Take Your Cat Eye Game to The Next Level with the Bat Wing

Now that you’ve mastered classic winged eyeliner (aka cat eye), it’s time to take it up a notch with the bat wing! The name may sound goth or like something you’d do only for a Halloween costume, but the bat wing is a bold yet truly classy look. It’s similar to a cat eye, but the end of the wing goes further up to the brow bone, and is noticeably heavier, with a distinct shape, resembling—you guessed it—a bat’s wing. Try it on a special night out when you feel like adding that extra wow factor, or basically any time you want to summon an air of retro-glam sophistication a la Dita Von Teese. Follow along: all you need is your favorite gel or liquid liner and a makeup brush.

Supplies list

• gel liner; we used Inglot Cosmetics AMC Eyeliner Gel in #77
• makeup brush; we used Chikuhodo GSN-13 Eyebrow Brush

1: Start with a clean lid, then dip your brush in the eyeliner. Find your brow bone, and draw a line, right under it, following its natural curve, to the outer corner of your eye, as pictured.

2: Hugging the lash line, starting about midway across the eye, draw a diagonal line connecting to the end of the one you drew in step 1 to create a point. This starts off your “bat wing” shape. 

3: Then draw a line from the open end of the line you made in step 1 down and across the lashline (as pictured) all the way to the inner corner. Then fill in the shape, so it’s solid black.

4: Repeat on your other eye, and you’re done!

How to Keep Your Makeup in Place All Day

Don’t get us wrong: we love it when balmy summer days linger into September—and beyond. But nothing is worse than logging time in front of the mirror only to have your face melt off the minute you step out into the humid, sticky air. From the self-explanatory (primer) to the never-knew-that (creams > powders!), here are six pro-tested strategies for keeping all your makeup exactly where you want it.

1: Moisturizer, primer, then makeup

While the last thing you want to do is add more product than you need to when it’s hot and humid outside, pros far and wide agree that primer is a must. Pittsburgh–based makeup artist Tiffany Fluhme, who specializes in bridal work, says: “A great foundation primer is very light and makes your skin feel like silk; put it on after moisturizer and before your makeup.” (There’s a primer for everyone here.)

2: Lighten up your base

Try and keep your makeup as fresh and natural as possible in any weather, but especially when it’s muggy. To avoid over-application, Fluhme recommends using a BB cream with added SPF, like Embryolisse Secret de Maquilleurs BB Cream.  

3: Mind your lids

And your face isn’t the only thing that can use primer when the mercury rises. Eye primers are fabulous for keeping shadows in place, especially those that have a tendency to slip, smudge, or even run into your eyes—something that’s all the more likely to happen when you’re sweating, notes Fluhme. (We like Too Faced Shadow Insurance.)

4: Creams, not powders!

For warm weather looks, Fluhme suggests opting for cream—rather than powder—blushes and bronzers. It may seem counterintuitive, but “these products are less likely to cake up or ‘melt’ and will only add to a dewy, youthful glow,” she says. Point taken! For the lightest color pop, check out the organic cream-based options from rms beauty.

5: Skip the gloss (dare we say it?)

On warmer days, Fluhme stays away from sticky, thicker textures of lip gloss. When it’s really, really sweltering, “they tend to look and feel uncomfortable, and don’t sit well,” she says. Instead opt for lighter, non-tacky balms and stains to avoid looking like a hot (literally!) mess. For a just-conspicuous-enough wash of color, we’re partial to ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioners.

6: Set before you jet

Powder may be one of the last steps in your routine, but it can also be the first thing to ruin a look. When you sweat, makeup can fuse into a cakey, pasty mess. To avoid that, Fluhme recommends translucent powder. An ultralight, colorless powder like RCMA Makeup No Color Powder is great because you use it to touch up and refresh midday without caking on a bunch of product. Fluhme, is a fan ofmakeup fixing sprays, too. “Three or four spritzes is all you should need to lock it all in place,” she says (hold the bottle several inches away from the face). Some makeup artists have been known to use hairspray to do the trick, but unsurprisingly, Fluhme advises against it. “From a professional standpoint, I wouldn’t recommend that,” she says.  

Make Your Brows Sparkle! 2 Easy DIYs

Glitter has the power to add instant pizzazz to any day, which is one of the many reasons why I love it so much. At the age of 12, I bought my first vial of body glitter and now I’m a fully grown woman who still wears it. I don’t care that glitter creates a horrific mess, or that little flecks of it can get into your eyes. I love it, end of story.

Because I’m always trying to find new ways to incorporate glitter into my look, today I bring you… glitter EYEBROWS! That’s right. The windows to your soul are about to scatter light in every direction. Get ready! There are two ways to do glitter brows, and both are really easy. One method uses glitter only, and the second adds a base of bright color underneath for maximum impact. Follow along to recreate the ultimate dazzling look at home.

Understated: The earth-angel

Supplies list

• spoolie brush
• eye shadow brush (or any makeup brush you prefer)
• glitter base (lash glue will work, too!)
• makeup-grade glitter
• tissues

What we used: on brows: Lit Cosmetics Clearly Liquid Glitter Base, Lit Cosmetics Glitter Pigment in Mexican Lucky S2; on face: Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation in#112 & #113 and Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow Duo #3; on lips: Ellis Faas Glazed Lips in L303; tools: Chikuhodo GSN-15 Series Spoolie and Billy B Paint Brush five

1: Brush brows into place.

2: Using an eye shadow brush, spread the glitter base all over one of your brows, covering it completely. 

3: Dip the brush into glitter; and place a folded tissue over your eye to help catch fallout. If you find it too difficult to maneuver with a tissue, you can instead lean forward as you apply, so that any extra flecks fall away—and don’t land on your face. 

4: Make sure the glue hasn’t dried yet, and then use the brush to press glitter onto brow. 

5: Add MORE GLITTER. Cover that brow! You need more!

6: Using a spoolie, carefully comb the glitter through for maximum coverage.

7: Repeat steps 2 through 6 on your other brow and take a hundred selfies before hitting the streets (optional).

Bold: Disco Gold

Supplies list

• spoolie brush
• eye shadow brush (or any makeup brush you prefer)
• glitter base (lash glue will work, too; if you’re using a cream or liquid eye shadow, you may not need it)
• any eye shadow, in any color of your choice
• tissue
• makeup-grade glitter

What we used: on brows: Lit Cosmetics Glitter Pigment in Liberace S4, and Ellis Faas Light Eyes in E301; on face: Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation in #112 & #113 and Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow Duo #3; on lips: Ellis Faas Milky Lips in L207; tools: Chikuhodo GSN-15 Series Spoolie and Inglot Cosmetics Eye Shadow Brush (sold in a set)

1: Brush brows into place.

2: Using your brush, apply eye shadow so it’s completely covering one brow. Clean up any mistakes, i.e. pigment that fell outside the brow line, with a cotton swab. Because we used a creamy liquid eye shadow, we didn’t add any glitter base. But if you’re using regular powder shadow, add that next. 

3: Dip the brush into glitter and place a folded tissue over your eye to help catch fallout. If you find it too difficult to maneuver with a tissue, you can instead lean forward as you apply, so that any extra flecks fall away—and don’t land on your face. Make sure the shadow (or glitter base) hasn’t dried yet, and then use the brush to press glitter onto the brow. 

4: Add MORE GLITTER. More!

5: Using your spoolie, carefully comb the glitter through for maximum coverage.

6: Repeat steps 2 through 5 on your other brow and practice fielding compliments in the mirror (optional).

Mix Up a Brand-New Lipstick in Minutes! Here’s How.

When it comes to lipstick, we’ve tried ’em all. From super bold and matte to semi-sheer and neutral, we have something for every mood we’re in. But you know how, on certain occasions, the existing shades in your kit just don’t seem to cut it? And you can’t find the exact color you want, at that moment? Well, it’s time to get creative. It’s so easy! Just take out your tubes and start mixing! Think about it like this—you can instantly double (or triple) the scope of your palette if you start blending. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, either. A custom in-between shade might be just what you’ve been craving.

1: Choose two (or three or four) lippies that you want to mix.

2: Use a small palette knife or plastic knife to scrape or slice off a small amount of each color and dab onto a makeup palette or a small dish.

3: Blend with a clean lip brush until you’re happy with the shade.

4: Got a winner? Load it into a small, empty close-top makeup pot (an empty, clean eye shadow or eye cream container is perfect!).

And that’s pretty much it. There are no limits, and experimenting is the fun part! Try mixing similar shades together for slight variation, use a neutral tan or white to take one of your favorite bold lipsticks down a notch, or mix a bit of vampy red or black into a lighter hue to deepen it. We tested out several combinations using Inglot Cosmetics Lipsticks and came up with three favorites, shown below. Use these as a jumping-off point, or come up with a totally original combo.

Combo 1: Bright Orange + Sand = Poppy

A fiery orange lip will always make your pout the center of attention. If you want a similarly warm shade that’s not quite as showy, mix orange with your favorite beige to bring the intensity down a notch. And this doesn’t just work with red—try beige or tan hues with reds, vampy burgundies, and purples. You can’t go wrong.  

We used: 103 Cream + 404 Matte

Combo 2: White + Deep Berry = Muted Mulberry

You can never go wrong with a deep berry shade. But add in a little white and—voilà—the shade becomes a little less intimidating, and a perfect everyday go-to for fall.

We used: 228 Cream + 132 Cream

Combo 3: Bright Red + Sky Blue = Bold Purple

This is classic color wheel stuff. We love the idea of blending red and a soft indigo to get a cool purple-blue. And if you needed an excuse to add a blue tube to your stash, now you have one: it’s always ideal for mixing and layering.

We used: 408 Matte + 290 Cream

Any lipstick color combos you swear by? Did you discover a new go-to custom shade? Post your pics and ideas in the comments!

How to Tightline Eyes and Curl Lashes in One Step!

What if we told you you could tightline your eyes and curl your lashes all at the same time? In a single step. With only one hand. No, this isn’t a pop quiz, it’s a secret solution from makeup artist and brush designer, Wayne Goss!

All you need is an eyelash curler, plus your favorite eyeliner and mascara—and sexy lined eyes are just a crimp away. Wayne suggests using a waterproof liner for this method because it will prevent the product from transferring to your lower lashes throughout the day. As the liner dries at the base of the lashes, it creates a powerful hold that keeps eyelashes curled and “up” in place all day. “What’s so good about this technique,” explains Wayne, “is that it gets product into the lashline straight away and create a sort of ‘ledge.’ Your lashes will be curled, and they will stay curled because there’s that ledge there.” Then, when you finish with mascara, your lashes really stay put. “And you’ll have the blackest line right at the lashline,” says Wayne.

Watch the magic happen before your eyes starting at 1:16!

Supplies list

• eyelash curler, like this

• waterproof eyeliner pencil or gel eyeliner, like this or this

• mascara, like this

1: Open up the eyelash curler. Using a pencil eyeliner or a small brush dipped in gel liner, paint the rubber pad of the curler, covering it end to end.

2: Clamp the painted curler onto lashes like you normally would. Make sure to get the clamped curler as close to the lashline as possible and hold it in place for at least ten seconds to ensure the color transfers evenly from the curler to the eye.

3: Finish the look with a coat of mascara and smoulder all day long!