Cat face makeup for parties and costume nights

Before you start

Matte skin helps paint and liner adhere. If you use white or black face paint on cheeks, set with translucent powder first on oily zones. Do not share eye products; use fresh sponges for paint near the eye. For a lighter version, skip paint and focus on an exaggerated wing. See our cat eye makeup look.

The cat eye wing

Look straight ahead in the mirror. Mark wing direction from outer corner following the lower lash line upward. Hooded lids need the wing drawn with eyes open so it clears the fold. Build thickness on the outer third only; a thin inner line keeps eyes from looking smaller. Liquid liner gives precision; gel with brush forgives edits. The eyeliner style finder suggests wing length by eye shape.

Nose and whisker details

Optional: dot shadow or face paint on the nose tip, draw a soft line to the cupid's bow, and add three to five whisker strokes on each cheek with a fine brush. Keep whiskers light. Hair-thin lines read better than heavy strokes in flash photos. Symmetry matters more than quantity; step back every few strokes.

Lashes and lips

Dramatic outer-corner lashes reinforce the feline silhouette. Balance with nude or black lip depending on whether eyes or lips are your focal point. If you wear colored shadow, keep lips neutral to avoid costume-clutter.