Simple Valentine's Day Makeup

I love a simple makeup look, especially for Valentine's Day as guys (not to say it's all about them) usually prefer a more natural look. At least that what my boyfriend says. I've also been loving the softer, bronzed look to a strong contour lately. Here's the look I'll most likely be wearing this friday. It's not nearly as complicated as this picture makes it seem - I promise!

Items pictured are ones I use; Items written beside them are alternatives.

ONE: PERFECT

I don't usually use a primer as I find it doesn't to much for me (unless I'm not wearing makeup), but if you do, apply it first. Using a face brush like the amazing Sigma F80 flat top kabuki, apply a single pump or two of the foundation (YSL Le Teint Touché Eclat) to your entire face. Avoid using too much product. Remember, we want to keep this look natural and luminous.

TWO: SHADE 
Prime your eyelids if necessary. Dip a flat brush into both 'Sin' and 'Naked' (Urban Decay Naked Palette) eyeshadows and pat the color onto your lid. Using a blending brush, place 'Buck' into your crease and blend upwards.

THREE: LINE
Apply a thin line of eyeliner (Benefit's Kohl liner in Onyx) on your lid close to your lashes and wig it out slightly at the end. Use the opposite end of the liner (or improvise with a q-tip!) to smudge the liner out in upwards motions. The aim is to fade the black so it's not as harsh. In a 'v' shape, blend 'Handwritten' (MAC) almost on top of the liner from the outer corner towards the middle of the eye. Then use that same color and a pencil brush to blend under the eye.

FOUR: FLUTTER
Coat your upper lashes with mascara (L'Oreal Voluminous) before applying your falsies (House of Lashes Bombshell).

FIVE: DEFINE
Brush through your eyebrows with a spoolie and, if needed, apply a brow wax to keep them in place. Alternating between the brow pencil (Anastasia Brow Wiz) and the spoolie (to brush through the brows for a more natural look), fill in your eyebrows. Aim for defined and full, but not too strong.

SIX: CONCEAL
Next, apply a concealer (MAC Prolongwear) that matches your skin tone and doesn't crease under your eyes in an upside-down triangle shape. If you want, take that same concealer down the bridge of your nose, onto your chin and at the center of your forehead between your eyebrows.

Don't forget to apply mascara to your bottom lashes now that you've applied concealer!

SEVEN: SET
Now, to set all that hard work! Dust a thin layer of banana powder (Ben Nye) on the parts that you concealed. This gives a highlighted effect. Use a setting powder (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural) that matches your foundation color for the rest of your face. (Note: you can use a setting spray after your done as well if you feel like you need it).

EIGHT: BRONZE
I like to contour my face, but for this look, just use a bit of bronzer for a softer look. With a powder brush, place a bronzer (CoverGirl Queen Collection in Bronze) that is at least 2 shades darker than your skin into the hollows of your cheeks, along your hairline and your jawline. Blend mercilessly to eliminate any lines. Blush (NYX Cinnamon) for this look is optional, but if you use it, choose a color that gives you a gentle flush to keep the look natural.

NINE: HIGHLIGHT
Highlighting is my favorite part! Place the highlighter (Dior Amber Diamond) right above your cheekbones and on your cupid's bow. You can use your highlighter or a shimmery eyeshadow like UD's 'Virgin' for beneath the brow bone and in the inner corner of your eye.

TEN: POUT
Line your lips with muted pink lip liner (Jordana Baby Berry) and fill them in totally. Apply a  pink lipgloss (NARS Angelika) on top.

Valentine's Day is usually pretty low key for the boyfriend and I. His birthday is on the 12th (today!) so I usually put all my creative energy into that. And as the lovely day is wedged between his day of birth and mine (all 3 happen within a month), we just like to enjoy each other's company.

Happy Valentine's Day <3