Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to show your love and affection to your special someone. Whether you’re planning a romantic evening out or a cosy night in, a little bit of makeup can enhance your natural beauty and help you to feel confident and gorgeous.
Now, I’m not saying that you have to go all-out on hearts and red to look cute and festive (though you absolutely can if that’s what you’re into). But, here’s how you can make maximum impact with your Valentine’s Day makeup look with minimal fuss.
1. Winged Eyeliner and Glossy Lips
Easy Valentine’s Day makeup 101: winged eyeliner is all over TikTok right now thanks to the eyeliner filter. It’s a timeless makeup technique that can be made as subtle or dramatic as you like.
Whether you use eyeliner pencil like the MAC Eye Kohl Pencil Liner* for a smokey, smudged-out style or a liquid liner like the L’Oreal Paris Flash Winged Eyeliner* for crisp, clean lines, there’s a winged liner look for every eye shape and colour.
Line your lips with a hue closest to your natural lip colour to define your lips. I adore the Revlon ColorStay Lipliner*. Then add a sheer gloss in a red or pink tint for the perfect Valentine’s Day touch.
2. Cute Heart Gems
If you want to add hearts into your easy Valentine’s Day makeup look without it feeling too cheesy, try adding a little heart-shaped gem. It doesn’t take much effort to do (even if you’re in a hurry) and fits right in with the recent crystal eye makeup trend.
Think of it like a really scaled-back version of festival makeup. You want it to look subtle and chic rather than OTT.
I’ve found stick-on heart crystals and gems on Amazon* but they’re actually super straightforward to get hold of from supermarkets and pharmacies. Just peel from the backing and apply wherever you want them.
You can even use them on your nails if you decide you need a few more heart shapes in your life. (I don’t blame you…)
3. Smokey Eye
I think the classic smokey eye is perfect when you’re heading out for a meal or special occasion.
If you’ve ever tried to do your eye makeup without much success then don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The following is one of the easiest smokey eye hacks I’ve ever seen (of course, it’s from TikTok):
- Prime your eye with the Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion*.
- Take an eyeshadow trio and apply each colour in a vertical stripe from lightest in your middle corner to darkest in your outer corner.
- Blend together with a fluffy brush like the e.l.f. Fluffy Eye Blender Brush*, moving your brush outwards to create the smokey look.
It’s as simple as that!
4. Classic Red Lip
Would it even be right if I didn’t include this easy Valentine’s Day makeup idea? A red lip is effortless, looks glam and says “romance” straight away. It’s probably best if you’re heading out for drinks rather than dinner (you don’t want to end up with a red face).
That said, here are my top tips for the perfect, kiss-proof red pout.
- Prep your lips with a lip scrub and lip balm to get them smooth, soft and flake-free, such as the Lush Cookie Dough Lip Scrub.
- Blot your lips and use a red lip liner like the MAC Lip Pencil in Ruby Woo* to outline your lips. This will stop your lippy from running or bleeding out onto your skin.
- For a smudge-proof pout with real staying power, apply Rimmel Provocalips 16hr Kissproof Lip Colour*. When it’s dry, top it with the gloss that comes with it. This gives a seriously glossy lip that won’t budge for hours.
5. Just Peachy
If you want a fresh-faced vibe for Valentine’s Day then peach tones can be the ideal pick-me-up, whatever your skin tone.
Add a sweep of natural peach blusher to your cheeks for a fresh glow. The benefit Georgia Golden Peach Powder Blush* is a great subtle shade that suits most skin tones and adds glow, which is sometimes exactly what you need in February.
For a bolder take on the monochrome makeup trend, match your peach blush with peach eyeshadow from the likes of the I Heart Revolution Mini Tasty Peach Eyeshadow Palette*. Just sweep whichever shade takes your fancy across your lids and add liner and mascara (or even lashes). Fabulous!
6. Rosy Eyes and Lips
Pink is definitely a love-inspired colour, and this easy Valentine’s Day makeup captures that romance beautifully. Pair a pink, glossy lip (lipliner optional) with a subtle rosy-pink eyeshadow for a love-themed look that’s anything but cringey.
I love the NYX Butter Gloss* in Merengue for a smooth, glossy lip. Then the Makeup Revolution Pretty in Pink Palette* has all of the pink shades you need.
If you’re worried about using pink on your eyes, choose a paler shade as opposed to a red-toned pink. You can also blend it out to make it more understated. Still not feeling all-over pink eyelids? That’s okay — a touch of light pink at the corner can make your eyes appear bigger.
7. Champagne and Gold
Champagne and gold are great Valentine’s gifts (just in case any of our partners are reading this ahead of the 14th *wink*). However, they’re also a beautiful makeup style that’s really straightforward to do.
Just apply some gold highlighter to your cheeks as the finishing touch — I’m a fan of Rimmel’s High’Light*. Keep in mind that a powder is more subtle whereas a liquid finish will be more glowy.
Then add a sweep of champagne-toned eyeshadow across your lid, such as the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise in Champagne*, and mascara and you’re ready to go.
Ready To Try Some Easy Valentine’s Day Makeup?
Makeup can seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t wear it that often. All it takes is the right products, a little patience and a TikTok tutorial or two to get it right.
Try these simple and elegant Valentine’s Day makeup looks that you can also wear for other occasions. There’s nothing more important than taking care of yourself and loving yourself all year round!
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