Beauty Tips for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and whether you’re single this year or celebrating with that special someone, odds are you want to look your best. We compiled some tips for Valentine’s Day beauty looks that are sure to turn heads. These glowing, dreamy, ultra-romantic hair and makeup looks are perfect for drinks with your girlfriends or dinner with your partner. We chose a variety of easy-to-achieve styles that embody the glamour and fun of the holiday. Bring on the red wine and chocolate!

Smooth Lips

For a super-sweet Valentine’s Day pout, exfoliate your lips with ingredients you can find in your kitchen cabinet. Hello Glow recommends using a mixture of one teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of sugar. You can also add a teaspoon of almond oil to the balm for moisture. Massage the paste onto your lips to exfoliate dead skin and eliminate flakey winter lips. Top your smooth lips with a pop of bubblegum lipstick or an eye-catching gloss, and you’ll be celebration-ready.

Eyelash Extensions

One way to take your Valentine’s Day look up a notch is with eyelash extensions. These pretty extensions typically last six to eight weeks and draw attention to your eyes, giving your natural beauty a subtle boost. Most technicians allow you to choose the length of the lashes you want, as well as the style and how many are applied. That means you can decide whether you want a natural look that enhances your existing lashes, or a more dramatic, attention-grabbing set. Not only will your eyes look brighter and more striking on Valentine’s Day, but you’ll cut down your morning makeup routine for weeks to come.

Glowing Makeup

For a dewy, goddess-y makeup look, try a moisturizer-highlighter combination. Dubbed “glotions,” these moisturizers are rich in humectant ingredients, which “draw moisture into skin to immediately make it appear plump and smooth,” according to Good Housekeeping. They also contain minerals like mica that reflect light, giving skin a radiant appearance. Simply apply all over your face as you would a facial lotion, and pair with a few swipes of highlighter along the cheekbone for a dewy glow.

A Rosy Blush

For a warm, feminine Valentine’s Day look, opt for a rosy blush and pared-down makeup. The first step is to wash and moisturize your face. Then apply foundation or concealer as necessary for an even base. Once your complexion is hydrated, apply blush on the apples of your cheeks. Good Housekeeping has a helpful guide for identifying your face shape and applying blush accordingly, with tips for choosing a shade that flatters your complexion and bone structure. For most face shapes, you’ll start by applying on the apples of your cheeks and sweeping upwards toward the cheekbones. Finish with a sheer pink lip gloss or a swipe of metallic eyeshadow.

Gold Lips

This ultramodern trend is especially flattering for people with warm or olive complexions. Whether you opt for a rose gold hue like Jouer’s Long Wear Lip Cream in “Papaye,” or a shimmering nude gold like the Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal in “Glow,” a gold lip is a great way to channel warm, summer glamour in the dark days of February. Pair with a swipe of bronzer across the cheekbones. And to emphasize brown or hazel eyes, you can also apply a bronze-toned eyeshadow along the lash line.

Smokey Eyes

An alluring and enduring classic, the smokey eye is the perfect look for a Valentine’s Day out on the town. To make your eyes the star of the show, all you need are two shades of eyeshadow, one in a medium tone and one in a dark brown or gray, as well as dark eyeliner. “Start by applying a mid-tone shadow over the whole lid,” advises Samantha McMeekin for Glamour UK. Then add liner along the upper lash line. Add the dark-toned shadow over the liner, and blend it halfway up the lid into the lighter-toned shadow. Add a little bit of shadow along the lower lash line, and smudge it with your fingers. Complete the look with a coat of mascara, and voila! You have the perfect date night look, whether you’re staying in or heading to a chic restaurant.

Beachy Waves

Break up the winter doom and gloom with tousled summer hair. Beachy waves give your Valentine’s look a jolt of surfer girl glamour. Once you get out of the shower, Allure recommends misting wet hair with a salt spray like Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray and blow drying it with your fingers. Once it’s dry, twist pieces around a one-inch wand. Just make sure to switch up the direction of your curls so they don’t fall into one pattern. Finish with a light mist of hairspray for low maintenance perfection.

The Princess Side Braid

For a dreamy, ultra-feminine updo, opt for the side braid. Rather than French braiding your hair straight back from your forehead, part your hair to one side and French braid it along your hairline. The braid should start at your part and follow the crown of your head down the side of your face. Once you’ve braided your hair behind your ear, you can pin the braid into place with bobby pins or secure it with a small hair elastic. For a romantic, princess-y updo, gather all of your hair into a low bun and secure it with a hair tie. The effect is a lovely, delicate side braid that shows off your pretty face. 

Berry Lips

Draw attention to your lips with a berry stain. For a sultry pout in a flattering shade, opt for a deep pink color with blue undertones, which is flattering on almost every complexion. Byrdie recommends Burt’s Bees lip shimmer in “Plum.” For long-lasting color that won’t rub off when you eat, another option is Clarins Water Lip Stain in “Violet Water.” Pair with bronze eyeshadow and a layer of mascara for a delicate, ethereal look that showcases your natural beauty.