(Culture)

Dakota Johnson Uses This Subtle Hack For An Easy Cat Eye

by Julia Weiner
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From sleek wings to bold creases, the options are endless when it comes to eye makeup. And although it may seem like the majority of looks require a steady hand, patience, and plenty of experience, makeup rookies shouldn't shy away from bold looks. Case in point: Recreating Dakota Johnson's eye makeup is so easy — especially since the actor has a subtle, attainable trick for a foolproof cat eye.

Johnson is known for her polished aesthetic, especially when it comes to her red carpet outfits. The actor approaches innovative silhouettes with an effortless hand, often forming trends that are all her own. It makes sense, then, that her makeup instincts are just as strong as her clothing choices.

In recent months, the 29-year-old has worn a contemporary take on the classic cat eye. Traditionally, a cat eye is associated with a thick swipe of liquid eyeliner across the upper lash line, extended out for a winged effect. Johnson opts for a more delicate approach by swapping eyeliner for eyeshadow. Not only is the end result incredibly pretty, but eyeshadow offers a larger margin for error, more room to experiment with colors and accents, and an overall softer look.

Ahead, The Zoe Report breaks down three of Johnson's best eye makeup looks, along with the products you'll need to try them out yourself.

Super Smoky

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Johnson was photographed wearing her signature eye look while she attended the 2018 LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. When you look closely, you'll notice the smoky eye features a gray gradient. On the edge of her lash line, Johnson has a black, smudged wash, which gets lighter as it travels up her lid. The look effortlessly complemented her black jewel-adorned dress, which she paired with a high pony, face-framing bangs, and neutral lipstick.

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Soft Plum

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Johnson showed off the technique at the Suspiria premiere in Hollywood on Oct. 24. The actor wore a sheer plum shade in the crease of her eyelid, which was blended upward to create the illusion of a wing. Not only did the faux wing highlight her bold eye color, it also drew attention to her thick, fluffy brows.

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Heavy Bronze

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Johnson pumped up the drama when she attended the 75th Venice Film Festival in Sept. In an effort to flawlessly accompany her Old Hollywood-style gown and statement chandelier earrings, Johnson opted for extra-glamorous makeup. This time, the actor's wing was created with bold, bronze tones. Super-pigmented shadow traced Johnson's upper lash line, and her eyes were accentuated with a swipe across the water line. She topped it off with long, thick lashes and rosy lips.

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Silver Gray

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Johnson attended The 2018 Big Screen Achievement Awards in Las Vegas last April and brought the sunshine with her by wearing a canary-yellow dress. Instead of sticking to sparkly gold tones for her beauty look, Johnson chose a much more unique path. She debuted a soft cat eye using a mixture of silver and gray shadows, completing the look with a glossy pink lip.

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