The bare-faced look is pretty and neutral, good for work, and easy to step up a bit for a date. On Valentine’s Day, however, the inner vamp rules. Tights make way for thigh high stockings, pumps are tossed aside in favor of stilettos and barely-there cosmetics are replaced by dark, sultry colors. Though it’s certainly simple to change shoes, it’s not always easy for a makeup minimalist to turn up the volume. Raychel Wade, who runs New York seminars for aspiring makeup artists, offers a few tips to go from timid to tantalizing this Valentine’s Day.
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Penelope Cruz have enviable, sultry faces and, done right, their look is easy to capture. Though shimmer might seem like a quick go-to, “not too much sparkle,” Wade warns. “Mix it up instead. Only one shining product, tone the ratio down with only one hint of sparkle on cheeks or one shimmering eye color instead of three.”
Hesitant women can take their tried-and-true makeup routine and go one shade darker on everything without having to apply heavy red lipstick or black mascara. Wade suggests, “a punchy pink or a sheer red gloss” for starters. But, for those willing to shake things up, try “lining the inside of the eye with a smoldering dark color,” says Wade, “and opt for a cream blush instead of powder” for sex appeal.
“It’s difficult to apply false eyelashes,” admits Wade, “Unless you have a lot of confidence,” but it’s worth the practice, especially single lashes, which will appear more natural than a whole row. As for touch-ups, Wade recommends keeping a quick splash of lipstick and gloss tucked in your bag, and perhaps an extra coat of mascara or blush at the ready.
