Valentine’s Day Makeup Looks to Make Hearts Skip a Beat

Love is in the air, and so is the perfect excuse to experiment with makeup looks! Whether you’re headed out for a romantic date, planning a Galentine’s bash, or treating yourself to some self-love (as you should), Valentine’s Day makeup is all about dialing up the romance with a touch of drama.

Here are some swoon-worthy looks and tips to help you look and feel your best—whether it’s at dinner with your love, a party with your friends, or from your couch with a pint of ice cream.

We’ve even included some of our favorite products that you can purchase for 14% off throughout February with code XOXO14 (stackable with PRO discount)

1. The Classic Romantic: Soft Glam

You can never go wrong with soft, dreamy vibes on Valentine’s Day. Think glowing skin, fluttery lashes, and kissable lips.

• Skin: Start with our FIRST Skin Smoothing Primer and a dewy foundation like Face Atelier. Add a soft pink or peach blush to the apples of your cheeks for that naturally flushed look.

• Eyes: Use neutral/soft metallic shades like champagne or rose gold and blend out to perfection for a defused shimmery look. Pop on a pair of wispy lashes for extra romance. We recommend using the Inglot Soft Sparkler Face Eyes Body Highlighter as your eyeshadow to achieve that soft romantic glowy look.

• Lips: A rosy pink gloss or a velvet-finish nude lipstick completes the look. Bonus points if it’s transfer-proof (because, you know, kisses). Check out these velvety Elle Artistry Liquid Lipsticks.

2. Bold & Beautiful: The Red Lip Moment

Valentine’s Day is practically begging for a statement red lip. Keep the focus on your pout while keeping the rest of your makeup polished but simple.

• Skin: Opt for flawless matte or satin-finish skin. Keep contouring minimal but defined.

• Eyes: Go for a soft neutral base on your lids and a precise winged liner. Add mascara to make your lashes pop.

• Lips: Choose a bold red that flatters your skin tone and top off with a juicy gloss. Bonus points if your gloss tastes/smells like sweet candy (FYI—the FIRST by MAKE UP FIRST® Lip Gloss does!)

Pro Tip: Exfoliate and hydrate your lips beforehand for a smooth application. Lip liner is your BFF here!

3. Pretty in Pink: Monochromatic

Pink is the ultimate Valentine’s Day color, and a monochromatic pink look is trendy, playful, and oh-so-chic.

• Skin: Keep your base light and luminous with Prism FX Hydrating Lotion. A touch of Dew Wet Balm on the cheekbones will make you glow like Cupid kissed you.

• Eyes: Use soft pink hues on your lids and blend a slightly deeper pink into the crease for dimension. Add a little sparkle if you’re feeling festive.

• Lips & Cheeks: Match your blush and lipstick in complementary pink shades. A creamy, slightly glossy pink lip is perfection.

But wait, we can make this super easy for you… Want the exact shade of pink for all eyes, lips and cheeks? Use Colorfix Mattes in shade Valentine and blend/sheer out on the skin for the perfect easy monochromatic look.

4. Smoky & Sultry: For the Drama Queens

If your idea of Valentine’s makeup involves a little edge, a smoky eye will have all eyes on you.

• Eyes: Start with a creamy black base and blend it out with rich chocolate or plum tones. Add shimmer to the center of the lid for a smoldering effect. Don’t forget to smoke out your lower lash line! A crease-proof product we recommend for the perfect black smoky eye is the Colorfix Mattes in shade Blackout.

• Skin suggestion: A matte, sculpted look.

• Lips: A soft nude or mauve lip balances the drama of the eyes perfectly.

5. Glitter & Glow: The Fun-Loving Flirt

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to add a little sparkle to your look! Glitter accents are playful, fun, and guaranteed to catch the light.

• Eyes: Apply Colorfix Foils as a glitter liner along your lash line or add a pop of glitter on your lids for extra glam.

• Skin: Keep the rest of your makeup glowing with a luminous foundation and a cream blush that makes your cheekbones shine like Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder in shade Rose N Brunch.

• Lips: Pair with a gloss or a subtle shimmer lipstick for that extra sparkle.

This Valentine’s Day, whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or yourself, your makeup should make you feel confident and unstoppable. So grab your brushes, turn up the romance, and remember—you’re the main character. Go break some hearts (in the best way possible).

Let’s face it: the beauty industry is fierce. With new trends popping up every second and countless artists showcasing jaw-dropping work, sometimes standing out as a makeup artist can feel as tricky as creating the perfect winged liner on a squirmy client. But don’t worry—if you’re ready to set yourself apart, we’ve got the tea.

Here’s how to make sure clients and colleagues remember you for all the right reasons.

1. Never Stop Learning (Seriously)

Sure, we are a makeup school, so of course we will always push for more education, but hear us out. Makeup trends are like exes—they come and go, and sometimes they circle back unexpectedly whether we want them to or not. One minute everyone’s obsessed with dewy skin, and the next it’s all about matte finishes and bold eye looks. If you’re still stuck on techniques and trends you learned more than 6 months ago, it’s time to freshen up your skills.

Not only are trends constantly fluctuating, but products, techniques, and the latest business strategies are constantly being introduced and its crucial to keep up if you want to stay inline with the industry pros.

Continuing education isn’t just a buzzword; it’s your ticket to staying relevant. Whether you’re refreshing the basics, taking advanced courses, attending workshops, or even practicing new techniques at home, investing in your education is KEY to a successful career.

2. Master the Art of Professionalism

No matter how stunning your makeup skills are, if you roll into a gig late, unprepared, or with a messy kit, clients won’t book you again. Here’s how to get it right:

• Be on time. Fashionably late is cute for parties, not for work—and yes that includes those unpaid gigs as well!

• Keep your kit clean. No one wants last week’s lipstick germs on their face. Ew. Enough said.

• Communicate like a pro. Texting “u good w 2pm?” isn’t going to get you your dream career. Be professional, easy to reach, respectful, and THOROUGH in your communication. Your clients/colleagues should never feel like they have to work for your attention!

When you carry yourself like a polished pro, you not only attract clients, but you also build respect among peers in the industry.

3. Be your client’s hype person

Here’s the thing: being a makeup artist isn’t just about what you do with brushes. It’s about how you make people feel. Every client wants to leave your chair feeling like a super model—confident, glowing, and ready to take on the day.

So, compliment them! Gas them up! Tell them how amazing they look. Your energy is contagious, and when clients feel great about themselves, they’ll rave about you to everyone they know. And yes, word-of-mouth marketing still reigns supreme.

4. Brand Yourself and NETWORK. We can’t stress this enough.

You can be the best artist in the world, but if no one knows who you are, it doesn’t matter. Get your name out there by:

• Posting your work consistently on your website and social media—hello, Instagram and TikTok. Trust me, after those rough few hours of no TikTok, everyone will be graciously spending time on the app—take advantage of it!

• Engaging with your followers by replying to comments and DMs.

• Collaborating and supporting other creatives. Let’s help each other out and hype each other up! Not only other MUAs, but expand your network with photographers, stylists, and models as well!

Your vibe attracts your tribe, so make sure your branding reflects who you are as an artist.

5. Stay Humble, Hustle Hard

Even if you’ve mastered the art, there’s always room to grow. Stay humble, ask for feedback, and never stop pushing yourself.

The key to standing out as a makeup artist is to be more than just good—you have to be someone clients WANT to be around. Keep learning, stay professional, and always bring your best self to the table (or vanity). Before you know it, you’ll be the artist everyone’s talking about—and not just because of your killer skills.

kick off the holiday season with not just one, but two black friday deals at The Make Up First® Pro Shop!🛍️

• All Thanksgiving week: Take 10% off all products at checkout. (Stackable with your PRO discount!)

• Black Friday through Cyber Monday: Stack 10% off all products and take $20 off all orders of $100 or more!

This deal is available online at shop.makeupfirst.com or in-store from 10am-5pm only on Black Friday!

Need help with stocking stuffer ideas? Click here to view our Holiday Gift Guide.🎁

And while you’re there, sign up for the Make Up First Pro discount program to receive everyday discounts on hundreds of pro products!

*10% off sale 11/24 - 12/02

*$20 off $100 order 11/28 7pm - 12/02

*In-store Black Friday hours 10am - 5pm

MAKE UP FIRST PRO SHOP • SUMMER SUPER SALE! 🛍

Shop our two day limited-time-only Summer Super Sale and save big!
Book your exclusive, in-store shopping appointment with us on July 22nd or 23rd from 10am-2pm today!

We are giving away free products with all purchases, as well as offering bundle deals, deep discounts, and more!
PLUS—Pro Members receive an additional 10% off all non-blowout items!

Use the button below to email with your desired day/time. We hope to see you there! Thanks for shopping small.

Face Chart Workshop | September 16, 2019

Sale Price ends September 6th!
$125.00 150.00

Face charts are used, among other things, to plan a makeup application, to communicate a look to the client, and/or provide continuity for a makeup artistry team.  Once a makeup artist learns the basic techniques for creating a face chart, they will not only add to their skill set, but will also find it gratifying to turn a one-dimensional piece of paper into a three-dimensional work of art!

All materials during the workshop will be provided.
 Attendees will leave with a full pad (25 pages) of Make Up First ® School custom charts, valued at $20.00!

SUITABLE FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS!

Before you kick back for your cookout, head over to the Make Up First Pro Shop for DISCOUNTS ON EVERYTHING IN THE STORE

Get 10% off all products using the code ‘FIREWORKS’ at checkout, or click here to apply the link automatically! Browse our new arrivals, including the Danessa Myricks collection, Lashes in a Box, and our Summer Favorites:

And while you’re there, see if you qualify for the Make Up First Pro discount program to receive everyday discounts on hundreds of products in the store!

*Sale ends July 7th at 11:59pm (CST); Online orders only*