Mastering the Kitten-Eye

I love a good cat-eye. Add it to a red lip or as the final touch to a smokey lid and you are set for a night out. But on a day-to-day basis, I find a full on cat-eye to be a bit heavy and prefer something a little softer. That’s when I go for this “kitten-eye” look. It’s super easy, (I know we’ve all fallen into the trap of trying to “just make it even” when attempting a cat-eye…ending up with raccoon eyes) and it adds just enough drama.

Start with clean lids or with your favorite eyeshadow as a base. This eyeliner shape can be added to any eye look, as long as it is one of the last steps right before mascara.
Prep your choice of liquid liner. I prefer a felt tip pen and have been using this L’Oreal liner for a few years. Add a small flick at the outer edges of your eyes. Focus on making one small short line that extends from the end of your lash line, and points in the same angle as your bottom lash line.
Starting at the inner corner, draw a thin line along your lash line to connect to the outer flick. Especially when at the inner corners of my eye, I find it helpful to just press my brush into my lash line — this prevents me from drawing too thick of a line initially. It’s okay if this line isn’t completely smooth, you can fix this in the final step.
Now, starting in the middle of your eyelid, carefully thicken the line extending outward. You’ll want the thickest part of the line to fall on the outer third of your eyelid, and then come back to a point.
Grab an eyeshadow that is the same color as your liner and a flat eyeliner brush and press the shadow into the line. I use “Stiletto” from the Two-Faced Naked Eye palette (no longer carried, but this one is similar). This will help smooth out any rough edges and keep the liner from slipping throughout the day.
Add a few swipes of mascara and you’re done! I kept the rest of the look simple, but this kitten-eye also pairs well with extra rosy cheeks or a bold lip.