Behold, the Adele Eyeliner Tutorial
Makeup artist and YouTube legend Lisa Eldridge’s latest video was one of the better surprises we’ve found on the Internet. Not only does the video unexpectedly star her fellow makeup artist Michael Ashton, but Ashton hands us the keys to the killer cat eye he gives his megastar client Adele.
Two things to note before we dive in here: Yes, the look is as complicated as you thought: Ashton uses two shadows, two liquid liners, falsies, and mascara to nail the look. But no, you needn’t have his star power to get it right. The elusive perfect flick is easier to master if you follow his pointers, as is ending on a note that’s seductive and glam rather than campy. Find Adele’s complete look in the video above, and a breakdown of the steps to her cat eye below.
Step 1: Apply a natural, bronze eyeshadow paint (Ashton swears by MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork) all over the lid, coming up to the natural crease to add depth. Then soften with a second shadow brush before going in with powders in an eyeshadow palette (Ashton uses Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip). You’re going for an “expensive-looking finish” here (hello, millionaire pop star), so mix natural colors and buff, until lids look defined but not overdone and eyes look opened.
Step 2: Reach for a gel liner. Ashton uses Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink, and applies it to the back of his hand first, so it has time to dry out a little, to make it workable. Apply it starting at the middle of the eye first, drawing it outwards and then building thickness. Focus on getting the liner on, and not so much on the shape yet. Then start on the inner corner: Stretch out your eyelid with your finger to avoid creases, and get the liner as close as you can to the last line. Keep building the color, getting it close to the lash line and as dark as you can.
Step 3: Get ready — this is flick step No. 1. Using the same liner and brush, start close to the lash line and drag the brush outward and upward toward the temple, at a 45-degree angle. Use more pressure at the lashes than on the flick, so you get a thinner, softer flick. Go back in and sharpen the edges using the same brush, then correct with a cleansing water (Ashton uses Bioderma) and Q-tip to shape the liner.
To hone the flick, go back at it with the same eyeliner, building out the top of the line. Move from the outer edge of the flick in toward the middle of the eye, making it a little thicker.
Step 4: False lashes! Using a black glue (Ashton likes Duo Eyelash Adhesive in black, because it dries matte) on lash strips that you can trim to size (such as Amor Us in #WSP), press them into the root of your natural lashes. Finish this off with a Q-tip, then lift the lashes up and out with your finger as they dry.
Step 5: Grab a thickening mascara — Ashton suggests Diorshow in Pro Black 090 — that’s preferably a little older, so the formula is dryer and easier to load on. As with the gel, Ashton applies mascara to the back of his hand and uses a small fan brush to coat lower lashes, working the product into the base of the lash line. Then use the mascara brush to coat upper lashes and blend falsies into your natural lashes.
Step 6: Ashton calls this last step “product cocktailing”: using two products together to make magic. Reach for a second heavy liquid eyeliner (Ashton’s pick is MAC Liquidlast Liner in Point Black) and go over your base liner, adding color, texture, and a little thickness.
Step 7: Finish off your brows. Layer a brow pencil (MAC Eye Brows in Fling) and powder (he uses MAC eyeshadow) to fill out brows to a natural-looking arch.
Behold! You may not be able to sing like Adele, but with eyes like this, who cares?
