Cat-eye liner is one of the most classic looks in beauty history. Actresses including Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot played a prominent role in making the cat eye relevant. And music icons such as Nina Simone, Madonna and Adele have all put their own spin on the feminine and flirty eye makeup. But mastering cat-eye liner hasn't always been easy.
In past decades, women attempted the cat eye with the wrong products, according to celebrity makeup artist Sonia Kashuk. "Most women had in mind that very thin, old liquid liner look. However, it was a little more difficult in application," she said. The introduction of gel liners, felt-tip eye markers and angled brushes like Kashuk's Longwear Gel Liner and Bent Eyeliner Brush has made the cat eye much easier to do today.
And while cat-eye liner is visually appealing, Kashuk believes that it also gives a lifting effect to the eye. "As women age, our eyes tend to pull down and our lashes tend to get thinner. So a modified version of a cat-eye can give a bit of a lift to a mature woman," she explained. "Using eyeliner right at the lash line will pull double duty of creating volume and fullness, as well as shape."
Kashuk's top four tips for perfecting the cat eye:
1. Look for brushes or markers with thin points to help you get the line down first. Remember: A cat eye doesn't have to have a full-on exaggeration like Amy Winehouse. It should give a doe shape to the eye.
2. Take a lash curler, curl lashes and follow the lift of your natural flutter to reshape the eye with a flick of liner.
3. Brace your elbow on something steady to give your hand better placement.
4. Always start soft and then build intensity. (The middle of the lash line is a great place to begin.) Don't put on a ton of product, and you may even want to wipe down your makeup brush before applying.
Check out these famous faces who have worn cat-eye liner.
Audrey Hepburn, 1953: Hepburn paired cat-eye makeup with a tomboyish striped shirt to nail a cute yet sultry look.
Brigitte Bardot, 1960: Bardot's cat-eye liner and pinky-nude pout made this blonde bombshell one to watch.
Sophia Loren, 1960: The Academy Award-winning Italian actress oozed sex appeal with her signature cat-eye liner and bright red lips.
Twiggy, 1967: Decades later, women are still trying to mimic Twiggy's mod cat eye.
Nina Simone, 1970: The "Strange Fruit" singer's cat-eye liner look was just as mesmerizing as her deep, raspy voice.
Diana Ross, 1970: No other entertainer during the '70s sported the cat eye as fiercely as Miss Ross did. Point blank, period.
Amy Winehouse, 2004: This is the look that sparked a million Halloween costumes. Winehouse seriously made her mark with this super thick cat eye.
Angelina Jolie, 2009: Since Jolie's natural features are already so prominent, she accentuates her eyes with subtle and flirty liner.
Madonna, 2012: Madonna proves that you can rock the cat eye at any age. Mature women should follow her lead and keep the rest of their face fresh, allowing attention to be drawn to the eye.
Emma Stone, 2012: Stone's sparkly blue cat-eye makeup offers a trendy and fun take on the classic black version.
Lucy Liu, 2012: Liu's cat-eye liner adds a bold touch to her soft pink blush and lipstick.
Ginnifer Goodwin, 2013: We're getting major Audrey Hepburn flashbacks with Goodwin's combination of a cat eye and short cropped hair.
Dita Von Teese, 2013: Teese knows that a cat eye is a must in order to create her signature dark look. She always pulls it off perfectly -- especially paired with her crimson lips.
Adele, 2013: We don't know if we're more excited about Adele's new album or the fact that we get to see more of her amazing cat-eye makeup looks.
Taylor Swift, 2014: The pop singer's slick eye has become an integral part of her uniform.
Zendaya, 2015: Zendaya's brows are always on fleek, but so is her cat-eye makeup.
Additional reporting by Renee Jacques.
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