the party. It sits on top of your skin and catches the light, giving you a shiny, bold line that really pops. It's great for when you want to add a little extra drama to your look.

How to Do a Cat Eye Step-by-Step

Now that you’ve chosen your eyeliner type of finish, let’s walk through how to do a cat eye makeup look.

Step 1: Prep Your Eyes for a Cat Eye Look

The first thing to do before drawing your cat eye is to establish a solid base to ensure a smooth, even application. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize before starting.

To keep your shadow and liner on longer, start with an eye primer like the ColorStay™ Eyeshadow Primer.

Step 2: Drawing the Line: How to Create the Perfect Wing

Grab your desired eyeliner. For better control, choose an eyeliner with an angled, slim, or tapered tip like the ColorStay Micro™ Easy Precision Liquid Liner. You can draw the line with an open or closed eye.

With an open eye, look straight ahead and gently pull your upper eyelid taut with your finger to create a smooth, even line. For a closed eye, gently pull your upper eyelid taut with your finger.

Use your dominant hand to gently line your upper lash line with slow, small strokes, gradually increasing the thickness as needed from the inner corner of your eye, working your way out. Extend the line slightly upwards and outwards to create a wing when you reach the outer corner of your eye.

Step 3: Filling in the Eyeliner and Perfecting the Shape

Gradually thicken the line toward the end to make the wing look more dramatic. Continue filling in the eyeliner and perfecting its shape. If needed, use a cotton swab or concealer for corrections. Pay close attention to symmetry and alignment with the other eye. Use gentle, precise movements to refine the wing's angle and length until they match.

Step 4: Finish with Mascara

Finish your look by curling your lashes and adding mascara to your upper and lower lashes.

Difference between Cat Eyes and Winged Eyeliner

While winged eyeliner and cat eyeliner can be used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between the two styles.

Winged eyeliner follows the upper lash line and extends outwards and upwards at the outer corner of the eye, creating a 'wing' effect. This style is often used to create a more open, lifted look for the eyes.

Cat eyeliner is a more dramatic and bolder look. It often involves lining both the upper and lower lash lines, with the lines extending outwards and upwards at the outer corners to mimic the shape of a cat's eye. The cat eye look can also involve extending the liner at the inner corners of the eyes to further enhance the feline effect.

Advanced Tips and Techniques for the Cat Eye Look

Now that you have mastered the basics of creating a simple cat eye, you're ready to take your skills to the next level for a bolder, more daring finish.

How to Tailor the Cat Eye Look According to Your Eye Shape

The shape of your eye determines how you should draw and shape your wing. Tailoring the cat eye look to your eye shape will enhance your eye features.

Almond eyes are naturally balanced and have a slight upward tilt. Accentuate your almond eyes by drawing a classic cat eye with a slightly winged liner.
Hooded eyes have an extra fold of skin that covers the upper eyelid. For the cat eye that complements your hooded eyes, draw a thin line along your upper lash line. Then, extend the liner beyond the outer corner of your eye and flick it up slightly, keeping the wing close to your lash line. You can also use a light eyeliner to open your inner corner.
Downturned eyes have an outer corner that points downwards. Draw a thin line along your upper lash line, then extend the liner beyond the outer corner of your eye and flick it up slightly, keeping the wing close to your lash line. You can use a lighter eyeliner on the lower lash line to define your eyes.
Round eyes have a full upper and lower eyelid with a soft curve. Draw a liner that extends beyond the outer corner of your eye and flicks up slightly to create a cat eye that opens up your round eyes. You can also thicken the liner at the outer corner to create a more dramatic look.

Mastering the Art of Symmetry: Getting Both Eyes to Match

The trickiest part of perfecting your cat eye is achieving symmetry. Nevertheless, you can master the art of balance by:

Try using an angled brush or applicator with gel liner or a liquid liner for sharper wings.
Steady your hand by resting your elbow on a surface.
You can also use a business card in wing alignment. Place the card on an angle at the outer eye corner, using its edge as a guide for drawing the wing.
Inspect your work in a handheld mirror for better adjustments.
Always take your time for precision because rushing leads to uneven lines.
Use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover for corrections.

Creating a Smokey or Soft Cat Eye

The smokey eye complements the cat eye beautifully. You can soften the cat eye look by smudging the eyeliner to make it more smokey and less precise with the ColorStay 2 in 1 Angled Kajal™ Eyeliner or the ColorStay Multiplayer™ Liquid-Glide Eye Pencil.

For the smoky look, draw the cat eye using the angled tip for easy lining. With the liner's smudge brush, spread the drawn liner for a smoky look while maintaining the wing line. Blend the smudge until the outer side is darkest.

Cleaning Up and Fixing a Smudge or Mistake

If you make a mistake or extend the wing too far, dip a cotton swab or brush in a makeup remover. Correct the error gently by removing excess eyeliner to maintain a clean, symmetrical cat eye.

Cat Eye Styles to Try

You can elevate the classic cat eye by experimenting with variations like a double wing or extending the wing for a more intense, dramatic effect, adding a bold twist to your look. Here are a few styles to try.

The Dramatic or Graphic Cat Eye

Trace a thin line along the upper lash line, extending it outward to create a bold wing. Enhance the wing's drama by thickening it slightly at the end. Once satisfied with the wing's shape, fill it in with eyeliner. Add intensity to the look by applying black eyeliner to the lower lash line. Complete the look with volumizing mascara for a striking finish.

Double Line Cat Eye

Draw a thin line along the upper lash line. Extend it into a wing. Next, draw a second line just above the first, starting from the outer corner of your eye, with the two lines meeting at the wing. Fill the space between the lines.

Find Tips for All Your Favorite Makeup Looks

The cat eye is both an art and a striking beauty statement. To achieve that sleek wing, embrace liquid eyeliner as your ally. Experiment with various techniques and enjoy the charm of this feline look.