Eyes That Roar

Besides being a makeup artist and self proclaimed fashionista, I've also fancied myself a novice movie buff. Films that have made the most lasting impressions on me and earned a spot in my all-time favorites category have been those combining beauty and culture. In my opinion they are an inseparable pair. 


Often, the inspiration for my art comes from the visual style of classic foreign films. I love the simplicity of makeup in that time. In that era, beauty for a woman was created with a cat eye, red lips and a porcelain finish to the skin. To this day that style of makeup is recognized as the epitome of timeless glamour.
Watching the cinematic masterpiece 8 1/2 by Federico Felini for the first time, where every actress, young and old, fiercely donned the classic and seductive cat eye inspired me to mimic this as my own signature look. It's so flattering to eyes, I rarely leave home without.
I know, I know... Achieving balanced eyeliner with a perfect winged tip may seem intimidating, but it's easier than you think.
These four little tools will have you addicted to cat eyes like me. 

• First, you'll need a fine eyeliner brush. I like Bobbi Brown's Ultra Fine Eyeliner brush. This brush is easy to hold and will guarantees the control needed to create a balanced line on each eye. 

• You'll also need a good gel liner. I prefer a gel eyeliner to  liquid eyeliner pen because it gives more control over how much product is used to create the eyeliner. My hands down, favorite gel eyeliner is Inglot's Matte Collection AMC Gel Liner. It has incredible pigment and delivers the smoothest application. There's no dragging or skipping across the lashline when using this little gem. Are you ready for this? It's only $12! I know! Unbelievable, right? 

• Last, but not least, you'll need a q-tip and eye makeup remover. Now that you have your tools you are ready to start. 

1. Dip the eyeliner brush into the gel eyeliner and pick up a small amount of product. Get rid of any excess by stroking the brush back and forth on each side in the cap of the eyeliner. This will allow for more even distribution on the brush which is important to achieve balance.

2. Start eyeliner in the inside corner of the eye, concentrating on making a very thin line that extends to an acute angle and reaches slightly past the outside corner of your eye. (Drawing the line at a greater degree or extending it further on the outside corner of the eye will make a more dramatic look.)

3. Next, draw a line at the outside corner of your eye that connects to the line above it and fill in the space in between. You will more than likely have to go back for more product to do this.

4. Lastly, lightly dampen a q-tip with eye makeup remover. Place the q-tip at the outside corner of the eye and gently drag upward at an angle creating a sharp, fine point. Repeat on the other eye and you're done! Go hit the town with your enviably perfect Cat Eye!