How to draw a winged eyeliner with liquid eyeliner

Cat eyeliner helps you achieve a striking, alluring look that is both classic and fashionable. When you first start applying cat eyeliner, it's easy to smudge or create uneven lines, but you can definitely master this technique with practice. There are two options for drawing cat eyeliner. You can use a makeup brush to create an easier outline for your cat eye, or use tape and follow the instructions. For cat eyeliner, liquid eyeliner is the best choice, but if you don't have liquid eyeliner, you can still try using an eyeliner pencil.

Method 1: Creating an Outline with a Makeup Brush

Step 1: Apply a neutral or light eyeshadow from your lash line to your crease

Use a brush to pick up a neutral, nude, or light-colored eyeshadow, then blend it all over your eyelid, from the lash line to the crease. The eyeshadow will cover your eyelid and allow for a smoother eyeliner application. It also helps the liner adhere better, so the eyeliner will stay in place and won't smudge or smear.

Because cat eyeliner is so striking, a darker eyeshadow color might look too dramatic. Instead, consider using a shade that matches your skin tone or is slightly lighter. Do not use cream eyeshadow. Eyeliner will not adhere to it, and both the eyeliner and eyeshadow can easily rub off.

Step 2: Angle a brush from the side of your nose towards the end of your eyebrow to determine the wing's direction

Hold the tip of a thin makeup brush close to the side of your nose and angle it towards the end of your eyebrow—this will be the direction you want your wing to follow. If you want a balanced wing on both sides, ensure that the length, width, and angle are symmetrical. If your eyelid is hooded, reduce the upward angle and extend the wing more outwards.

This will elongate your lash line and widen your eyes. Alternatively, consider the wing as an extension of your lower lash line. Follow the upward angle of your lower lash line, then extend and flick it to determine the cat eye line you need to draw. This will help you easily draw both eyes symmetrically.

Step 3: Use eyeliner to make a dot just above the desired cat eye line to mark the wing's tip

The higher you make the dot, the thicker and more dramatic your cat eye will be. Ensure that the dots are at the same angle and height on both eyes before proceeding. It's much easier to erase a dot and adjust it than when you've finished the entire wing. If you're not happy with the dot's placement, use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover, primer, or moisturizer to wipe it off. Then, gently dab on the area to be cleaned and start over marking the wing's tip.

Step 4: Draw a line connecting the dot to the outer corner of your eye

Do not pull your skin while drawing the wing. Instead, tilt your head back slightly and keep your eyes slightly open so you can see your lash line. This will help you know what you're doing while creating the cat eye. While stretching the skin might make it easier to draw the wing, once you release it, the drawn wing will change shape and look unnatural.

Step 5: Draw an eyeliner line connecting the dot to the middle of your upper lash line

Gently draw an eyeliner line from the outer corner dot to the middle of your eyelid. This helps define the desired height of your cat eye. It's fine if some eyeshadow peeks through under the line, as it will be filled in later. Don't draw the eyeliner line too thick if you don't want too much empty space, as this will completely erase the eyelid space you have.

If you have round eyes, try drawing a thicker eyeliner line. For example, you can make your line about 2-3 mm thick. If you want to extend your lash line and make your eyes look bigger, draw a curved line instead of a straight one. Make sure the curve goes downwards.

Step 6: Fill in the drawn eyeliner line, if necessary

Depending on how you angled your initial lines and their thickness, you may or may not need to fill in the drawn eyeliner line. Use eyeliner to fill in any areas where eyeshadow shows through the eyeliner. If you've drawn eyeliner right at the lash line, then you might not need to fill it in further. If you're using an eyeliner pencil, fill in the cat eye by applying multiple layers.

Step 7: Erase any mistakes with a pointed cotton swab

The pointed tip will allow you to get into corners and erase along the line without accidentally smudging the eyeliner. You can also dip the cotton swab in primer or eye cream and gently remove excess eyeliner. Avoid using makeup remover. It can erase everything and remove any eyeshadow you applied earlier.

Step 8: Draw an eyeliner line connecting the inner corner of your eye to your cat eye

Start from the inner corner of your eye, then slowly draw the eyeliner towards the cat eye. Continue drawing along the lash line until you reach the outer corner of your eye. This will make the top part of the cat eye look more even. Try your best to do this in a single stroke. Otherwise, the line might become crooked and uneven.

Again, avoid pulling your eyelid. Instead, tilt your head back slightly and lower your eyes so you can see your lash line. You can try tightlining, which means applying liner to your upper waterline, but this can be difficult to do and easily irritate your eyes.

Step 9: Thicken the eyeliner line as it approaches the outer corner of your eye

Try resting your pinky finger on your cheekbone while doing this. It will help stabilize your hand and make it easier to get a smooth line. If you're using a liquid eyeliner pen, hold it closer to the middle of the barrel for easier control.

Step 10: Finish with mascara

First, apply a coat of mascara to your lower lashes. Then, apply several coats to your upper lashes with the mascara wand. For a glamorous evening look, consider curling your lashes or applying a pair of false eyelashes.

Method 2: Using Tape as a Guide

Step 1: Apply a neutral or light eyeshadow from your lash line to your crease

Use an eyeshadow brush to apply a layer of neutral, nude, or light-colored eyeshadow to your entire eyelid. Setting powder will smooth out your eyelids and help the eyeliner glide on more smoothly. Since cat eyeliner is very dramatic, consider using a shade that matches your skin tone or is slightly lighter instead of a darker color, which might look too overwhelming.

Avoid using cream eyeshadow. The eyeliner won't adhere well, so it might slide right off. Avoid applying concealer under your eyes as the tape will remove it. Additionally, the tape might remove any eyeshadow you've applied in that area.

Step 2: Take a short piece of clear tape and stick it to your hand.

Stick it to your hand and peel it off several times to remove some of the adhesive. This will make the tape less sticky and gentler on the delicate skin around your eyes. Sticking the tape to the back of your hand before applying it to your skin will also make it less uncomfortable when you remove it. Alternatively, you can use a sticky note instead of tape. If it's too sticky, you might want to pat the adhesive side with your hand before applying it. This will help remove some of the stickiness.

Step 3: Place the tape along the outer corner of your eye

Place the tape just below your lower lash line and angle the tip upwards towards your temple. Then, use your finger to gently press the tape onto your skin so that it adheres evenly, preventing the eyeliner from smudging underneath the tape. Instead, for a more dramatic eyeliner look, angle the tape towards the end of your eyebrow. This will help create a thicker eyeliner line. If your eyelid is hooded, place the tape at a smaller angle and closer to a horizontal line.

Step 4: Draw a line from the inner corner to the outer corner of your eye

Use liquid eyeliner, eyeliner pencil, or gel eyeliner as you normally would, but make the line thicker as it goes towards the inner corner of your eye. However, don't draw past the outer corner or onto the tape. If you're having trouble drawing eyeliner smoothly, don't pull at your outer corner.

Instead, tilt your head back slightly and open your eyes slightly to clearly see your lash line. Also, rest your pinky finger on your cheek to stabilize your hand while drawing. For cat eyeliner, it's best to use liquid eyeliner, a felt-tip pen, or gel eyeliner. If only using an eyeliner pencil, you can apply multiple layers to achieve a similar effect, but it won't look as smooth and sharp.

Step 5: Use the tape as a guide to extend the line past the outer corner of your eye

Slowly extend the eyeliner line across your skin and flick it up in the direction of the tape. Make it thinner as it reaches the end. Follow the tape line smoothly and don't worry if some eyeliner gets on the tape. You can make your cat eye as long or as short as you like. The longer it is, the more dramatic your cat eye will be. When you're just starting to draw cat eyeliner, the easiest way is to create a very short line by extending the eyeliner just past your crease.

Step 6: Carefully remove the tape and make corrections, if necessary

Grasp the tape at the bottom edge, then slowly and gently peel the tape off your skin. When you pull off the tape, you'll see a beautiful and sharp line. If the tape removed some eyeshadow, carefully reapply the missing eyeshadow. If you usually use under-eye concealer, apply it at this time. If you used eyeliner, you might need to apply more layers to get the cat eye look.

Step 7: Finish with mascara or false eyelashes

Apply a few coats of mascara to your upper lashes and a single coat to your lower lashes. For a more glamorous evening look, curl your lashes or apply a pair of false eyelashes.

Author: Cassandra McClure. Translator: Huyen Tran.

Source: Wikihow. Copyright: Kallos Vietnam.

About the author Cassandra McClure

This article was co-authored by Cassandra McClure and wikiHow editor, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Cassandra McClure is a clean beauty advocate working to promote healthy and sustainable cosmetics, based in Palo Alto, California. She has worked in the beauty and cosmetics industry for over 15 years as a model, makeup artist, and entrepreneur. She holds a master's degree in high-definition makeup from MKC Beauty Academy.