The cat-eye: It’s a make-up classic, but it can be tricky to get the hang of. Here’s an easy step-by-step guide to getting the perfect feline flick every time, just like Ang…
What to use
This look can be achieved with any liquid eyeliner, but if you like to wear it on a regular basis you may want to look into expanding your cosmetic tool kit. When the task calls for precision and a steady hand, the right make-up brush can make all the difference.
Your best bet (and my personal favourite) is an angled brush. You can pick up one of these from the high street for around £5 or above, but you’ll find the best value brushes online, particularly on eBay. An angled brush, when used with gel liner, allows you to create sharp, precise lines in a way that’s much more difficult to achieve with an in-built applicator. It’s versatile, too – you can also use it to define eyebrows and apply eye shadow. That’s just a recommendation, though – you can still create this look with any liner brush you’ve got.
Now, onto the topic of the eyeliner itself! You can find the classic bottle-and-brush almost anywhere for a good price (if you’re buying a new one, don’t forget that a firmer pen-style applicator is far easier to wield correctly than one described as ‘superfine’). An alternative to regular liquid eyeliner is gel liner. It’s slightly more expensive, but it’s smudge, water and nightclub resistant! Maybelline’s Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner is great value, though; it’s only £7.99 and comes with a brush too! If its payday, you could look into investing in some of MAC’s Fluidline, which will stay perfect all day and all night, and won’t even run when you’re watching Titanic.
Step 1
Your first step is to apply a thin line along your upper lash line, stopping just before the outer corner. Keep it fine for now, because you’ll be making it thicker later on. At this point you should note how much eyeliner will suit you. If you have small or hooded eyes, keep it on the thinner side, but if you have round or almond-shaped eyes, it’s up to you how thick you want to go!
Step 2
Here’s where it starts to get a little fiddly! Achieving symmetrical cat-eye flicks is always a challenge, but this method takes out some of the guesswork and will help you get it right every time. Start by looking straight ahead into a mirror. Keep your eyes open but naturally so, as having your eyes shut or open too wide will result in wonky eyeliner! Identify the angle of the line you’re about to make by imagining a straight line continuing outwards from your lower lash line. If you’re using a bottle-and-brush or pen, place the tip at the outer corner of your eye and draw a fine diagonal line around 3-5mm long. If you have an angled brush, simply line it up at the correct angle and then press on once to apply the gel liner. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can alter the angle or lengthen the line to change the look. A slightly longer/more horizontal line will result in a more dramatic flick, and a slightly shorter/more vertical line will give you a pretty daytime version of the cat-eye.
Step 3
You’ve got the tricky part out of the way now, so onwards we go! Primary school maths comes in handy here; all you need to do is create a scalene triangle by connecting the end of your flick to the middle of your upper lash line (just above your pupil). Make sure that the triangle is fully filled in with eyeliner and that there are no gaps or patches where you’ve missed a spot.
Step 4
To polish off your cat-eye, simply sweep liner over the upper lash line to smooth it over and tidy it up. At this point you can thicken the line you made earlier or lengthen the flick to create a more dramatic look, but remember to keep checking that your eyes are still symmetrical. Now all you need to do is add the finishing touches, and you’ll be ready to go!
Step 5
Set off your cat-eyes by curling your eyelashes and applying a few coats of mascara, gently brushing your lashes outwards as you do so. If you’re wearing this look to go out, a good set of false eyelashes will take it from day to night perfectly. Try a winged pair like Eyelure’s Naturalites Accent & Lengthen to really emphasise the outer corners of your eyes.
You may also want to add black kohl pencil to the lower waterline to create a little more drama. Keeping the kohl to the outer corner of your lower lash line will give the illusion of larger, wider-set eyes.
And finally, to finish off, choose your lipstick: Pair with fire-engine red lips for old Hollywood glamour, baby pink or a lighter lip stain for a flirty daytime version, or nude with clear gloss for Angelina’s classic bombshell look!