Article from Glamour.com

By Loni Venti

There are two things we can all agree about cat eyes: (1) They look insanely fierce and (2) you can actually go crazy trying to paint them on. Unless you’re a seasoned wing woman who’s been rocking liquid liner since middle school, it’s pretty rare to nail it on the first go. Or the tenth.

Luckily some masterful cat-eye pros got really real about all the ways we’re screwing up our flicks. (Spoiler: The mirror you use makes a huge difference.) Here, 11 things NOT to do when you’re aiming for winged perfection.

Mistake #1: Not prepping your lids with powder
First things first: Never apply liquid or cream liner to your lids without dusting on some powder (translucent powder, powder foundation, or powder shadow) first. It nixes the natural oils on the surface of your lids and prevents your cat eye from smearing and fading.

Mistake #2: Trying to get it in one stroke
Most people need four to ten strokes, according to Hannah Hatcher, makeup artist and global educator for Jane Iredale. At the very minimum, try this: (1) trace the lash line, (2) flick out the wing, and (3) graze the top to form a line that connects the two and smooth everything out.

Mistake #3: Using a tiny compact instead of a large mirror
It’s nearly impossible to create even wings when you can’t see both eyes at the same time, so if you use a little compact, you’ll probably end up with flicks that don’t line up. Use a bathroom or vanity mirror large enough to see your whole face so you can paint the wings on symmetrically.

Mistake #4: Not starting out small
Even if you want a super dramatic effect, you should still start out with a thin line, explains L.A.-based makeup artist Lauren Urasek. You can always add to bulk it up.

Mistake #5: Using a dried-up liner or old, frayed brush
If you’re using the applicator or brush over and over and barely seeing any product at all—or worse, getting a crumbly texture—you’ll never get the effect you want, Urasek explains. Toss the deadbeat, snag a newbie, and trace your lashes with a fresh liquid or cream that creates rich, opaque lines.

Mistake #6: Closing your eyes
A lot of us feel like we need to close our eye when we apply liner, explains Erik Soto, Kat Von D global makeup artist. This can prevent symmetry because most of the time, our eyes are open! In other words, you’re not seeing how the liner will actually look. Instead, keep your eyes open and look directly into the mirror.

Mistake #7: Taking it all off and starting over when you mess up
So you slipped up a little. Or notice that one wing is pointing up a little too much. When this happens, do not take it all off. Instead, fold a makeup wipe in half to create a straight edge and glide it across your liner as needed to create the shape of your choice—like an eraser, suggests Soto.

Mistake #8: Just winging it
You’ve heard it before, but practice makes perfect. Instead of randomly testing out a cat eye for the first time before an event, Soto recommends experimenting right before you remove your makeup at bedtime when there’s no pressure to make it perfect.

Mistake #9: Using any old liner
Everyone has her favorite LBD, red lip, and BB cream. Right? The same should go for cat-eye tools. It takes a little trial and error to find the formula and applicator that’s right for you. Shop around for a few and experiment until you find your perfect match. One we love: Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($19, sephora.com). The marker-like application is pretty foolproof.

Mistake #10: Rushing It
Sorry girl, but if you are running late, it is NOT the day to wing your liner, Hatcher insists. Unless you don’t mind showing up wherever you’re going 15 minutes behind. You do you.

Mistake #11: Leaving gaps
Even when your line is the perfect thickness and your wings are completely even, there’s one more thing to check for: bare spaces. Step close to the mirror and look for any sparse areas between your lashes and the line or any spots where the liner may have skipped. For maximum impact, your cat eye should be completely opaque and filled in.

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