Valentine's Makeup Look & 3 Lip Options

Not everyone agrees, but I love Valentine's day. Whether you spend time with your other half, get together with your friends or spend time with a relative, it's a nice way to appreciate and celebrate the love you share with others. This year, I think my guy and I will go out for the day and then stay in with a few films, some wine and lots of tasty treats. Usually, we'd don our glad rags and go out for dinner and drinks, but seeing as we're heading to Dubai in two weeks, we thought we'd save some pennies instead.

When I'm doing my makeup for a date night, I like to focus on getting my skin to be as healthy-looking as possible. I don't know anyone that doesn't think glowing (not greasy) skin, isn't attractive. Cue lots of highlighting products and a generous dusting of bronzer. I like my eyes to be relatively simple, but defined and the lips to be more of a feature, as you'd expect with Valentine's day. I thought I'd give you three, different options for lip colour; a nude (for anyone that envisages some smooching), a red (for a fierce, sexy vibe) and a pink (for more of a girly, romantic style).

To start, I went for my favourite foundation for a light, but flawless finish, non other than Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation. With a whipped, water-based texture, it has a refreshing, weightless feel. Skin is left with such a smooth, soft-focus, natural look that isn't at all heavy and keeps the skin looking like skin, just a perfected version. The ideal concealer to keep with the glowing skin theme, is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, which has heaps of coverage, yet never looks dry or cakey on the skin as it's so creamy. There's no shimmer within the formula, so it can be used under the eyes, to highlight and to camouflage blemishes. For even more of a radiance boost, I dotted some of the Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer & Highlighter in the celeb-style, v-shape, under the eyes. Having sheer coverage, it won't mask dark circles on it's own, but it's amazing for subtly highlighting and adding a brightness. To set everything in place, without basically destroying all of the radiance that I'd just created, I swept on some of the Chanel Powder Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder, focusing the majority on my T-zone. Photo-reflective pigments in this, Chanel powder prevent a dry-looking result, just lightly setting the base makeup so that it's long-lasting, whilst continuing to softly illuminate.

To get my bronze on, I reached for my Clarins Bronzing Duo compact. Made up of a paler and deeper bronze shade, you can customize your look and go as subtle or dramatic as you desire, with just this one product. There's a slight shimmer to the bronzer, so it's one I use to both contour and add some colour to the face. For blush, I chose the Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Colour in RS 302 Tea Rose, a dusky, berry tone that gives a healthy flush. Although the texture of the blush is quite light, the pigmentation is strong and it lasts all day. On the cheekbones and on my cupid's bow, I applied some of the M&S Autograph Pure Luxe Highlighter in Golden Rose, which is one of the most beautiful highlighters in my collection. Despite having a metallic finish, it isn't too frosty and adds warmth. The powder is so soft in texture that it feels almost creamy to the touch, giving more of a wet-look sheen.

To give my brows some definition without making them too dark or strong, I used an angled brush with a combination of MAC Omega and Brun Eyeshadows, before brushing them through with the spooley end of my Soap & Glory Archery 2-in1 Pencil & Brush. To finish off my bushy beauties, I slicked on some of the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper, which is packed with fibres and has a tint to it, making them appear believably thicker. I wanted to keep my eyes relatively simple and go with a classic, matte look without any fancy glitter or quirky colours. Going back to an old favourite palette of mine, the Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette, I used Naked all over as a base and Buck at the outer corner, through the crease and along the lower lash-line. As my eyes are naturally quite round, I like to wing any eyeshadow out to give more of a cat-eye shape. Tracing my upper lash-line with the L'Oreal Super Liner Eyeliner, I thickened the line at the outer corner, but didn't create a flick. Having a fine, spongey tip, I find this the easiest liquid liner to use and once dry, the liner doesn't smudge or start to flake off. A quick curl with my trusty Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler and then a few coats of the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara finished off the eye. Offering amazing volume, separation, length and curl, this mascara does it all and I'm convinced it's a decent, drugstore dupe of the soon-to-be-released Benefit Roller Lash. 

For a nude lip, I lined the outer edge of my pout with the Laura Mercier Natural Lips Liner and then I applied some Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick in Crystal Baby, straight from the bullet. A peachy nude, it's a brightening shade that isn't so pale or cool-toned that it washes out the complexion. The formula is so smooth and creamy that it's super comfortable to wear and you can easily reapply without a mirror, if you need to touch up after eating/drinking/kissing.

My red choice, is the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang, a bright, blue-toned shade that makes teeth look whiter. Combining intense, opaque colour, a creamy, smooth consistency and a glossy finish, this lacquer has amazing lasting power. Even when the shiny finish wanes after a good, few hours, an even stain is left behind.

If you prefer a pink look, then the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Pink No Taboo is gorgeous. A lip gloss/stain hybrid, these have a sheer, transparent pigment to them, which leaves the lips with a glassy, bee-stung shine. Another long-lasting option, like the Rimmel lacquer, once the glossiness wears off the lips are left with a tint of colour, so re-applying isn't a must.


What are your plans for Valentine's day?

AGB X