@smithadepak
We love a bold makeup look. While bright red pouts, draped blush, and mile-long lashes are fairly easy to achieve with a wide array of products and techniques—not to mention on just about all skin tones and face shapes—nailing the ultimate wing tip is not nearly as simple. At least, it wasnt until celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes popped onto the gram to share what were deeming the most helpful makeup advice of the year.
Enter: "bat wing" eyeliner. Oftentimes, when folks have trouble applying a winged eyeliner look, its because they have hooded eyes that quickly smudge the silhouette. Luckily, Hughes bat wing eyeliner technique is here to save the day. The trick is to apply your eyeliner with your eyes open and looking straight ahead. In doing so, youll be able to achieve the coveted wing tip, with the only difference being that when you close your eyes, your angled bat wing silhouette will be exposed. To be clear, thats not a bad thing. The unique shape—started by Hughes—is something of a legend on social media now.
To see if the liner style is right for you, keep reading for 11 of our favorite takes on bat wing eyeliner.
of 11
Bat Wing Eyeliner 101
Need a video refresher on how to apply the bat wing eyeliner trend? Here, makeup artist Ariel shows us how its done via a concise but informative TikTok video. Key to her technique is keeping eyes open, which makes a clean application easy to achieve.
of 11
Foggy Bat Wing Eyeliner
@katiejanehughes
As the creator of bat wing eyeliner, Hughes has a way of applying her liner in all fashions—opaque and transparent alike. Here, she got creative with eyeshadow and makeup remover to mimic the appearance of traditional eyeliner formulas.
of 11
Sheer Gray Bat Wing Eyeliner
@maevaattrait
Remember: You dont necessarily need liquid eyeliner—or even classic crayon eyeliner—to bring a lined lid look to life. Instead, dampen an angled eyeshadow brush and dip it into the color of your choice before tracing it into place. Cotton swabs dipped in micellar water work wonders for cleanup.
of 11
Classic Black Bat Wing Eyeliner
Sure, pale periwinkle wings are gorgeous, but thats not to say that you cant still make a statement with plain, jet-black tips. Here, you can see how shorter, wider wings can make for an especially bold end look. To recreate the look, try your hand at Hughes bat wing technique using Be a 10s Be Magnetic Eyeliner ($24) in shade Be Alluring. The best part? Since its magnetic, it sets you up just as well for stellar eyeliner as it does for perfectly aligned false lashes.
of 11
Dramatic Bat Wing Eyeliner
@missladytesha
While the bat wing technique is fairly straightforward, there are ways to dramatize the look. Case in point? These bold, tattoo-inspired wings. When Teshas eyes are half-closed, you can see the full silhouette. But when her eyes are wide open, the tailored design molds into a classic wing. Pretty cool, no?
of 11
Old Hollywood Bat Wing Eyeliner
@smithadepak
Old Hollywood beauty is all about bold (but simple) black eyeliner and ruby red lips. And, if you ask us, Instagram MUA and YouTube sensation SmithaDeepak nailed the look. To snag the look for yourself, perfect your bat wing eyeliner with the OFRA Cosmetics Verified Liquid Liner ($20) and the brands Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick ($20) in Brickell.
of 11
Icy Bat Wing Eyes
@yeoinbird
While bat wing eyeliner can undoubtedly stand alone, it looks just as fun when paired with a fully shaded lid look. Just look at this icy eye makeup—a silvery-blue smoky eye paired with a deep black wing makes for a cant-ignore-it makeup moment. Where the creator, Belinda Vossler, used Colourpops Truly Madly Deeply Palette ($17) for the lids, she relied on LA Girls Shockwave Neon Eyeliner ($4) in Blackout and NYXs Matte Liquid Liner ($8) in black to perfect her bat wings.
of 11
Minimalist Black Bat Wing Eyeliner
Bat wing eyeliner is bold enough to be the only makeup you wear, if you so choose. Dont believe us? Here, makeup artist Ana Reczynski shows us in full video fashion just how much of a statement black wing eyeliner can make all on its own.
of 11
Subtle Bat Wing Silhouettes
Depending on your eye shape and just how hooded your lids are, you may not need to trace as dramatic of a wing. Thats the case for YouTuber Saifa. Here, she shows how a subtle bat wing shape can look that much bolder when traced with a hint of fuchsia shadow.
of 11
Fading Bat Wing
@laurenmellusimakeup
We love any type of wing tip that is so expertly drawn on that the tip looks as though its stretching on forever, fading into the skin in the process. Thats exactly what makeup artist Lauren Mellusi managed with this look. The crisp edges come to a sharp yet seemingly infinite point.
of 11
Burgundy Bat Wing Eyeliner
@katiejanehughes
Last but not least, we have another beautiful option from Hughes herself. Here, the mastermind behind some of Rosie Huntington-Whiteleys most stunning looks shows us just how alluring a not-so-natural shade can look. The deep, cool tones are perfect for fall and winter, though they can be worn all year long if you wish.