Cat Deeley just shared a makeup-free selfie, and while many would reach for the mascara at the first sign of a camera (my four-hours-of-sleep eyes certainly need all the help they can get), she appears to have found another way to appear more awake. Her lashes are lifted, her brows are defined, and her overall look is decidedly polished – without seemingly having to do very much at all.
The trick? We're guessing a lash lift. The semi-permanent treatment curls your natural lashes from the root, creating that wide-eyed, fluttery effect that we'd usually rely on mascara to achieve. And unless she's won the genetic lottery in the lash department (which is entirely plausible, BTW), it seems Cat has had some professional assistance.
And her brows? They're another story! They appear remarkably uniform and sculpted, which has us wondering whether there's some microblading involved, too. We can't say for certain, but if there is, we understand the logic.
This is the great paradox of beauty treatments: sometimes you have to be high-maintenance to stay low-maintenance. They're investments, if you will. A lash lift, a brow appointment, a little strategic semi-permanent makeup can mean less time spent in front of the mirror every morning. It's not about doing less beauty; it's about doing it less often.
And honestly, I see the appeal. Don't get me wrong – I love makeup, I love mascara, and I will happily spend 10 minutes deciding whether my eyeliner is even... OK, five minutes, at a push. But there's something particularly luxurious about having your lashes already curled and your brows already shaped before you've even rolled out of bed.Cat, you have me convinced. My next beauty appointment is calling!
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
