Try this now: Olivia Wilde’s eye-brightening Oscars makeup trick

Olivia Wilde Oscars 2014 makeup
Photography by Lester Cohen/WireImage and Steve Granitz/WireImage
Olivia Wilde Oscars 2014 makeup
Photography by Lester Cohen/WireImage and Steve Granitz/WireImage

Olivia Wilde’s black Valentino gown was one of the highlights on the 2014 Oscars red carpet last night, but upon closer inspection her makeup should be getting just as many accolades. While neutral makeup was certainly the biggest beauty statement last night, Wilde’s ’60s-inspired cat-eye was perfection—and it’s all thanks to one simple little trick.

Revlon makeup artist Melanie Inglessis was behind the look—she’s Wilde’s go-to makeup girl and told PopSugar that a typical makeup session is more like girl time, complete with gossip catchups and fun antics. For the 2014 Oscars, Inglessis described Wilde’s makeup as “effortless, chic and French.” She used two black Revlon eyeliners to complete the look, first Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner and then Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner. The cat-eye’s retro appeal is all due to its thickness along the upper lid and the delicate-but-exaggerated flick at the end—but it really comes together thanks to a simple defining technique: a simple swipe of white eyeliner. (Look close: do you see it?)

The white eyeliner not only helps sharpen the edge of the cat-eye—this is especially ideal for anyone with a bit of a shaky hand!—it also really brightens Wilde’s look. Sure, she already has a mega-watt smile and her enviable pregnancy glow is totally working its charm, but that little bit of white eyeliner takes it to the next level. Also, while Wilde has the benefit of getting makeup touchups between events, this eye-brightening trick is one to copy, as it’ll ensure your liner lasts smudge-free all night long. Oh, and if you’re also into Wilde’s lip creamy lip colour, it’s a custom mix but easy to duplicate. Inglessis combined Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in “Complex” with Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in “Pink Cognito” resulting in the perfect cool (French) girl colour.

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