A bat wing eyeliner look is one that can be used for a variety of occasions. It can be used for everyday looks, but it is especially beautiful for special occasions. The bold and dramatic look opens up your eyes and really makes a statement. Here’s a look at how to create the perfect winged eye, what type of eyeliner is best to use for it. And, understanding the difference between a cat eye and a bat wing look.
What is Bat Wing Eyeliner
A bat winged eye is an eyeliner style that is a twist on the cat eye and gets its name because it resembles the wings of a bat. It is a dramatic and bold look that involves creating an extended winged eyeliner that has a sharp angle at the outer edge of the eye. This technique is typically achieved using liquid or gel eyeliner so that you get a crisp and clean cline. The bat wing eyeliner look can be adapted to suit different eye shapes and can be made more or less dramatic depending on your personal preference.
Difference Between Cat Eye vs Bat Wing Eye
While the cat eye and bat wing eye looks are similar styles that involve a winged eyeliner, there are a few key differences between the two:
What is a Cat Eye:
- The classic cat eye look involves creating a thin to medium line along the upper lash line, extending the line from the inner corner of the eye, outward and upward at the outer corner of the eye to create a winged effect.
- The wing is typically angled upward and slightly tapered.
- The overall effect is a timeless, sophisticated look that can be subtle or dramatic depending on the thickness and length of the wing.
What is a Bat Wing Eye:
- The bat wing eye look is a more dramatic and exaggerated version of the cat eye.
- The wing is often longer and more angular, with a sharp, pointed tip that mimics the shape of a bat's wing.
- The wing is often extended down toward the lower lash line to create a diagonal line, which gives the eye a more dramatic and bold effect.
- The overall effect is an edgier, bolder look that is perfect for a night out or a special occasion.
While both looks are beautiful in their own way, the cat eye is a classic and versatile look that can be worn for any occasion. The bat wing eyeliner is a more dramatic and bolder look. I like to think of it this way. The cat eye is good for every day looks and the bat wing eyeliner look is perfect for special occasions or when you want to make a statement.
How to Create a Cat Eye
Creating a cat eye may seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice and the right tools, it's actually quite simple. Here are the steps for the easiest way to create a classic cat eye look:
- Start by prepping your eyelids with eyeshadow or primer to help your makeup stay in place.
- Use a neutral eyeshadow shade that matches your skin tone and apply it all over your lid and blend it well.
- Take a black liquid eyeliner and draw a thin line as close to your upper lash line as possible. You can choose to make the line as long or as short as you like.
- Extend the line slightly past the outer corner of your eye to create a wing.
- Connect the wing to your upper lash line by drawing a line that tapers inwards.
- Fill in any gaps along the line and make sure that it's smooth and even.
With a little practice, you can create a perfect cat eye makeup look in no time. The key to a good, winged eye is that you want to make sure that you draw the wing up towards the end of your eyebrow, instead of drawing the line straight out from your eye. By drawing upwards it really opens-up your eye.
How to Create Bat Wing Eye Look
To create a bat wing eye look, follow these easy steps:
- Start with a clean, primed eyelid. Apply eyeshadow or primer to ensure your eye makeup stays in place.
- Use a neutral eyeshadow shade or translucent powder all over your lid and blend it well.
- Take a black liquid eyeliner or gel eyeliner and draw a thin line along your upper lash line, starting from the inner corner of your eye. Use small, short strokes to create a clean line.
- Create a winged eyeliner by extending the line outward and upward, past the outer corner of your eye. The wing should be angled upward, mimicking the shape of a bat's wing.
- Create a second line from the tip of the wing, extending down toward your lower lash line, creating a diagonal line.
- Fill in the space between the two lines to create the bat wing shape.
You can see that the bat wing eyeliner look is really just a variation of the cat eye. Don't be afraid to experiment with different shapes and angles until you find the perfect bat wing look for you. And there are lots of different ways to create the look.
Some like a thin line, while others prefer what I think of as a stepped look. Rather than the line going from the corner of your inner eye and joining the tip of the wing, it actually becomes two steps. Draw the wing first extending the liner to the outer corners of your eyes. Then, start another line going from the middle of the upper lash line. To me it looks kind of like a step, if that makes sense.
Geometric shapes are also a fun way to create a bat wing liner. You can also get really creative and create actual bat wings along the outer wing that extends up towards your eyebrow. This is a fun look for Halloween.
Tips for Creating the Perfect Winged Eyeliner Look
- Use the right tools: Invest in a good quality eyeliner brush or a pen with a fine tip to help you create a precise and clean line. Choose an eyeliner formula that works best for you, whether it's a liquid eyeliner, gel liner, or pencil.
- Create a roadmap: Before applying your liner, use a light-colored eyeshadow or a white eyeliner pencil to sketch out the shape of your wing. This will help you visualize the shape and ensure both wings are even.
- Start small: Begin by creating a thin line along your upper lash line, gradually building the thickness and length of the line until you achieve the desired shape. This will help prevent mistakes and allow you to adjust the shape as needed. Using small strokes also helps.
- Use tape or a spoon: If you're having trouble creating a straight line or a symmetrical wing, try using a piece of tape or a spoon as a guide. Place the tape or spoon against the outer corner of your eye and use it as a guide to create a straight line and wing.
- Don't stress if you make a mistake. Take a small makeup brush or Q-tip dipped in makeup remover, or moisturizer, to fix any mistakes.
Best Eyeliner for Winged Eyes
A black liquid liner is typically the best for creating a winged eye. LimeLife’s Perfect Eyeliner Pen is my favorite for this. I love the fiber brush tip on this pen. It makes the eyeliner easy to apply. And, you can draw super skinny lines close to the base of your lashes. Or, draw thick, bold lines and wings. This eyeliner pen really gives lots of flexibility for the type of winged eye you can create.
If you aren’t a fan of liquid eyeliner, you can also use a gel pencil like LimeLife’s Enduring Eyeliner Pencil. This gel eyeliner glides on smoothly so you can create beautiful lines that are perfect for any eye wing look. And this eyeliner last 24 hours so it won’t flake, smudge, or wear off. It’s the perfect bat wing eyeliner.
While a black liner is the typical go-to product for a winged eye, you can always use eyeshadow. Whether you use the eyeshadow wet or dry, you can create a variety of looks using eyeshadow that you may already have on hand.
Pictures of Cat Eye and Bat Wing Looks
As I've already mentioned, there are so many ways to create a cat eye, or bat wing. Here are a few different ways to create a winged eye, whether you prefer a traditional cat eye. Or, a more dramatic look. There are really an endless number of looks you can create. You can draw the wing just across the top lash line. Or, draw a bottom wing across the bottom lash line and connect with the wing drawn across the upper lash line.
Here's a look at a super skinny winged eye. It's a flattering look for all eye shapes.
Video Tutorials for Winged Liner Looks
This first video is a short tutorial for how to create the perfect winged eyeliner.
Video for how to create a winged eyeliner for hooded eyes.
This next video includes tips from makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes. One of the things that I like about this video is that it shows that we all have different techniques and beauty routines for creating a winged eye. And the bottom line is this, the best way is the way that works for you. Katie has some great tips that will hopefully help, but if you already have your own way of doing things that's great. You do you!
Recap of Bat Wing Eyeliner Looks
I hope the tips and info I've shared help you to create the perfect bat wing eyeliner look. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment with different shapes and angles until you find the perfect winged eyeliner look that's right for you.
Play around with variations of the cat eye and bat wing eyeliner. Use celebrities like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande as inspiration. They both have mastered winged eyeliner. And while I love that a winged eye looks great as is, you can add a red eyeshadow along the top of the line for a fun way to accentuate it with color. But if you want a classic look, keep your eyelid neutral, use black eyeliner, mascara, and a beautiful lip color for a pop of color.
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