Eyes on the prize

Ring in the year-end festivities with these innovative twists to the classic winged eyeliner

To end a year that’s been anything but predictable, beauty lovers across the board have been pushing the envelope to embrace innovative trends. And while few eyeliner shapes are as universally flattering and spell effortless glamour as the cat eye, you could just as easily dress your wings up with a few playful tweaks, says make-up artist Natasha Nyss.  

Add glitter to your cat eye like Lupita Nyong’o

. Shimmer and shine: Sweep a sheer neutral eye shadow shade all over your lid. Now, apply small dots of clear eyelash glue over your lids and carefully place shimmery sequins on them. It’s important to use loose cosmetic glitter that’s been specially designed for use on your face — this will minimise the risk of micro-tears to the delicate skin around your eyes, Nyss advises. Another way to add some shine is to introduce a pop of highlighter or shimmer to the inner corners of your eye after creating a classic wing, says make-up artist Sneh Sharma. You could also experiment with glitter eyeliners on your lash line, in colours such as silver, champagne, gold and rose gold, she adds. 

Natasha Nyss and Sneh Sharma

. Upside down: From Deepika Padukone to Kim Kardashian, this trend has been making waves on the red carpet. To recreate it, start by priming your eyelids and add a light wash of colour on your upper eyelid. Use a gel eyeliner and a flat-angled brush to create a winged shape along your lower lash line. Extend the line all the way to your inner corner for a more feline shape, Sharma explains. Next, add some black eye shadow to smoke the edges and diffuse any harsh lines. 

. Colourful, graphic shapes: Disconnected lines, where you line only your inner and outer corners, and leave the centre empty can create a very dramatic look. If you don’t have coloured eyeliner at hand, you can use white pencil eyeliner as a guide and add neon eye shadow over it for a colourful pop, advises Sharma. Nyss also advises playing with negative space to create dramatic outlines. This, she says, will instantly make your look stand out. 

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