How to do Winged Eyeliner | Celopatra Cat Eye Stamp by Lyda Beauty

I love a bold cat eye. Sharp black liner with a nice wing always makes my eyes appear large and dramatic. I use eyeliner every time I go out so creating a sharp, symmetrical wing has become second nature to me. 

Over the years many followers, friends and family members have asked me how to achieve a gorgeous cat eye and the advice I usually give is – practice makes perfect. You’ve heard the saying “never ask a girl with winged eyeliner why she’s late.” Sometimes it just takes patience. 

That being said, the Celpatra Cat Eye Stamp ($24.99) from Lyda Beauty makes life a lot easier, especially when you’re short on time and rushing to get ready. At one end there is a triangular stamp which creates the wing of your dreams and at the other end there is a thin felt liner.

First let’s talk about the formula. The eyeliners are: 

*Cruelty-free 

*Halal 

*Alcohol-free 

*Non-toxic 

*Paraben-free 

*Waterproof 

The pigment is safe to use around the eyes and lasts all day without smudging or running. They are also full-coverage and highly saturated so you can wear them all summer (even in humidity).

My go-to shade is Black but the brand has recently released 2 new shades – Green and Brown. There are also 2 stamp sizes available - Bold and Sleek.

*Bold is great for a thick, dramatic, Egyptian-style wing (my personal fave). Although anyone can use it with ease, it seems better suited for people with medium to large eyelids since the triangular stamp is quite large. 

*Sleek is the smaller wing stamp. It is great for everyday wear and works for all eye shapes and sizes. No matter what stamp you choose, you can always tweak and touch-up the liner. 

 How to Use: 

~ Step One: Apply stamp on outer corner of eyelid with the sharpest point facing out.

This step might take a bit of practice at first so I recommend testing the process on blank lids or neutral shadow so you can see what you’re doing. 

Determining the perfect angle for the stamp is the trickiest part but stamping diagonally, with the pointy tip positioned towards the outer corner of your eyebrow usually looks best. Avoid pointing the stamp sharply upwards. 

~ Step Two: Use the eyeliner end to draw a line (as thick or as thin as you like) and connect to the stamp.

If you have trouble using thin felt tip liners or liquid liners in general, practice by drawing the line with a sharpened black eyeliner pencil first (they tend to be easy to manoeuvre) and then use the liquid liner on top of the pencil outline – tracing and fixing as you go. This method usually ensures a straight, neat line for beginners and once you get the hang of it you can skip this. 

When it comes to liquid eyeliner I usually prefer a thin brush applicator with a dipping pot. They don’t dry out as quickly and I can adjust the amount of pigment on the brush. This applicator is quite good. It delivers a precise vivid line but I wish the felt point was more flexible around the eye contour. The stiffness creates a bit of drag but the end result is gorgeous! 

~ Step Three: Fill or shape as desired.

This a great tool to have in your makeup bag, especially now that we have to wear masks and our eyes are the only thing visible and expressive. 

The Celopatra Cat Eye Stamps are available at lydabeauty.com

Spring 2021 Green Beauty | 7 Brands You Have to Try!

Many people are making the switch to natural beauty brands because they are eco-friendly and better for the environment. My carbon footprint is not perfect but I continuously strive to make changes that will help reduce waste. 

Farleyco Marketing recently sent me a green beauty box that includes some fabulous brands! Many of these products are organic, sustainable, vegan, gluten-free and non-toxic.

The Bamboo Toothbrush ($5.99) from The Humble Co is one of my favorites! Did you know that 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are produced each year and most of them will end up in oceans or landfills.

This brush is 100% biodegradable, vegan, cruelty-free and BPA free. The handle is bamboo and the packaging can be thrown out with organic trash. Proceeds from every Humble purchase goes towards funding oral-care projects that benefit children in need. The toothbrush is available at shophali.com and London Drugs. 

7Th Heaven has created biodegradable sheet masks that are up to 99% natural, vegan and cruelty-free. The 24h Hydration Turmeric Calming Mask is formulated to brighten and fade blemishes. I also received two avocado masks - 1 clay and one sheet. Avocado oil makes my skin feel incredibly soft, supple and hydrated - it's one of my favorites. You can find 7th Heaven at London Drugs, Rexall, Pharmachoice, Jean Coutu and Uniprix.

The Foamie Shampoo and Conditioner Bars ($14.99 ea) smell amazing and cleanse from root to tip! I decided to go with the coconut formula to strengthen, soften, and enhance shine. The bars are 100% plastic-free, vegan and environmentally friendly with NO mineral oil, soap, parabens or silicone. They also come with a handy ribbon so you can hang them up to dry after each use. Foamie is available at shophail.com.

I guess you can tell I really like coconut because I also chose the Inecto Marvellous Moisture Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner. The small, travel size bottles retail for $5.49 each and the organic formula is great for dry, frizzy, damaged hair. The lush ingredients deeply nourish to promote healthy growth, stronger strands and thickness. You can find Inecto at Rexall, Pharma Plus, London Drugs, Guardian IDA and Pharmasave.

I’ve never dyed my hair because it is long, strong, healthy and shiny. If I do decide to change the color I would use something safe like Splat Naturals Semi-Permanent ($24.99). They make fun shades like purple, blue, teal and pink that last up to 30 washes. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and contains no bleach, parabens, sulfates, ammonia of fragrance. To order visit shophali.com.

Last but not least - some goodies from Shoppers Drug Mart. Honest Beauty makes safe, organic products that won’t trigger allergies or cause breakouts. They specialize in plant-derived cruelty-free products with zero toxins. 

The Vitamin C Radiance Serum ($39.99) brightens dull skin with a potent blend of light reflecting pearl, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and of course Vit C. The ingredients work together to help increase skin firmness and create a smooth, glowing, youthful complexion. You can purchase the serum online at Shoppers by clicking HERE or visit honestbeauty.com for more information.

If you’re looking for a gentle daily moisturizer try the Texture and Smoothing Cream ($25.99) from Cocokind. This brand is also plant-powered, gluten-free, sustainable, cruelty-free and affordable! 

The celery superseed complex can be used morning and night to smooth, plump, hydrate, refine, retexturize and brighten. It contains a long list of natural ingredients including: cucumber, sunflower, shea butter, squalane, ginseng, camellia oil and peppermint extract that help maintain a clear, healthy complexion. You can purchase the cream at Shoppers Drug Mart by clicking HERE or visit cocokind.com.