While a dramatic cat eye will never go out of style, it is fun to experiment with other eyeliner styles to mix it up. One such look that is a perfect alternative to the traditional winged liner is the kitten eye. As the name might suggest, this is a slightly more delicate take on the cat eye — think of it as its little sister, if you will.
Kitten liner is gaining traction on TikTok, with Glamour reporting that the hashtag #kitteneye has over 17,000 views on it. While that’s not a huge number — the most popular hashtags have views in the millions — the popularity of this style is rising.
So, what’s is there to love about kitten eyeliner? Well, it looks incredibly chic and delicate thanks to the fine line of product, which is also shorter than a regular cat eye. The kitten eye subtly peeks out of your eye, drawing attention to your liner without taking over the entire makeup look.
The delicate nature of kitten eyeliner also makes it easier to apply. There’s no layering of eyeliner required to create a detailed wing — you’re simply starting at the middle of the eye and drawing a thin line before extending a fine flick off of your eye. And, because this look requires less makeup, it makes it a great style for summer.
We tend to steer away from heavy and complicated makeup looks in the warmer weather and the kitten eye allows you to have the best of both worlds. To really lean into the TikTok makeup aesthetic, you might consider pairing your kitten eyeliner with the clean look trend.
Here are some of our favourite kitten eye recreations:
