Liquid eyeliner has become a staple look, but many people don’t follow the trend simply because they don’t know how to apply it. Pencil eyeliner seems so much simpler to line your eyes with, but liquid eyeliner is honestly quite easy to use once you get the hang of it.

The “cat eye” is an elegant look that anyone can create in under one minute. So if you’re running late in the morning, draw on your eyeliner, sweep on a few coats of mascara, and dab on a colored gloss. You’ll be surprised at how quickly and easily you can look put together.

So read over these steps, practice a few times when you’re not going anywhere, and you’ll be ready to rock the “cat eye” in no time.

With your felt tip liquid eyeliner or angled eyeliner brush, begin at the inner corner of your eye. Barely press the tip at the innermost part and bring it out at a moderate speed to the middle of your eye, gradually making the line slightly thicker. It should only raise about one to two millimeters.

Next, carefully place a piece of tape along the natural angle of your bottom lash line. Wing your liner out against the tape, and then fill in the remaining space between the center of your lid and the outer corner. Allow the liner to dry for roughly ten seconds before removing the tape.

Note: not everyone needs to use tape when using liquid eyeliner. If you have a steady hand and you can eyeball it, try using liquid eyeliner without the tape.

Once both eyes are evenly lined, complete your eyes with two to three coats of dramatic black mascara. If you like to curl your lashes before mascara application, get the metal warm with your blow dryer for about fifteen seconds. Let it cool slightly before putting it on your lashes. The warm metal will make your lashes curl to extreme lengths!

Your lips can be either subtle or bold – both looks will go with a cat eye. Consider that a red lip with liquid liner is a classic look, but a sweet pink shade will make your eyes stand out more.

Felt tip eyeliners

• Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner ($5.97 at Walmart)

• NYX Collection Noir Skinny Black Liner ($5.99 at Ulta)

• Ulta Precision Liquid Eyeliner ($8 at Ulta)

• MAC Penultimate Eye Liner ($18.50 at maccosmetics.com)

• Tarte multiplEYE Lash Enhancing Liquid Eyeliner ($22 at Ulta)

Eyeliners used with an angled brush

• Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner ($6.94 at Walmart)

• Ulta Extreme Wear Gel Liner ($9 at Ulta)

• Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner ($15 at Dillard’s)

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($22 at bobbibrowncosmetics.com)

• Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eyeliner ($22 at lauramercier.com)

Eyeliner brush

• Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush ($5.79 at Target)