Alright babes, let’s talk about one of the most iconic eye looks out there: the cat eye. I mean, it’s basically a rite of passage for makeup lovers, right? If you haven’t perfected it yet, don’t worry—I’ve got your back! By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be out there looking like a sharp-winged queen. Whether you’re doing it for a daytime slay or a night out with the besties, you can’t go wrong with a fierce cat eye.
So, grab your eyeliner, and let’s dive right in. 🖤
Step 1: Prepping Those Lids Like a Pro
First things first—skin prep. You wouldn’t paint on a messy canvas, right? So, don’t skip this for your eyelids! If your lids tend to get oily (same girl, same), you really wanna start with a good eye primer. Not only does it help your eyeliner last longer, but it also keeps it from smudging, especially if you’re dancing the night away or scrolling for new TikTok trends.
Also, remember: If you’re doing a full face, make sure you’ve already applied your base, like foundation and eyeshadow, before even thinking about lining your eyes. Doing eyeliner first is just asking for trouble because you’ll mess it up later when trying to blend shadows.
If your eyelids are on the dry side, you can also put a teeny bit of moisturizer on them first, but be careful not to overdo it! Oil-free works best.
Quick Tip:
Eye primer is basically your new bestie when it comes to keeping your eyeliner in place. Trust: no more awkward half-gone eyeliner by noon.
Step 2: Choose Your Tool Wisely
Now for the big question: pencil, gel, or liquid liner? What’s cooler is that there’s no right answer here. Each one has its vibes and specific looks it’s awesome for.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Type of Liner | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil | Super beginner-friendly, less likely to smudge if done right | Tends to not be as sharp as liquid or gel |
| Gel | Bold lines, lasts long, great for dramatic looks | Needs a separate brush, can dry out |
| Liquid | Sharpest wing, great for precise lines | Can be tricky to master, might smudge while drying |
My rec? If you’re starting out, go with pencil or a felt-tip liquid liner. Liquid definitely gives you that insta-worthy sleekness, but felt-tip liners (like an eyeliner pen) are like the training wheels for liquid. Once you’re comfy with that, you’re ready to move on to that bold liquid or gel!
Step 3: Mapping It Out—Don’t Just Freestyle
So much of the stress of pulling off a solid cat eye comes from trying to get both sides even right from the jump. Big mistake.
Instead: map them out!
Here’s how:
- Grab a little piece of tape OR angle brush + concealer for a cleaner look. (I like tape ‘cause it’s easier.)
- Place the tape right under your lower lashes at an upwards angle toward the tail of your brow. This is your guide, so follow it!
- Create a tiny dot where you want the tip of your wing to end. This dot should line up with the outer corner of your eye and the end of your eyebrow.
If symmetry ain’t your friend and your wings are always flying off in different directions, this trick will be life-changing!!
Pro tip from personal experience:
Don’t make your wing too long at first—start small and build up, or you’ll end up with your wings taking over half your face. 😂
Step 4: Flick That Wing, Babes!
Finally! Ok, you’ve prepped, you’ve mapped it out—now it’s time to flick.
- Start from the dot you made in Step 3—yes, start at the edge!—and gently drag your liner back in toward your eye. This is the flick or tail of the wing.
- Make it only as long as you’re comfortable with. It doesn’t have to be Cleopatra-level dramatic! (But girl, if you wanna go full drama, do it!)
The big key: don’t press too hard and don’t go too slow. The movement should feel quick and light. Speed keeps your line sharp; if you overthink it, you’ll get wobbly edges.
Step 5: Connect to the Lash Line
Once you’ve got the wing flicked out, now you need to connect the end of your wing to your lash line. Start from the end of your wing (near the outer corner), and drag your eyeliner inward along your top lash line. It should look seamless, like a single fluid line from your lash line all the way to the sharp tip of the wing.
Don’t overthink this part: just follow your natural eye shape. Keep the line thinner near your inner corner and gradually thicken as you go outward for that snatched look.
Pro Tip:
Thicker doesn’t always mean better. A thinner wing paired with bold lashes can have just as much impact as a thick, dramatic one.
Step 6: Keep It Clean!
Okay, so your wing’s done but… oops, maybe not perfect. It happens to all of us. (Literally me, every other day.)
Here’s the trick: Q-tips and concealer are your best friends. If the wing gets a little messy or the edges aren’t as sharp as you’d like, just dip a Q-tip in makeup remover or micellar water and clean up the edges. Or, use a tiny brush with concealer around your wing to sharpen up any fumbles.
Seriously: clean-up is where the magic happens, and it’ll make you look like you literally nailed it on the first try—even if you didn’t.
Step 7: Define the Inner Corner
Feeling fancy? Take your cat eye to that level by adding a really sharp inner corner flick. This can elongate your eyes and give a more sultry vibe.
- Using the same liner, draw a small triangle on your inner corners. There’s no need to go crazy thick here, or it’ll look too extra.
- Connect the triangle you made to the rest of the liner.
If you’re new to this, it might feel a little tricky. But with practice, it becomes a lot easier and truly adds that killer detail to your look.
Step 8: Mascara and Lashes Time
Your liner is looking FIRE, but now you gotta match it with equally impressive lashes. Even the sharpest wing doesn’t hit as hard without some good mascara drama. Swipe on a couple of coats of your fave mascara (curl those lashes first, girl!) or go all the way and pop on some faux lashes.
Pro Tip: If you’re rocking falsies, go for ones that are accent lashes focusing on the outer half of your eyes. The extra volume on the outer corners heightens the cat eye effect.
Common Mistakes—And How to Avoid Them
If you’re new to this or struggling, don’t sweat it. Practice makes purr-fection. Here are some common cat eye mistakes and how to avoid them:
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| One wing’s thicker than the other | Clean up the bigger one with a Q-tip or start smaller |
| Wing placement is crooked | Use tape or angle your brush/brow trick |
| Smudges or transferred liner | Eye primer helps, and powder under your eye keeps the area oil-free |
| Wing isn’t sharp enough | Use concealer to carve out a sharp edge |
Don’t forget: your cat-eye wings are sisters, not twins. Getting them 100% identical is kinda impossible, so don’t stress!
Final Look and Setting the Liner
Once you’ve completed everything, lock in the finished look with setting spray. You don’t want to do all this work and have it fade throughout the day.
And you know what? Don’t be surprised if everyone’s asking, “How did you get your eyeliner so perfect?” 😘 You. Nailed. It.
Okay, bbs, that’s it! Hopefully, this helped you ace your cat eye game today. You’re officially ready to slay whether you’re heading to work, class, or just taking fire selfies for the ‘gram.
Tag me if you do it (@SuDoesBeauty). I wanna see your fierce sharp wings fly! 👀
