Love is in the air, and with it, a ton of adorable cosmetic trends that are ideal for Valentine’s Day makeup. There’s a little something for everyone, from classic techniques like velvet lips and smoldering, smokey eyes to ultra-girlish feelings like coquette makeup or Barbiecore. Peach fuzz is this year’s color. We talked to expert makeup artists about their go-to looks for Valentine’s Day makeup this year and how to pull them off flawlessly.
1. Strawberry sweetness
Want to look sophisticated and natural on Valentine’s Day? Ilia’s strawberry milk makeup look is the ideal representation of the “no makeup” look. Take a quarter-sized portion of The Base Face Milk to begin. Apply the Super Serum Skin Tint after that. After applying a little foundation, use Multi Stick in Dear Ruby. For the smoothest application, try warming it up on the back of your hand. Also, remember to have the Multi-Stick in your bag for touch-ups after a kiss. Apply Limitless Lash Mascara to finish.
2. Sexy and Smokey
The creator of Beia and Beautini, Brittany Lo, tells us she adores a straightforward smoky eye with blush and a red lip for Valentine’s Day. “In my opinion, it adds definition and highlights to your eyes, enhancing their shine without overpowering the pink or red tones of your lipstick and blush.”
Lo suggests using an ombré-colored eyeshadow palette, like the Lune+Aster Kaleidoscopic Nudes Eyeshadow Palette, to achieve the look shown in this post.
3. Swift and Adorable
Is there no time this Valentine’s Day to look nice? Try this simple and quick Purlisse style. The best part is that it only needs a few items. Apply Blush Glow BB Cheek Color in Sweet Rose to the cheeks, lid, and lips for a sweet all-over pink effect after applying primer, BB cream, and concealer.
4. Blushing with Love
Are you sultry with love? Try it out with the Cheekmate Powder Bush Trio Palette from The Creme Shop. Apply the medium shade of blush to the middle of your cheeks after applying the lightest shade to the inner corner. Apply the darkest color to the outer corners to seal it.
5. Almost Natural But Brave
The L’Oreal Paris League of Experts Claudia Betancur says it’s not too hard to pull off this bold-lipped, natural-faced look. Like the L’Oreal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum, “start with a bare foundation.” Instead of using a brush or sponge, try applying it with your fingertips.
Next, use a natural-colored eyebrow pencil, such as Brow Stylist Definer, to outline the lips. “To achieve this strawberry lip look, apply a lot of gloss on top and a little red tint in the center.”
6. Adorable in pink
Sam Kyle, Mirabella’s Creative Development, Design, and Makeup Artist, likes this post’s gorgeous pink look. Although it requires some effort, it is worthwhile. Apply contour colors to the cheekbones, jawline, sides of the nose, and top of the forehead after applying primer, concealer, and foundation. Dust the middle of the forehead, the cupid’s bow, the tops of the cheekbones, and the tip of the nose with the highlight shade. Lifting and emphasizing your natural facial characteristics is the aim.
Kyle recommends applying Mirabella’s Opulent Face Trio to add a pop of pink to the cheeks. “For a natural, flushed finish, apply the cream shade to the upper parts of the cheeks, blending up toward the temple, and then work the powder shade back onto the cheekbone.”
Finish with lots of black liquid eyeliner and shimmering pink shadow.
7. Experiment with color.
Marcia Williams, the creator of Embellish Beauty and a makeup artist, like this playful Valentine’s Day look. Begin by brushing the brows in the direction that they grow and using gel to put them in place. She says, “Use concealer to hide the brow line and then use Danessa Myricks ColorFix in Nude as a base all over the lid.”
Apply translucent powder all over the face after adding lashes, mascara, and eye makeup in berry colors.
Next, apply concealer, highlighter, liquid blush, and foundation. Application of Embellish Beauty Beauty Drug Lipstick and finishing spray should come last.
8. Stunning and Radiant
Celebrity makeup artist and Ciele Cosmetics co-founder Nikki DeRoest praises this look for February 14th because it is classic and brings focus to the eyes without being unduly dramatic. Apply the tinted serum Tint and Protect by Ciele Cosmetics first. Then in June, watch Ciele’s Bush and Protect.
The makeup artist advises using a micro-eyeliner brush to apply gel eyeliner, then blending and softening the lines with a layer of dark brown powdered matte eyeshadow. Incorporate a hint of glimmer into the corners of your eyes.
9. A Traditional Red Lip
Have you ever wanted to try out a striking crimson lip? Valentine’s Day is the best time of year. For crimson lips, celebrity makeup artist Emily Gray suggests using a naked lip liner (who would have thought?). Catrice’s Plumping Lip Liner in Understated Chic is her choice. Then, in “Blame the Night,” she applies Catrice’s outrageous matte lipstick. “To achieve the ideal shape, use a lip brush or the bullet, and there you have it.”
10. Pink and feminine
Gray states, “Pink lips and soft or bright pinks with a hint of shimmer on the eyes are to die for.” To begin, apply a shimmering shadow using the Electric Rose Palette by Catrice. Next, use a richer rose hue and mix it to give the crease and lower lash line more definition. Put on a peachy pink blush to go with it.
Use Plumping Lip Liner in Cheers to Life to outline and slightly overdraw your lip line for a strong look. Next, center your lips with a bright pink lipstick, such Go Bold, Go Home, or Casually Overdressed from Scandalous Matte Lipstick.
11. Coquette Cosmetics
This Valentine’s Day, feel free to embrace your inner Bridgerton and apply coquette makeup. According to Drita Paljevic, a makeup artist with Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, “Coquette Makeup focuses on achieving a soft, romantic allure by using gentle eyeshadow colors, a rosy blush, and a luminous highlight.” “The objective is to enhance the overall appeal by creating a delicate and charming look with subtle lip color and fluttery lashes.”
To create your eye look, Paljevic suggests grabbing a dreamy eyeshadow palette, such as the Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Contour Eyeshadow Palette in Light ($39, Beautylish). Along with soft highlighter, sheer pink or berry lip gloss, and rosy blush (we like Iconic London’s Sheer Blush in Powder Pink, $27, Nordstrom), you’ll also need these. Apply some falsies or dark mascara to finish.
12. Gentle Peach Fuzz Cosmetics
Pantone announces a “color of the year” each year, which sets trends. “Peach fuzz,” this year’s selection, is ideal for a luscious and sweet Valentine’s Day cosmetics look.
The internet is already exploding with Peach Fuzz-inspired makeup, according to Dominique Lerma, an executive cosmetic artist at MODA Brush. “I especially adore these colors because they go well with everyone.”
Using Cantaloupe on the eyelid and Cidre on the crease, Lerma adores the Viseart Petites Matte Warm Palette ($40, Viseart) for this look. Then, to “wake up the eyes and give the appearance of doll-like, wide-awake eyes,” she advises using a skin-toned eyeliner at the waterline. The Makeup Forever Artist Color Pencil in Boundless Bisque ($22, Sephora) is her go-to product. Apply some peach-colored liquid blush and lip gloss (try Bodyography Color Cassette Liquid Blush Lip in Soft Peach, Bodyography, $22), then use brown or dark brown mascara to adhere to soft, natural lashes.
13. Seductive, Dark Eyes
When creating the ideal Valentine’s Day makeup look, a classic smokey eye is always a good choice. To achieve a dramatic, seductive look around the eyes, combine medium and dark eyeshadow in this classic and adaptable eye makeup.
Choose a palette such as Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in The Rock Chic or The Vintage Vamp ($55, Sephora) and, depending on your desired level of sexiness, line your eyes with either black or dark brown eyeliner. To avoid hard lines, smudge it out and apply mascara.
Paljevic advises using delicate blush and lip colors to finish off this alluring ensemble, which is ideal for a romantic Valentine’s Day date—whether you’re staying in or heading out.
14. Soft Lips
Is there a fabric more suitable than velvet for Valentine’s Day inspiration? Sure, silk is on the list as well, but velvet feels so much more opulent!
According to Lerma, “Original makeup artists have been formulating and creating this trend for years: velvet lips.” According to her, pros typically apply MAC Pro Pigments ($24, MAC Cosmetics) over any lip color to achieve the desired effect. She does point out that there are alternative ways to get this appearance.
She claims that the lipsticks in the Lisa Eldridge real Velvet Lip Colors ($36, Lisa Eldridge) are intensely pigmented and have a real velvet effect on the bullet’s surface. It has a matte finish that is moisturizing, creamy, and long-lasting, exactly like velvet cloth. The Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick ($29, Sephora), which has a creamy, whipped texture and a lengthy wear period, can also be used to get this look.
15. Vibrant pink Barbiecore
Barbie is here to get you ready for some extremely pink Valentine’s Day cosmetics. She just keeps delivering. According to Paljevic, “Barbie Core is a daring and glitzy trend inspired by the iconic Barbie doll, reignited by the movie.” “Embracing vivid and playful colors for a fun and doll-like appearance” is the key to this design.
She suggests using light tones on the eyes for an emphasized effect, such as white, powder blue, or pale pink, to make them look more wearable for this special occasion. Try the Dream Much, Ice Dream, or In the Saddle ColorPop Super Shock Shadow ($7, Ulta). Use mascara and an inky black eyeliner to draw attention, such as Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($24, Ulta). Use a fuchsia lipstick for a striking contrast, or opt for a more subdued look with a pastel pink.
16. Ballet Chic Cosmetics
This Valentine’s Day, wear ballet core makeup for a more minimalistic and slightly softer take on Barbie—more like a coquette.
“You want to focus on doll-like pink flushed cheeks, different shades of pink lips, and iridescent ethereal washes of color on the eyelids,” advises Lerma when it comes to ballet core makeup. You also want a really glowy base, which you can get with a sheer foundation or skin tint and something like Saie’s Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator ($28, Sephora).
Lerma likes the Half Magic Beauty Chromaddiction Shimmer Eye Paint + Liner ($25, Half Magic) in Baby Bunny for her eyes because it creates whimsical, delicate fairy wings in addition to providing all-over color. Your cheeks ought to be flawlessly rouged and glowing from every angle. Try the Pink Flash or Rose Quartz Sephora Collection Colorful Powder Luminizer ($14, Sephora). Finish with sparse lashes and a nude lip.
