How to Do a Cleopatra Eyeliner Design

Create your own version of this famed eyeliner look.

Cleopatra has inspired countless stories, movies, and makeup looks. These include William Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra," George Bernard Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra" and the 1963 epic film "Cleopatra," starring Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. Her intricate eye makeup is one of the staples of her look and legend and features thick kohl eyeliner extending up and out past the eyelids. This look can be recreated for Halloween or for a night out.

Things You'll Need

• Cream foundation
• Loose powder
• Makeup primer
• Black pencil eyeliner
• Blue eyeshadow
• Angled eyeshadow brush
• Black mascara

Instructions

1. Apply a makeup primer or cream foundation followed by an application of loose powder. If using the powder, be careful not to use so much that it gets on lashes and in eyes. If using the primer, apply a thin coat over the lids and brow bone and along the outer corners of the eyes. Whether using a primer or foundation and powder, a base is required so eye makeup has something to cling to, which will also make it last longer.

2. Fill in your eyebrows with a black eyeliner pencil or with black eyeshadow. Use an angled eyeshadow brush if using the shadow to fill in brows.

3. Draw a line with black pencil eyeliner starting from the innermost edge of your upper lash lines. Draw the line up and out so it meets the tip of your eyebrows. Perform the same action on your lower lash lines, and draw the line so it ends about one-eighth of an inch below your upper line. Fill this "winged" gap area in with black eyeliner. The black liner from the top and bottom lines should meet, then extend out into a triangular shape once complete.

4. Fill in the entire lid and brow bone of each eye with blue eyeshadow if desired, which will create the Cleopatra look modeled by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film.

5. Sweep the top and bottom lashes with black mascara to complete the look.

Tips & Warnings

• Use foundation one shade darker than your normal shade to create Cleopatra's "sun-kissed" look.

• Define the lips with a nude lip pencil and lipstick.

• Use bronzer or natural matte blush high on cheekbones.

References

• Taaz: Cleopatra Makeup

Resources

• BBC News: Cleopatra's Eye Makeup 'Had Health Benefits;' January 2010