The cat eye will forever be one of our favorite makeup looks. It’s bold without being too much, it’s classic but trendy and it’s constantly being reinvented — like on the red carpet at this past weekend’s Grammys! Some of our favorite stylin’ starlets served up new twists on our go-to going out makeup look that are DIYable in your everyday (or at least your every weekend day ;) beauty arsenal. From metallic, to graphic to oh-so-colorful, here’s how to recreate the makeup looks.
Rita Ora’s Sparkling Smokey Eye
For this look you will want to let your eyes shine as the main focus since this makeup move is more on the dramatic side. Skip the blush and go for a contour with bronzer. On your lips, keep it a flushed nude vs a true nude that may wash you out. (Photo via Jason Merritt/Getty)
NAKED Eyeshadow Palette in Virgin
Step 3: Eyeliner
You can use any eyeliner that is easiest for you to control for this look. I am using Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black ($20). Just apply directly to your upper lash line being sure to blend into the lash line for a seamless finish.
Step 4: GLITTER TIME!!!
Use a flat brush to gently apply a gunmetal glitter directly over the smokey black shadow on your lower lash line and over the silver pigment on the inside corners of your eyes. MAC Glitter in 3D Silver ($21) is perfect for this.
Nicki Minaj’s Graphic Cat Eyeliner
Step 1: Highlight Brow Bone + Lid + Inner Corners
Apply a light reflective eyeshadow like NARS Shimmer Eyeshadow in Tibet ($25) to your brow bone, upper side of your eyelids and inside corners of your eyes.
Step 2: Contour Crease
Apply a deep brown to your creases to help give dimension that will enhance that black eyeliner to come. Our lovely designer Iris is wearing NAKED Eyeshadow Palette in Buck ($54).
Step 3: Drama Cat Eyeliner
Use a fine point, slightly firm eyeliner brush to apply a winged dramatic cat eye. Use your outer corner of your eye and draw a line towards the outside ending point of your eyebrow for your guideline to achieve the perfect cat eye for your eye shape.
Step 4: Mascara Up
Use a few coats of an intense mascara like Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara ($23) to achieve those larger-than-life eyelashes that take this look to the next level!
Taylor Swift’s Smoldering Blue Smokey Cat Eye
flawless face
Step 1: Highlight Brow Bone
Use a flat eyeshadow brush to apply a matte highlight to your brow bones. Our stylin’ style editor Kate is wearing MAC Eyeshadow in Vanilla ($16).
Step 2: Contour Crease
To really make that blue pop you will want to go for a deep, brownish-red shadow in your crease. We went with MAC Eyeshadow in Red Brick ($16). Really blend into your creases, slightly onto your eyelids and ever so slightly outside the outer corners of your eyes so you have a meeting place for the blue shadow in the next step.
Step 3: Under Eye Blue Smoke
Use a smaller, flatter, fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply a deep shimmering blue eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Freshwater ($16) to your lower lash line and extend the shadow as if you were doing a cat eye blending slightly into the red brick eyeshadow you just applied.
Step 4: White Tight Line
To really make this look standout you want to add a white eyeliner to the inside line of your lower lash line (aka the tight line). We are using WET n WILD Colorlcon Eye Liner in White ($3).
Step 5: Mascara Up!
Apply a couple coats of your favorite mascara. Kate is wearing Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara ($23).
What is your favorite red carpet beauty look from award show season so far? Share it with us below!
