It’s clichéd but I just couldn’t help myself. Valentine’s Day – love it, or hate it – has crept up on us and whatever your plans are for the next few days, I have a beauty line-up to call to the frontline. Just think of me as your big sister, sitting you down and primping you up for the night ahead with an added pep talk or two tossed in. A night in, casual date or the whole souped-up evening dinner affair; here’s a makeup menu for them all. And I’ve been there, done all three and had the date in Subway (which most definitely falls into the ‘casual’ category and will never be repeated), so here’s my V-Day edit…
First up, something for all no matter of your relationship status, and the beauty ritual that I’ll be partaking in tonight – is the four-product pamper. No more, no less. Just a quad of treats that will leave you smooth, soaked and glowing in as little or as long time as you fancy. Enjoy with a Ryan Gosling film rolling in the background for ultimate enjoyment. Meet my new dreamy bathtime companion (not Gosling, unfortunately), Life NK Drift Away Milk Soak*, milky tub goodness with a bit hit of lavender-induced relaxation – then get scrubbing with Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. When you finally muster up the energy to exit, pat dry then slather on the Perricone MD No Sun Tanner*; a gradual tanner so good, and so pricey, that I save this for special occasions only, and tonight ladies it’s being whipped on. For the finishing touch butter up your feet with Soap & Glory Heel Genius, slip on some socks, then into bed.  Ahhhh. A bit of R.G and pampering, why can’t every evening be like this?
If more of a casual date is on the cards; cinema, ice skating….Subway, in my experience, they why not plump for something flushed and flirty. A dewy tint to the skin, a veil of colour of colour to the cheeks and a good effort on the lashes; an everyday look with a twist of peach. My favourite. Start with a buff-in of Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser, then add a touch of brightness under the eyes with Bobbi Brown’s Corrector, a coruscating compact, AH-mazing. Get to work on the cheeks with a light dusting of Benefit Hoola*, and finish off with punch of a pinky peach bang on the apples, I used Tarte Amazonian Clay 24hr Blush in Blissful. Flush done, ramp up the flirty factor with a hefty zig-zag of a volumising mascara like Lancome’s Hypnose Waterproof Mascara and quickly whiz through the brows with Hourglass’ Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil. On any sort of date you want lips to be low-maintance, so a slick of Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Orange Tulip needs minimal upkeep and smells rather tasty if anyone comes close. Oh er.
You’ve got a keeper on your hands if your evening is due to be filled with wining and dining  (I’m doing a round of applause at my laptop right now), and to celebrate the occasion I vote that this kind of event calls for a bold lip, with some subtle eye work and a long-lasting but cakeface-free base. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation*, fits that bill and covers nicely leaving little need for concealer, but a quick dab of Origins Plantscripton Anti-Aging Concealer* to brighten doesn’t go a miss. An evening affair needs some contouring, so blend Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sculpting Powder in Medium under the cheekbones, and their Celestial Highlighting Powder in Candlelight over the top; this combo are rocking my cheek makeup world at the moment. For eyes I grabbed the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette* and blended W.O.S all over the lid, Naked 2 in the crease and Faint winged out at the lashline and then layered on some of the d.j.v Beautenizer Volume Lash*. Sticking with the low-upkeep lip theme, YSL’s new Rouge Volupté Shines* pack some pigment with a juicy, kissable (eh, eh!) texture, the shade 9 gives a glossed fuchsia finish.
In or out, casual or the whole hog, or just a night in for uno – I’ve got your back beauty-wise. With my evening pamper ritual sorted, I may be accounted for in the romance department, but the big question I’ll be pondering tonight is which Gosling film to break out to accompany my little routine…
*PR Samples
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