How to use kohl in your make-up look

To give yourself that clever cat-eye look, a kohl crayon is your best friend. It's easy to use, and allows you to create any look you want. It is also particularly good for the smokey-eyed look.

Would you like to copy French actress Leïla Bekhti's beautifully made-up eyes? Then look no further! Find out how it's done right here.

The look

This is a nude and very finely created look. Everything is in the kohl-lined eyes. After applying your foundation and concealer, it's time to work on your eyes.

Leïla Bekhti outlines the contours of her hazel eyes with some black kohl for a Cleopatra-like look. Be careful if you have small eyes though, as this look can make them look even smaller than they are, so this may not be the best look for you. In your case, stop your bottom eyeliner mid-eye. By leaving the bottom centre nude, you open up your eye while still bringing it out with kohl!

How to, step by step

Make sure your kohl pencil is sharp enough before starting-- but don't go too sharp (ouch!). A nice middle sharpness is just right. Play around to find your favourite.

Now, begin by pulling the skin on your eyelid taut with one hand-- this will give you a more firm surface to work with.

Now, draw a line on your top eyelid from one corner to the other, hugging your pencil to your lash line. If the line isn't perfectly straight, you can go back and fix it. You cand also make it thicker or thinner to match your look.

Next, apply some kohl to the little rim right above your lashes and below your eye.

For consistency, join up the two lines of kohl at the corner. To make your eyes look bigger and more almond-shaped, try drawing the kohl slightly past the outer corners of your eyes, extending into a Cleopatra point.

If you want a slightly smokey effect, you can smudge the kohl lines with a brush.

To finish your look, apply some eyeshadow, either in black for a sophisticated look or a light one to add a bit of colour. A coat or two of black mascara and voilà! You're ready to go.

Make-up tip: If the tip of your kohl pencil is dry and hard to work with, moisten it slightly with a bit of water.