18 Valentine's Day Makeup Looks You'll Fall In Love With

With February 14 just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start dreaming up a swoon-worthy Valentine’s Day makeup look. Whether you’re going on date night with your beau or having a ‘90s rom-com binge with your girls, there’s a Valentine’s makeup idea to match any vibe. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 18 makeup looks to help get you in the mood for the holiday of love (or, at the very least, get you excited to kick back with a box of truffles). We’re also sharing our favorite makeup products from L’Oréal Paris to help your Valentine’s vision come to life—scroll on for all the scoop.

How Do You Do Eyeshadow for Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is a great time to go bold and expressive with your eye makeup, allowing you to convey romance and flirtation with just a glance. Think pink monochromic eyeshadow or glamorous smokey eyes—looks that tend to be more dramatic and sultry than what you’d wear to work or Sunday brunch. With that said, neutral eyeshadow looks are always on trend, and sometimes, simplicity is all you need to make a statement. You can even elevate your everyday eye look with a quick swipe of shimmer or false eyelashes, adding just the right amount of enchantment for the occasion without overdoing it.

Editor’s Tip: If you plan on going the bold eyeshadow route, consider finishing your eyes before moving on to your base makeup. This can help prevent your eyeshadow from flaking or smudging onto your foundation, saving you the hassle of removing it and start over. For more in-depth makeup tips, check out our guide, How To Apply Makeup Like a Pro.

How Do You Do Makeup for Valentine’s Day?

How you do your Valentine’s makeup is entirely up to you, so go as flashy or understated as your plans and mood call for. If you’re hosting a Galentine’s gathering, a rhinestone-studded wing is a playful way to upgrade your eye look as you swap dating stories over wine or mocktails. If you’re hitting the town with a special someone, glowy skin paired with a pink or red lip is a classic romantic look. For more Valentine’s makeup ideas, try one of the 18 heart-skipping looks below.

1. Red lips 

Unsurprisingly, vibrant red lips top our list of Valentine’s Day makeup looks. That deep, seductive red will give your lips an irresistibly kissable finish.

When going red, scoop up a classic shade like the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Rouge Determination. This matte lipstick boasts an innovative powdery finish that sits comfortably on the lips without bleeding, migrating, or feathering. Plus, the slim bullet tip makes it easy to trace and shade your lips with intense color, no liner required.

2. Pastel pink eyes

Pastels are back and prettier than ever (but if you ask us, we’ve never truly abandoned the frosty ‘90s trend). Pale pink eyeshadow, in particular, will give your look a youthful yet sophisticated flair that couldn’t be more appropriate for Cupid’s big day.

To think pink this year, swipe the L'Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Alluring Rose onto your lids. Don’t forget to top off your eye look with a little bit of lengthening mascara to perfect your flirtatious flutter.

3. Heart-eye makeup

Serve up some real-life heart-eye emojis with your Valentine’s makeup and adorn your visage with dainty red and pink hearts.

First, apply a neutral eyeshadow or bronzer like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer into the crease of your lids. Then, use red and pink liquid eyeliner to draw hearts onto your upper eyelids. If you don’t have bright eyeliner shades on hand, grab the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in All About Pink and Truly Burgundy and use them to create your hearts. You can keep the design focused on the inner corners of your eyes for a subtle graphic accent or scatter them across your lids for a more festive finish.

4. Glossy lips and baby pink blush

Although shiny lips aren’t kiss-proof, they can create the illusion of a juicy, voluminous pout that’ll have your date dreaming of stealing a smooch. Just one coat of the right lip gloss, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 8 HR Gloss or L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss Pomegranate Extract, is all you need to enhance the shape of your lips and call attention to them. Both have hydrating formulas that work wonders to keep your lips soft and supple. Or, if a lip oil is more your speed, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil. The non-sticky formula, which boasts hyaluronic acid and tripeptides, yields instantly smoother, plumper-looking lips and 24-hour hydration.

Pair your glass-like pucker with a baby-pink blush for a healthy-looking flush. Dip a fluffy brush into the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Tender Rose and apply a generous layer to the apples of your cheeks.

5. Glittery eyes

From subtle shimmers to brilliant metallics, glittery eye makeup is just what you need to add a heavenly glow to your features. To achieve the look, try one of the 12 glitzy shades from the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eyeshadow Makeup range. The liquid formulas offer high-shine glitter while proving to be extremely blendable and transfer-proof, so you don’t have to worry about fallout. 

Those who prefer their Valentine’s eye makeup to be more subdued and shimmery, on the other hand, may fare better with the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Twinkly Rose or Ice Sparkle. A few swipes of these buildable, creamy shades are all you need for a gorgeous, iridescent finish. 

6. Voluminous lashes and metallic eyeliner

One of the simplest ways to elevate your Valentine’s Day makeup is to put emphasis on your eyes. Voluminous lashes are our go-to method for amping up the glam factor with minimal effort. After curling your lashes, shimmy on a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Big Deal Buildable Washable Mascara to add a noticeable boost. The lengthening and volumizing formula can be layered to your heart’s content—without clumping. 

Another way to give your natural lashes some oomph is to prime them with the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Primer/Base. The rose oil-infused formula helps create the illusion of thicker lashes while enhancing volume.

As for the metallic eyeliner, choose foiled shades like silver, gold, or rose gold, which will pop against your dramatic black lashes. For a golden glow, we’re partial to the L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Gold.

7. Earthy eye makeup and lipstick

Earth-toned makeup (think shades like brown, tan, and beige) is always in style. The color palette is extremely versatile, flattering, and suitable for any occasion, including a romantic dinner date. Plus, earthy hues are typically easier to execute than their more vivid counterparts, making it harder to mess them up. 

If you want to stick with the good ol’ classics for V-Day, opt for a sultry yet sophisticated smokey eye using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Brown Denim. This highly pigmented gel liner glides effortlessly across the lid and includes a built-in smudger to create smokey looks with ease. 

Pair your neutral Valentine’s eye makeup look with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick. The moisturizing, argan oil-infused lipstick comes in a variety of flattering shades, including wear-anywhere nudes, browns, and berries. 

8. Dewy skin

If you spend your downtime scrolling on TikTok, then you’re likely familiar with the dewy skin trend—aka smooth, supple skin that glows with hydration. With Valentine’s Day falling smack in the middle of winter, there’s no better time to turn to makeup and skincare hybrids to create your own dewy skin look. These types of formulas combine the benefits of skincare and makeup in one, instantly perfecting your complexion while improving the look and feel of your skin over time. 

The L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum is among our favorite multi-tasking formulas to achieve a glowy, no-makeup makeup look. Made with hydrating hyaluronic acid and luminous mineral pigments, the formula immediately brightens, evens, and hydrates skin in one fell swoop. If you like a more radiant finish, pick up the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint. The breathable, water-based tint contains reflective pearls and 82 percent hydrating serum for a healthy-looking, soft-lit glow.

Finish your dewy Valentine’s makeup with a liquid blush to add a pop of color to your cheeks. Our L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush has you covered in shades like Dewy Worth It, Dewy Bright Pink, and Dewy Rich Coral. New to the world liquid blush application? Hone your skills in our article, How to Apply Liquid Blush for a Natural-Looking Flush.

9. Glass skin

Dewy skin walked so glass skin could run. However, the latter is more overtly shiny than its dewy counterpart and often requires hydrating skincare products to create that coveted reflective finish. To get the look, prep your skin with the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, followed by the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream to help flood your skin with moisture. Then, swipe the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick in Glassy Pearl Eclat onto the high points of your face to amp up the lustrous sheen.

10. Dark pink smokey eye

When you want to take your look to the next level, a smokey eye is sure to turn heads and bring the drama. For Valentine’s Day, opt for a smokey eye that flatters your eye shape and incorporate romantic shades like burgundy or deep rose into your final look. The L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Cloudy Rose is a stunning iteration of dark pink and yields a rich pop of color that looks striking against all skin tones.

11. Winged eyeliner

Timeless winged eyeliner is an electrifying way to usher in Valentine’s Day. Executed correctly, a traditional cat eye enhances the shape of your eyes and serves up some serious sass.

Grab the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner to craft the perfect feline flick. The felt tip is key for creating sharp wings, and the waterproof formula lasts up to 30 hours for long-lasting, smudge-proof wear.

12. Soft glam matte makeup 

If you have oily skin and prefer the velvety finish of matte foundation, use it as the centerpiece for a soft-glam makeup look. First, begin by priming your skin with one of the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab formulas that best suits your needs. Those with the aforementioned oily skin type should try the Matte Setter, while those dealing with winter dullness may want to scoop up the Dullness Reducer.

Once you’ve primed your complexion, proceed with your matte foundation of choice. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation, which has an ultra-lightweight, demi-matte finish and medium coverage. As an alternative, we also love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder. This lightweight powder foundation covers like a liquid and mattifies the skin without looking or feeling caked on.

Once you’ve applied your foundation and concealer, use a fluffy brush to apply a matte bronzer onto your skin. Take the same bronzer into your eyelid crease to add some definition, then line your upper lash line with a sharp wing. Finish the look with powder blush and matte lipstick in a shade of your choice. Our pick is always one of the 22 vibrant shades from the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick collection.

13. Siren eyes 

If you want your makeup for Valentine's Day to really enchant your beau, look no further than the viral siren eye look. This trend is all about elongating your eye shape with eyeliner to create a sleek, seductive shape.

You’ll need a liquid eyeliner with a precise tip like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner to get the alluring siren gaze. On the upper lash line, use it to create a wing in the outer corner that extends slightly upward. Then, draw a sharp wing in the inner corner of your eye. 

Lengthening mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, is a must for finishing off the look. Focus the mascara on the outer corner of your lashes to further enhance the lifted shape you created with the eyeliner.

14. Doe eyes

Unlike seductive siren eyes, doe eyes offer a softer, brighter Valentine’s eye makeup look that’s meant to appear doll-like. To achieve the wide-eyed gaze, you’ll need a pencil eyeliner in a light color, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Nude. Simply trace the eyeliner along your waterline to make your eyes appear instantly wider.

Next, line your upper and lower lash line with a darker shade, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black, following your natural eye shape. If you want to add a wing, keep it short and chunky to maintain the openness that’s synonymous with having doe eyes.

15. Purple blush and mascara

Move over, rosy cheeks—we’re obsessed with using purple blush to add a playful element to our Valentine’s makeup looks. While purple may seem intimidating, it’s not that far off from your go-to peachy or berry shades of blush. The trick is to apply just the slightest bit to your cheekbones, with the goal of creating a natural-looking flush. Just remember, it’s easier to add more blush than is to remove it, so start with light layers and gradually build the color up to your liking.

A few coats of dark purple mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara in Deep Violet will give your makeup look a monochrome and unexpected twist. Purple is still a dark shade, so it’s not too different from your typical black mascara. However, it’s just enough to add a fun contrast against the rest of your makeup.

16. Brown lips and lids

Red lipstick may seem like the obvious choice for Valentine’s makeup ideas, but a dark brown lip is just as striking and eye-catching. The brown lipstick and liner combo is a major ‘90s throwback, tapping into the current zeitgeist of retro-inspired beauty trends. 

For a fashionable V-Day pout that strays from the status quo, line and fill your lips with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in Toffee To Be. For a glossy lip look, layer on a coat of the Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil in Cristal Clear Top off the monochrome look with the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick Eyeshadow in Brown Abyss, taking the matte brown shade to paint your lids. 

17. Soft pink monochrome

If brown monochrome is a bit out of your comfort zone, fall back on a tried-and-true Valentine’s Day classic: pink. 

For the most flattering result, you’ll want to match your pink makeup to your skin’s undertones, the unwavering pigments that lie just beneath your skin. Matching like with like (i.e., cool undertones with cool makeup colors) ensures your chosen hue will enhance your complexion rather than wash it out. Those with cool undertones typically look best in blue-toned pinks like fuchsia, while those with warm undertones tend to fare best in orangey pinks like coral or salmon. Anyone with neutral undertones, meanwhile, can rock virtually any shade of pink.

To perfect your one-toned Valentine’s Day makeup look, we suggest using blendable, creamy blushes and eyeshadows that allow you to customize your desired color saturation. As for lipsticks, we’re fond of the pinks and nudes in the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick range.

18. Bold berry tones

Go vampy with your Valentine’s makeup by opting for deep berries like raspberry, mulberry, and blackberry. To balance the boldness of these hues, it’s best to use them to highlight one feature at a time and keep the other one more neutral. 

If you’re torn between playing up your eyes or your lips, we’ll let you in on a little secret: The natural blue and purple undertones of berry shades can help your teeth look whiter by comparison. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Wine Not or First Move, and get ready to dazzle everyone with your pearly whites.

Next Up: 17 Valentine's Day Nail Designs That'll Put Hearts In Your Eyes

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris