It’s no secret that a sharp crimson lip with perfectly winged liquid liner is a sure-fire hit on the red carpet. But, lately we’ve been seeing a new spin on the traditional cat-eye, known as the “Negative Space Eyeliner,” on the next generation of starlets. Alicia Vikander rocked a similar cat-eye look at the MET Gala earlier this year. And, it was a graphic approach in the same tone to that of Lily Collins, who paired her negative liner look with a deep red pout in 2017.
There’s no one-kind-fits-all formula for this bold take on the graphic liner—this is a trend that’s all about drawing outside the lines. So, don’t be afraid to experiment and take some time to practice. If there’s one thing worthy of applause, it’s playing around and having fun with makeup!
Step 1: For graphic makeup like this, start with a flawless canvas. A primer will smooth out imperfections in the T-zone area, and it will help your foundation stay in place longer.
Try: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Step 2: Next, apply a lightweight, blurring foundation to even out skin tone and to soften the appearance of any blemishes and dark spots.
Try: Benefit Cosmetics Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation
Step 3: Now for the graphic eye. For this look, we started with a thick, even band of black liquid liner along the lash line, flicking it up and out toward the crease.
Try: Stila Stay all Day Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black
Step 4: If it’s a finer line you’re going for, opt for a micro-tip liquid eyeliner. We used it to add a short, thin stroke from the outer corner of the band toward the crease area, creating a fierce, angled effect.
Try: Stila Stay all Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner Micro Tip
Step 5: Curl your eyelashes before adding generous coats of mascara on the top and bottom lashes to frame the look.
Try: Smashbox Super Fan Mascara
Step 6: Fill and groom your eyebrows to maintain the overall polish. Use a tinted fiber gel to brush your eyebrows in a back and forth motion, which helps the fibers adhere to each hair. Next, sweep in an upward motion to keep brows neatly in place.
Try: Benefit Gimme Brow + Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel
Step 7: On lips, begin with a long-wear lip liner to keep your lip colour in place.
Try: Bourjois Contour Edition Lip Liner in Tout Rouge
Step 8: Finally, apply a high-pigment, matte red lipstick for rich colour that won’t fade, even at the after party.
Try: Bourjois Rouge Velvet The Lipstick in Rubi's Cute
