From the creators of the revenge dress and the revenge haircut comes…revenge eyeliner.
If you somehow haven’t heard of the revenge dress — or better yet, worn one yourself — here’s a little history lesson for you: It was the summer of 1994 and Princess Diana appeared at a summer party in a short, tight, off-the-shoulder black dress by designer Christina Stambolian on the same night her husband, Prince Charles, admitted in a television interview that he’d had an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. The dress became instantly iconic, and the idea that fashion could be used as a secret weapon to rise from a setback stronger, braver and hotter has remained ever since.
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Now the revenge dress is seen as a legitimate way to get over a heartbreak. For some, it might be about showing their ex what they’re missing; for others, it’s simply about encouraging their own self-esteem. And it should come as no surprise that the concept of the revenge dress has also moved into the world of beauty, whether that’s in the form of a stunning new haircut or, as we’re seeing now, flawless eyeliner.
In fact, the term revenge eyeliner has been coined by Donni Davy, lead makeup artist of Euphoria, to describe the look worn by Alexa Demie’s character, Maddy, in episode 2 of the third season of the HBO series.
Millennials, we are so back.
What is revenge eyeliner?
Per Davy, revenge eyeliner is an eyeliner with an ultra-thin wing at the top and a very defined line at the bottom. As Taylor Swift once sang, “Draw the cat eye sharp enough to kill a man.” Revenge eyeliner is just that, and it’s not only reserved for unbearable exes. In the case of Euphoria, for example, Maddy Perez’s double eyeliner is intended to show her former best friend Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) how good her life has been compared to Cassie’s sad existence.
Are you going through a breakup, of any kind, or just want to recreate this eyeliner look? Here’s how to do it: The key to achieving the perfect revenge eyeliner is to get a defined and flawless line. Davy uses her line’s Half Magic Beauty Magic Flik eyeliner, Flik Eraser concealer, and popular Wing Magician tool. (Half Magic Beauty sells the whole range in a single set, by the way.) In an Instagram video, the makeup artist shared a full tutorial of Maddy’s look, which also included a matte eyeshadow. “In episode two, Maddy sees Cassie in the pool for the first time in many years, and we knew the impact had to be dramatic,” Davy explains in the video.
Put simply, revenge eyeliner is an intense cat eye with long, voluminous lashes. And the result? A look that leaves no one indifferent, conveying a defiant attitude without a hint of self-pity. Below, you’ll find some options to help you get the sharpest lines possible.
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A version of this article was previously published in Glamour Spain.
