What do Anne-Marie, Maya Jama and Adele all have in common? They all turned to the same stunning cat-eye technique on the red carpet at this year's Brit Awards. Oh, they're all fiercely successful British women dominating the music industry, of course.
It's not exactly hard to see why. The classic cat-eye technique has been a makeup pro favourite for decades for its ability to elongate the eyes to make them look bigger while also creating a lifting effect on the whole face.
Recently, however, the classic look has received a modern twist with a little help from a viral highlighting trick that accentuates the lifting effect by drawing the eye even further out and up into the temples.
Whereas a classic cat-eye would call upon a black liquid eyeliner to draw a precise flick on the inner and outer corners, as well as a kohl pencil to fill in the water line, the modern cat-eye combines micro-highlights at the inner and outer corners for a brighter, and a little more awake, finish.
For best results, use a white pencil (we love About-Face Shadowstick Matte Eyeshadow Stick in Oxide) to draw a soft line from the outer corner of the eye at a 45 degree angle towards the temple and blend upwards using a Beauty Blender or sponge with a pointed end.
If you want to take the brightness to the next level, you can copy Anne-Marie and also line the inner corners with the same white pencil, being sure to blend out gently to avoid harsh lines.
Then – and this is where the magic happens – take a shimmery highlight (opt for pearlescent pigments rather than glitter for more natural results) and apply carefully above and below the eyeliner on the inner corners. This small but crucial step will add much needed lightness to this typically shadowy area of the face, as well as draw focus to the elongated liner.
Finish the look with plenty of mascara on both top and bottom lashes, a great matte or satin nude lipstick for true smouldering style.
Don't forget to check out the rest of the stunning beauty looks from this year's Brit Awards…
