One of the most common questions I get asked is how to do "cat eyeliner" and how to get eyeliner to stay. Winged liner is actually pretty easy once you've got the right product. My absolute favorite product is the tattoo liner by Kat Von D. It's available at Sephora. It's designed after a Japanese calligraphy brush, so it has long tapered bristles instead of a typical felt tip. It's so easy to get a sharp, crisp line, and the formula is super black and long lasting.
I'll show you my winged liner trick below along with a little extra tip to help liner stay on the bottom inner rim (makeup artists call it the waterline).
Step One: Liner should go on after eyeshadow but before mascara.
Step Two: Sort of like in my false lash video, you want to look down but not close your eye. If you close your eye, it changes the shape of the lid and you'll end up with some weird looking liner once you open. Start by lining from the inner corner to about 3/4 of the way to the end. I like to hold the liner pen parallel to my lash line and gently pull it across.
Step Three: Instead of trying to flick the wing up, you're actually going to draw it from the top down. Create a little triangle that lines up with the outer corner of the brow, and then fill it in. You might need to slightly lift your brow to pull up on the skin, but don't pull too hard. That skin is delicate!
Step Four: For bottom liner, you'll want to use a waterproof gel liner. You can also use a pencil as long as the formula isn't too dry. You don't want to irritate the eye. Use a little brush to apply.
Step Five: Here's the trick for making the bottom liner stay. You're going to take a matching or similar shadow and a small eyeshadow brush with short bristles and gently press the eyeshadow into the liner. This might feel a little bit weird, but just blink a few times and any shadow particles will clear away. Setting creams with powders is the oldest trick in the Hollywood book and will help any makeup last longer (I love layering cream blush with powder blush for this exact reason!).
I love this look with neutral eyes and lips, but you can also pair it with red lipstick for a super vintage feel! xo. –AnnaRose
Credits // Author: AnnaRose Kern. Photography: Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess Actions.
39 Comments
Ooo I am going to have to try this. This makeup series is really good, loads of helpful tutorials for the stuff I really want to learn. Thanks so much! Zoe
Best tip…..have someone do it for you!
Great tips! I always set my bottom liner with a matching shadow. Works great!! 🙂
<3
http://www.RitaMaesShop.etsy.com
So pretty! I never use eye liner, but you have me convinced! It’s on my shopping list now! I love your makeup tutorials!
This looks so cute! I love the tips – it makes it look so much easier, lol. XO! S
So that’s what I’ve been doing wrong! I always start from the inside and work my way out rather than from the outside in (the left eye always looks right, the right eye doesn’t 🙂 Giving this a try!
I’m loving all the beauty tips, guys! The cat eye is definitely something I’ve had trouble mastering, so I’ll be sure to consult this on my next girls-night-out.
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
I love the makeup tips y’all share! Very helpful. I’m a hairstylist in Nashville and would love to treat you ladies to a complimentary blowout when you’re here for your book signing! I work just across the street from Urban Outfitters! Email me if you’re interested!
Reduea@gmail.com
hahaha true true, but you have to admit her tips are great especially for newbies haha 😀
I loved this post, I will try the matching eyeshadow thing :))
I’m still working on creating that perfect winged eyeliner – this gives me hope!
M.
I love cat eye but it doesn’t seem to look good on my tiny hooded eyes. Does anyone else have this problem?
Thx!
Carol
http://www.calyptecollection.com
I had no idea that you were supposed to move top-to-bottom when it came to the actual wing. this is such a huge help. thanks!
love, arielle
a simple elegance
I have this problem! I usually make them extra big to stand out!
OhmyGOD! That Ganesha bracelet – I’m in loooove!!! Oh, and the liner tips – awesome, gonna go give it a try right now, thanks!
Great tips! I suck at doing this. If I manage to get one right (which takes ages), getting the other eye to look identical is near impossible. Looks gorgeous on you though 🙂
Jenna || Jennafifi.co.uk
I love this! Been loving your beauty tutorials lately! This one is great!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
I always have the most trouble getting them to be symmetrical! haha
Thank you so much for these tips! I can never seem to make my eyeliner stay and last all day. Hopefully this helps ;).
Tamara
http://www.trulytamara.com
Same here! But remember, your eyeliner should be sisters, not twins 😀
I am still practicing putting eyeliner on my eyelids and this tutorial is just perfect. Can’t wait to try this too! 🙂
xo Trisha
http://www.trishasales.net
What a great tutorial. I think when you have once found a product and method which works for you, you will (mostly) won’t fail anymore ^.^ I really like the way your eyeliner looks, and all in all you are very pretty 🙂
xoxo
http//:www.so-lipglossy.blogspot.de
Two great tips..starting from outside, and using eyeshadow to set..
xo
agoldentulip.blogspot.com
Cute tutorial! I have been wanting to rock some winged cat eyes for a while now.
I had plans to go to Sephora soon and have someone teach me the tricks of the trade as far as cateyes go, but now I don’t have to (except to pick up that liner. 😉 )
xoxo
Taylor
I’m just terrible at things like that. It’s probably a good thing I’m too old for cat eyes! :))
Love this–it reminds me of a Kate Moss cat eye!
I do mine compleeeetley different–I keep my eye open and looking straight ahead, and use black eyeshadow on an angled liner brush to create the cat eye–it’s easier and more forgiving, and then if I want it more precise I just go over it with liner (you can’t make a mistake because the shape is already there).
Great tips! Gonna give it a try… also, I LOVE THAT ELEPHANT BRACELET!
Beautiful lady!
I’m not into the ‘big’ cat eye eyeliner but I do try it from time to time haha
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
Such a great tutorial! What kind of gel liner do you suggest for the bottom liner? And what kind of lipstick is she wearing? So pretty!
Great tips! I will definitely be experimenting http://sadityinthecity.com
I love the Kat Von D liner. I picked it up on a whim from Sephora when I travelled to San Francisco in Spring, and now I’m back in the UK it’s just about ready to run out and I can’t find a stockist here! 🙁
I love cat eyes and this def helps getting them perfect! 🙂
Much love from
http://devilreturnsprada.wordpress.com/
Thank you for sharing, these tips will definitely help me, I’m still trying to master the flick look!
Lennae xxx
http://www.lennae87.wordpress.com
I love the bracelet as well. :]
Now THIS is how you apply makeup! Definitely bookmarking this because it is better than other makeup tutorials I’ve seen. You rock!
Love the look! I can do that kind of eyeliner but it takes me such a long time!
http://www.peonyandpeach.blogspot.com
I feel so bad, I read your blog multiple times a day and don’t know how I missed that one. I spent all kinds of time trying to get the girls to do a post about this through instagram suggestions the other day. Oops! Y’all had, and I’d missed it. The shape, placement and side of the wing, or “triangle” is really the hard part though, I wish there maybe could’ve been a teensy bit more detail about that, or maybe a video or at least some closeups? Thanks, though, I do have a few new suggestions to try
lovely tips!
This is perfect for a well on-point tutorial on this look. I will definitely follow your tips at home. It’s simply gorgeous and I really love the way you teach. Thanks!