Kitten Eyeliner Is The Easier Alternative To A Cat Eye. Here's How To Do It

When it comes to eyes, there are limitless eye makeup ideas. Whether you've experimented with pastel eyeshadows or glitter, there's nothing you can't do. Eye makeup trends come and go, but the classic cat-eye reigns supreme — even Cleopatra was a fan.

Though drawing the perfect cat eye does require some precision and practice, once you master it, you can go as dramatic or subtle as you'd like. Last year, the reverse cat eye made major headways on social media, and it's still going strong. Celebrity makeup artist Emma White Turtle told Byrdie, "A reverse cat eye is often a far easier way to create the iconic 'cat eye' shape," and it flatters all eye shapes. That's the beauty of the cat eye, its versatility.

Recently, the sultry siren eyes went viral on TikTok, yet another take on the cat eye. "Siren eyes are slightly more dramatic, darker around the rims of the eyes, and flicked upwards at the outer corners for a more narrow, cat-eye shape," makeup artist Lilly Keys told Allure. While both the reverse cat eye and siren eye trends are gorgeous, they're a bit too dramatic for everyday wear, but if they're your thing; show off your sultry eyes.

However, if you're still a fan of the cat eye and prefer something more subtle and easier that you can wear all the time, you have to try the kitten eyeliner because it's as cute as it sounds.

The classic cat eye will never go out of style, but if you want to rock the trend more subtly, you need to learn all about the kitten eyeliner.

The kitten liner is considered a "subtler and daintier version" of a cat eye, and celebrity makeup artist Tarryn Feldman told Glamour, "I also feel that people want a cleaner eyeliner look, and because the kitten eye requires less liner, it can be cleaner and easier to do." It looks great on all eye shapes, doesn't require multiple trial-and-error issues, and still gives the illusion of elongated eyes, so there's nothing not to love about this fresh take on a classic eye makeup trend.

Emmy-winning makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor recommends holding the liner so the tip is facing towards the ear and starting to draw a line from the outer corner of the eye and coming to the middle per Today. Then you draw a line from the inner corner of the eye and have it meet in the middle. The kitten eyeliner is more effortless because you aren't drawing the whole line in one go, which can mess up easily. 

If you're not too confident using a liquid liner, try this with an angled brush and eyeshadow until you master it. You can fix little errors with a q-tip and micellar water. You want to keep it clean with super sharp lines at the ends. Plus, it looks super cute.

Korean skincare tips are getting increasingly popular in the United States, and the proof is brands like Glow Recipe and Peach & Lily that often make it to the best skincare products of the year list. There's more to Korean beauty than skincare; some of their makeup tips are drool-worthy, and the kitten eye is very popular among Korean celebrities.

According to My Glamm, the kitten eye is "one of the most popular trends" when it comes to eye makeup because it accentuates the lash line without looking too extra. While bold eye makeup looks are popular here, Korean eye makeup prioritizes minimalism, where they make the eyes the focal point without going overboard, and it makes you look more youthful. You only need a liquid liner, metallic eyeshadow, and mascara to complete the look.

In the music video "Copy Cat" by the K-pop band Chobom, both singers Chorong and Bomi are rocking subtle kitten liners to balance their super colorful outfits and accessories, per Elle. And they're not the only K-pop stars to choose this daintier version of the sexy cat-eye. You'll often see members of the K-pop band Blackpink with a little wing at the corner of their eyes, and they all look super adorable. Are you planning to give this trend a shot? We guarantee you'll love it.