PURR: The Kitten Eye Ruled the BAFTAs, and It’s So Easy to Recreate

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Cat eyeliner is a classically flattering style. A sweeping cat eye wing can elongate the eye, lift your features and create a sultry, siren-esque stare in seconds — but it doesn’t always take seconds. We’ve all found our makeup looks close to perfection, before getting a little arrogant and adding a wing. Soon enough, 45 minutes have passed by, you’re late for dinner, black eyeliner is covering the upper quarter of your face, and your life and evening are spiralling out of control. You officially flew too close to the sun. 

Fortunately, an incredibly easy-winged eyeliner was trending on the BAFTAs red carpet: the baby cat eye, or kitten eyeliner. This look has all of the flattering effects of the classic wing, is easy to pull off and as you’ll see below, compliments pretty much any beauty look, from natural to glam. 

How to Recreate the Kitten Eye

As an ex MUA, I always like to start with brown or black eyeshadow or a soft kohl pencil to map my shape.

Grab a very fine angled liner brush, I love the Sigma, E06 Winged Liner Brush, ($35) because, as you will see, it is small.

Then, find the most flattering angle for your eye-shape by resting the brush on the edge of your nose and measuring to the corner of your eye and the end of your brow. The line should be perfectly diagonal. 

Place a tiny mark there. Then, simply flick your wing out. If you want a little more intensity, go over your shadow or kohl with a liquid liner. I love a calligraphy style liner for this, as the individual hairs and flexibility give you ultimate control. Maybelline Hyper Sharp Wing Eye Liner ($17) is a wallet-friendly option, Surratt Beauty, Auto Graphique Eyliner ($70) is an environmentally friendly, bougie investment alternative, as you can purchase refillable cartridges. Love. Either way, they’ll give you the easiest winged liner of your life. 

Now, you consider your easy-winged liner slayed and go about your day. Have a look at the BAFTAs red carpet moments below to see how truly versatile a baby cat eye can be.