Basic eye makeup alternative to the cat eye?

February 26, 2018 12:26 PM

I've been doing my eye makeup (black liquid-liner cat-eye) the same way for a decade. Help me find something new!

I want to explore more everyday looks so I don't end up stuck with the eyeliner equivalent of mall bangs in another 10 years. While I have mastered the cat eye, I am not a makeup expert and usually just wear liner with BB cream, brow gel and mascara. I'm wondering what's becoming fashionable right now and what else there is to do with eye makeup that doesn't require a VIB rouge card and a degree in contouring. When I look up eyeliner looks I get stuff like this which I can't see myself wearing outside of a nightclub. Edgy/fashionable ladies, what are you doing to your eyes right now?

posted by noxperpetua to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Honestly, cat eye liner IS what's in style right now; I wouldn't sweat it, yours probably looks great.

The trendy thing right now is actually brows, so do make sure your brows are on the thick / dark / angular / slightly messy side (think Cara Delevigne), rather than a thin rounded 90s arc (like 1990s Drew Barrymore).
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:41 PM on February 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

A lot of beauty sites are pushing the thumbprint eyeliner look, which I think sometimes looks good and sometimes does not (it's basically a softer/sloppier take on the cateye).

Bold colors and glitter for the eyes (more shadow than eyeliner) and a slow shift away from the whole "naked" palettes is something that's taking hold, but that can sometimes be harder to wear in every-day life (and it doesn't sound like you wear a lot of eyeshadow). I like the Cushnie et Ochs & Christian Siriano makeup for the eyes here and I think with different/subtler colors, they could be good day looks (although, clearly, switch up the colors sometimes).

Good luck!
posted by darksong at 1:01 PM on February 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

You can try a similar look but use eyeshadow instead of liquid liner for a softer look, and drag the wing out less. I use a pointed liner brush and a black or dark brown shadow.

Also seconding darksong's suggestion for soft puffs of bright colors as seen here and here on one of my favorite makeup artists.
posted by rachaelfaith at 1:20 PM on February 26, 2018

One thing I like to do, which i consider comparable to the cateye in that it's one product, is just a swipe of an eye crayon. You could use them to do look that rachaelfaith posted, or smudge it for a look like this.

Also, have you thought about just wearing eyeliner in a different color? It doesn't have to be turquoise, even dark colors look good, and shake things up.

Or, you could combine the two
posted by FirstMateKate at 3:03 PM on February 26, 2018 [3 favorites]

I've been seeing a hybrid of cat eye and thumbrint. Instead of a sharp and defined tail on the cat eye, it's feathered out and lighter and less precise. Like a smokey tail.
posted by quince at 4:27 PM on February 26, 2018

Ive seen Lisa Eldridge do a cat's eye, but she does it with powder so it is softer, and just on the outer third. I like that for an every day look.
posted by oflinkey at 4:29 PM on February 26, 2018

I like Lisa Eldrige's approach to makeup and her tutorials. You might find inspiration there or by searching for her name and eyeliner.

A different color could be fun. I've been thinking about getting this "peel off" eyeliner that is sparkly. I've seen someone in person wearing the "Hey Mr. DJ" color (black with gold sparkles) and it was striking (in just the right way).
posted by purple_bird at 4:42 PM on February 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love those Nyx eye crayons that FirstMateKate linked! You can use them as eyeliner or layer it on top of regular eyeliner, more like eyeshadow.
posted by exceptinsects at 5:22 PM on February 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

Milk's makeup videos are also a good source for on-trend ideas. You don't need to use their makeup to execute the looks, and you don't need to do each look in its entirety. They have a good mix of edgy, editorial, and everyday options.
posted by ourobouros at 5:56 PM on February 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

Neutral liner on top and bright liner on the bottom is having a moment, too.
posted by ersatzkat at 7:23 PM on February 26, 2018

Eyeshadow crayons are a good replacement, very easy to use and go from subtle neutral colours to bright or sparkly. Bobbi Brown do a good one.
posted by ellieBOA at 10:49 PM on February 26, 2018

Eyeshadow crayons are a good replacement, very easy to use and go from subtle neutral colours to bright or sparkly. Bobbi Brown do a good one, as do Rimmel.
posted by ellieBOA at 10:50 PM on February 26, 2018

I have also been rocking the cat eyeliner look since 1997 (actual date). Recently, i've been getting into this round eyes make-up look. Shame it doesn't suit me but it might work for you.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 6:11 AM on February 27, 2018