Cat-eye redux: 3 tips from the Beauty Panel for changing your approach to eyeliner
A good eyeliner can work beauty magic. It can quickly change a daytime look into one better suited for night, add some oomph when your mascara’s not cutting it or provide a splash of colour in an otherwise neutral look. However, even a product as versatile as eyeliner can become routine, which is why this week’s Beauty Panel is all about changing up the way you do a cat-eye. On the Spring 2014 runways, makeup artists did up graphic eyeliner looks that ranged from geometric masterpieces to larger-than-life swooshes of black. Whether you swap out your usual liner for one in a bright colour or opt to end you cat-eye in a square shape, these looks are sure to inspire.
Challenge 58: How do you make the cat-eye look new this season? See the answers now! »
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Jump to: ELLIE SOMFELEAN | JENNIFER FRANCIS | JOYCE WONG |
Joyce Wong
Toronto | Sparkly Playground
From traveling to various cities in the world, I’ve been repeatedly inspired by the use of Art Deco elements in historic landmarks. I decided to incorporate these elements in this makeup look by using geometric shapes for a fun little twist to the cat-eye liner look.
Tip 1: Have a cotton swap and make up remover ready so you can do a quick fix easily!
Tip 2: You don’t have to buy every colour eyeliner out there, just use eyeshadows or pigments and mix with water or eyeshadow mixing medium.
Tip 3: If you want to try Geometric shapes, begin with triangles! They are much easier than drawing squares or octagons etc!
Products used:
Eye Kandy Cosmetics in “Liquid Sugar” L’Oréal Paris Infalliable The Super Slim 12 HR Liquid Eyeliner, L’Oréal Paris Infalliable BlackBuster 8 HR Liquid Eyeliner, Annabelle Studio Pigment in “Magentini” and “Pure White”
Ellie Somfelean
Montreal | My Beauty Box
Whenever I find myself longing for more than just my regular cat-eye and want to be more adventurous without going out of my comfort zone, my go to trick is to take the liner under my lower lash line, a third way into the exterior corner and accentuate the outer V. I basically leave the other two third under the eye clear, as I find applying the eyeliner all the way around the eye closes them in and makes the entire eye look harsh and smaller. On work days I replicate this look by applying a liquid liner alongside the upper lashline and use a pencil under which I like to smudge out; this gives a similar effect without the drama. Big eyes without looking too out there.
Products used: Cover Girl LashBlast 24 Hour Eyeliner, Revlon Colorstay Skinny Liquid Liner
Jennifer Francis
Durham | Spiced Beauty
Cat eyeliner is one of my signature looks. It’s so sleek and classic. I have perfected it in the past few years. But to try a new spin on the look, lately I have been doing my “cat eyes” sharper and shorter because I like the way how it works with my eye shape.
I look in the mirror and line the liner up with my pupil then glide the liner up at an angle. Then I glide the liner along my upper eyelid to fill in any gaps. If you’re line isn’t as sharp as you want it, have pointed q-tips on hand for clean up. If you’re going for a similar look to mine for the first time, go with a skinny liquid eyeliner. Stila makes a really nice Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner which lasts all day. If you’re a pro and you can work with any type of liquid eyeliner pen, try the L’Oreal Paris The Infallible Blackbuster Liquid Eyeliner pen.
Products used: Mary Kay Kohl Eyeliner in “Golden Illusion,” L’Oréal Butterfly Mascara in “Black,” L’Oréal Paris The Infallible Blackbuster Liquid Eyeliner Pen, L’Oréal Paris Extraordinaire by Colour Riche in “Rose Symphony”