Just like a classic white shirt and a little black dress in fashion, there are some things in beauty that will never go out of style—red lipstick, clean skin, defined brows. But perhaps the most timeless of all is the cat eye. I mean, it dates back to the ancient Egyptians and has strong roots in Old Hollywood. Winged liner is flattering on nearly everyone. It draws attention to and elongates your eyes, and the vintage connotations add instant cool to any look.
There’s a definite learning curve to mastering it, though, which makes it both the most loved and the most feared style of makeup—hence the slew of eyeliner stencils and stamps on the market. Most of these guides are pure gimmicks; they're too bulky, stiff, or high-maintenance to actually streamline the process. Still, whenever one shows up in stores, I’m tempted to put it to the test, hopeful that this one will be the one that changes the game.
Enter the L’Oréal Flash Cat Eye liner, the newest addition to my collection of stencils. The $8 liner pen has a brush tip and comes with a small stencil that slides right into the cap. The guide itself is a triangle with a single-size cutout for a wing, or you can use the other flat sides to create a straight line, as you would with the Pinterest-famous tape trick. What’s most appealing about it (aside from the price) is that it's so compact. Most guides add an extra piece for you to make room for, but with this one everything you need is right there.
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Despite all that, I had my doubts. I’ve been burned by eyeliner stencils too many times before. I challenged my fellow Glamour editors, from cat-eye queens to newbies, to put it to the test. Read on for our honest thoughts.
Tester: Khaliha Hawkins, producer
Eyeliner skill level: Beginner
What she thought: I’m terrible at eyeliner. I’ve watched YouTube tutorials and used tape to get the perfect flick, but nothing ever works. However, this stencil is perfect. It didn’t leave marks on my face, and the instructions were very easy to follow. I also like that I can use the stencil with all of my other eyeliners. It’s definitely the best eyeliner stencil I've ever tried.
Tester: Alexa De Paulis, junior designer
Eyeliner skill level: Intermediate
What she thought: Thanks to Taylor Swift’s Red era, I was rocking a cat eye daily in high school. As I became older, busier, and less of a pro at the art of the cat eye, I've mostly reserved it for an extra-effort night out. This L'Oréal Cat Eye pen really took the pressure off me to create the perfect wing. I used the angled top to guide the pen, and even when I fumbled a bit using my nondominant hand to hold the stencil, I was able to easily fix what I thought was going to be a total tragedy. The formula isn’t as weightless on your lid as my favorite Kat Von D ink liner, but it’s perfect for beginners aiming to replicate the classic cat-eye look.
Tester: Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate
Eyeliner skill level: Expert
What she thought: At this point I don’t really feel like I need an eyeliner stencil (I’ve worn winged eyeliner almost every day since middle school), but I’m always looking for ways to make my life easier. I’ve tried a bunch of stencils and found this one to be the most user-friendly. I was able to get a nice crisp wing on my left eye on the first try, but I had to wipe off and redo my right eye a few times, so I think there’s a bit of a learning curve. I have hooded eyes and generally prefer my wing to go out rather than up, as the stencil does, so I think next time I would just use the straight edge as a guide.
