YSL\’s SS26 runway beauty was a graphic liner look that the lead artist described as “architectural femininity” — a bold, precision-drawn line at the upper lid, extended sharply beyond the outer corner, in a black so dense it looked painted rather than drawn. No eyeshadow. No blending. Just the line.
The “power eye” — as the beauty press named it — is distinct from the winged liner of the early 2010s and from the graphic eye trends of the late 2010s. The YSL version was about precision above everything else. The line was clean. The extension was mathematical. The rest of the face was nearly bare — the power eye is a face that says “I spent exactly this much time on my eyes and exactly zero anywhere else.”
I spent a month testing every liner, brush, technique, and primer combination to figure out what actually works for the version you can do at home. Here\’s what I found.
The Power Eye in Practice: What It Actually Looks Like
Before the product breakdown, a clear brief on the look:
– A dense, matte black line along the upper lash line, starting from the inner corner (or just past it, at the midpoint)
– A clean, sharp extension at the outer corner — either straight out and slightly upward (the classic cat eye) or straight across (the more architectural 2026 version)
– No lower liner (this is what makes it “power” rather than “dramatic” — the cleanliness of the lower lid)
– No eyeshadow, or a very light wash of a neutral shade as a base only
– Minimal eye makeup otherwise — just mascara on the upper lashes
The length and angle of the extension is where personal variation comes in. A shorter extension reads as polished and professional. A longer, more angular extension reads as editorial. Neither is wrong — they\’re just different statements.
The Tools: What You Actually Need
A liner with a felt-tip applicator (not a pencil, not a brush).
This is the most important equipment decision. The control required for a clean power eye line is not achievable with a pencil (too soft, too imprecise) or a traditional brush (requires a separate product and significantly more skill). The felt-tip liner gives you a consistent line width that you control by the pressure and angle of application.
KVD Good Apple Full-Coverage Foundation Brush (for any cleanup). A small flat-tipped brush dipped in concealer and used after the liner to clean up any imprecision. This is the professional trick that makes the difference between a good power eye and a great one.
The Liner Products: 5 Worth Using
1. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner — $23
The benchmark liner for this technique. The applicator tip is fine but flexible, allowing for both a precise thin line along the lash line and a bolder extension. The formula dries quickly to a matte finish and doesn\’t budge for eight to ten hours. If you only buy one liner for this look, this is it.
Shop Stila at Sephora
2. NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner — $10
The best drugstore option. The brush tip is slightly stiffer than the Stila, which some people find gives them more control — the line goes exactly where the brush goes, with less give. The formula is also waterproof and matte, and the black is genuinely dense.
Shop NYX at ASOS
3. Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick Liner — $28
Charlotte Tilbury\’s liner is specifically designed for the cat-eye extension — the brush angle and tip design guide the hand toward the correct direction of the flick. If you struggle with the extension specifically (getting the angle right, keeping it clean), this liner is worth the extra spend.
Shop Charlotte Tilbury
4. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner — $22
The original cult liner, still excellent. The applicator tip is the finest of any liner on this list, which makes it the best option for those who want a very thin, very precise line. The formula is also the most smudge-resistant I\’ve tested.
Shop Kat Von D at Sephora
5. e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner — $9
For anyone who has never tried a liquid liner or is nervous about committing to the technique — at $9, this is the place to practice. The formula is forgiving (it dries slightly more slowly, giving you time to adjust), and the cost means you can experiment without anxiety.
Shop e.l.f.
The Technique: Step by Step
Step 1: Prime the eyelid.
A matte eyeshadow primer or a tiny amount of concealer patted onto the lid creates a surface that the liner adheres to cleanly. Without this step, the liner can shift over the course of a day. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($26) is the standard reference.
Shop Urban Decay at Sephora
Step 2: Draw the line in segments, not one continuous stroke.
Start from the inner corner and work outward in small strokes of 2–3mm each. Connect the strokes. This gives you more control than attempting a single unbroken line, and the result, when done well, looks exactly the same.
Step 3: Draw the extension last.
Once the base line is complete and dry, decide the angle and length of your extension and draw it as a separate element — two lines creating a triangle, then filled in. This is easier than trying to extend the main line in one stroke.
Step 4: Clean up with concealer.
Take a flat concealer brush and a concealer that matches your skin exactly. Clean the upper edge of the line and the point of the extension. This is the step that makes it look professional.
Step 5: Mascara on upper lashes only.
One coat of a lengthening mascara. The power eye is about the liner — the mascara is support, not feature.
The Rest of the Face
Keep it minimal. The power eye is doing the work. Tinted moisturizer or light foundation, no eyeshadow (or the lightest wash of a skin-toned shade), and a lip that is either bare (tinted balm) or deliberately understated. If you wear both a bold eye and a bold lip, neither wins.
*Jade Park is Jebae\’s Beauty & Skincare Editor, based in New York.*
