Just when you thought you'd finally mastered the perfect cat-eye, there's a slightly more complicated (though exponentially cooler) eyeliner trend sweeping the Internet. "Bubble Eyeliner," as the look has been aptly named by the Instagram gods, is your classic, winged flick with a twist. Instead of a smooth, straight line, the sweep across your upper eyelid has small ridges, or "bubbles," that add an extra element of dimension to the lash line. For those of us with a shaky hand, it's basically a dream come true.
First seen in an Instagram video by makeup artist and beauty blogger Jenny Gonzalez, the look is actually a lot easier to achieve than it looks. In the video, Gonzalez first applies a thin sweep of black liner across her upper eyelid. Then she puts a small dab of liquid liner on the back of her hand, dips the open side of her eye pencil cap into the liquid, and applies it to her upper lid. This creates small, open circles which provide an outline for the "bubbles." Gonzalez then takes a small brush, fills in the circles with liquid liner and adds one final flick to the outside of her eye, á la Adele. Since the bubbled style is uneven to begin with, there's really no way to mess it up!
Here are a few tips to help you master the look:
1. Pick The Right Eyeliner
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $19, KaVonDBeauty.com
The best liquid liner for an upper-lash cat eye goes on smooth, but not to thick. Luckily, we tested out three (affordable!) eyeliner brands and reviewed them to help you decide which will work best for you.
2. Add A Little Glitz
Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner, $20, Macys.com
Add a pop of glam to your bubble eyeliner with some glitter. Try Urban Decay's Heavy Metal ($20, Macys.com), which comes in a variety of colors including silver, pink and turquoise.
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3. Embrace The Rainbow
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil, $20, Macys.com
Looking to kick your cat eye up yet another notch? Try out a liner shade other than classic black. Or, use different colors for each "bubble" to get ridges that double as a rainbow.
4. Top It Off With Fake Lashes
Sephora Collection Celebrity Lash Trio, $25, Sephora.com
Trying fake lashes for the first time can be an overwhelming experience, but testing them out with bubble liner is a great way to dip your toes into two trends at once. The ridges on this look provide a nice, big palate for you to glue your lashes onto, and the combined looks will make for some serious va-va-voom.
5. Finish It Off With Lipstick
Gonzalez wears her bubble liner with simple, nude eyeshadow, but adds a red lip for a little extra drama. Not one for a major eye and lip all at once? Since the liner is so wow-inducing on its own, you can also keep the rest of your makeup natural understated so that all of the attention is on your eyes. Remember to wear mascara on your upper and lower lids to keep the look balanced.
Image: Jenny Gonzalez/YouTube; Courtesy of Brands
