The ‘Ghost Wing’ Is the Softer Cat-Eye Trend That’s Taking Over
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For years, the cat eye has been the beauty world's most dependable staple—a flick of liner, a lifted corner, and suddenly everything looks sharper. It's the shape we've all practiced in bathroom mirrors (time and time again), the one that survived every trend cycle (2000s retro liner, anyone?) by being easy, flattering, and endlessly adaptable. But even a classic evolves eventually.
To get a better sense of where this makeup trend is headed, we spoke with celebrity makeup artist Melissa Hurkman , whose clients include the Kardashians , Cindy Crawford, and others; and Elyse Reneau , head of global makeup at Too Faced.
"I think we're moving away from the super sharp, structured cat-eye and into something softer and more effortless," Hurkman says. "The shape is still elongated and lifted, but the edges are more diffused, so it enhances the eyes without looking like you're wearing a lot of eyeliner," adds Hurkman.
The new approach to the cat eye is more diffused and less sharp. "I love this direction because it feels a little more lived-in and modern, while still giving the eyes that beautiful lifted effect," Hurkman points out.
On a different note, Reneau admits she'll always keep a special place in her heart for the bold winged liner look. "As a millennial, I'll always have a soft spot for the smudged, lived-in cat-eye, but I'm equally obsessed with a a baby wing that subtly lifts and elongates the eye, " she says. Reneau adds that individuality in the beauty space is what she's noticed to be the most significant change. "To me, the biggest evolution is that we're moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach and embracing techniques that maximize the beauty of our individual eye shapes," she says.
"Whether it's a softly diffused chocolate brown, a ghostly flick, or a strategically placed shadow, it's about understanding your unique features and creating your own version of that seductive, feline effect," she explains, adding, "And let's not forget my hooded girlies! The goal isn't to recreate someone else's cat-eye; it's to create the most flattering version for YOUR eyes."
What are we seeing next?
"It's definitely a combination of the smudged cat eye and what people are calling the ghost wing," says Hurkman, referring to the diffused, taupe-toned layering technique used to create an instant eye lift.
"I especially love using soft browns instead of traditional black liner. You still get that definition and elongation, but it almost melts into the lash line," she explains.
Hurkman adds that the ghost wing takes the idea further, using subtle shadow and placement to create the illusion of a wing without an obvious line. "It's more about creating shape and dimension than seeing the actual eyeliner," she says.
How to re-create the look
"My favorite way to recreate this look is to start with a creamy brown eyeliner, like Westmore Beauty's Lasting Effects Soft Glide Eyeliner in Rich Brown. I apply it as close to the upper lash line as possible, concentrating most of the product on the outer third of the eye. Then, using a small angled brush, I gently diffuse the liner outward and slightly upward to create that lifted shape."
Hurkman shares that the trick is to keep the inner corner almost bare and build the definition toward the outer corner. "You want the liner to look like a natural extension of your lashes rather than a separate wing," she says.
She then finishes with Westmore Beauty's 60-Second Lash Effects Mascara, focusing on lifting and separating the lashes, especially at the outer corners. "The combination gives the eyes that soft, elongated effect without looking overly done," she says.
To make the ghost wing even subtler, Hurkman has another trick. "I'll use a matte taupe or soft brown eye shadow with a tiny angled brush to create that same shape, keeping the edges almost invisible," she says.
Westmore Beauty 60-Second Lash Effects Mascara™
Westmore Beauty Lasting Effects Soft Glide Eyeliner
Saie SuperSuede™ Baked Eyeshadow
TooFaced Chocolate Nudes Eye Shadow Palette
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