Celebrity makeup artists reveal their top tips for achieving a Valentine’s-ready beauty look. Here, find over a dozen romantic and flirty Valentine’s Day makeup looks worth recreating.

and Kara Jillian Brown

Valentine’s Day might be a Hallmark holiday but there are so many ways to celebrate it. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, getting dolled up for the day of love can feel like quite the treat. In addition to putting together the perfect Valentine’s Day outfit and picking out the prettiest Valentine’s Day manicure, you may also want to switch up your makeup for the occasion. To help you do so, celebrity makeup artists shared their top tips for leaning into the holiday.

“Pink is the ultimate flirty shade that is flattering on every skin tone,” says celebrity makeup artist Gregory Arlt. Not much of a pink person? Arlt says that warmer shades are suitable for Valentine’s Day, too. “Peachy, warm tones are beautiful for more of a candlelit, romantic glow,” he says. “A dewy gold look will melt even the hardest of hearts, and it’s all about a glowing, warm cheek and lip paired with a sultry cat eye.” And, of course, you can never go wrong with a classic red lip.

No matter which color palette you choose, celebrity makeup artist and JamieMakeup founder Jamie Greenberg says to pick one or two features max to apply it to. “For Valentine’s Day, it’s fun to bring a pop of color with a subtle natural base,” she says. “I like to go for colors in the eyelids or lips—go for a bold red or pink—the holiday is fun and flirty, your makeup should be too.”

Meet the expert

Gregory Arlt is a celebrity makeup artist who works with Dita Von Teese and Fran Drescher. Jamie Greenberg is a celebrity makeup artist and founder of JamieMakeup.

Ready to start dreaming up your own Valentine’s Day makeup look? Ahead, you’ll find over a dozen celebrities who are sure to inspire you with their romantic beauty beats.

Blushing

Blush is the focus of this sweet look on Saweetie. A bright pink brush is swept up the high points of her cheeks to add a youthful flush.

Ethereal Pink

Anya Taylor-Joy’s pretty, soft, pink look is perfect for Valentine’s Day. To achieve this look, which Taylor-Joy wore to the 2025 Golden Globes, her makeup artist, Georgie Eisdell, used Dior Beauty’s Diorshow 5 Couleurs in #823 Rosa Mutabilis to wash her gaze in ethereal pink. 

Smoked Liner

Go for a more seductive look this holiday with a smoked-out black eyeliner. Here, Zoë Kravitz paired the wing with soft pink, barely there blush and lipgloss to keep the focus all on her eyes.

Rasberries

For a pink look that's not too saccharine, opt for berry tones. Sabrina Carpenter's soft and smoky neutral eye look pairs beautifully with a raspberry blush and lipgloss.

Classic Red Lip

Jennifer Lawrence proves that a classic red lip never goes out of style—for Valentine’s Day or ever.

Lilac Lids

Remember: Purple is fair play for Valentine's Day. Here, Andra Day shows us just how stunning glittery lilac lids can look with smudged wing liner.

Mauve Moment

Margot Robbie rocked a rosy flush with a muted mauve lip at the 2023 Golden Globes. Meanwhile, her skin was perfected with a no-makeup makeup approach. For a similarly subtle complexion, Greenberg recommends Rituel de Fille’s 3 Drop Weightless Serum Foundation. “It gives you coverage and still leaves you with a skin-like feeling,” she says. “You can build this up if you want more coverage or keep it light for a date night.”

Bubblegum Pink Statement Eye

Issa Rae leaned into character for the Barbie premiere—and the look would work just as well for Valentine’s Day as it does a red carpet. Celebrity makeup artist Joanna Simkin was actually inspired by the doll when creating the look.

Colorblock Beauty

While many Valentine's Day beauty looks feature a single hue on lips, lids, or both, Lana Condor proves that a colorblock approach can be quite pretty, too. To recreate this look, use a peach shadow on your upper and lower lids, paired with a glossy berry lip.

Fuchaia Feels

Fuchsia has risen in popularity over the past couple years and here, Jennifer Hudson proves just how stunning it can look when incorporated into a lips and lids combo. To DIY the look, at home, use an angled brush dipped in fuchsia shadow to line your under eyes. Then, perfect your pout with a satin fuchsia lipstick,

Nude Shimmers

Quinta Brunson's understated look proves that metallics can act as neutrals so long as you choose a shade that is close to your skin tone. Here, she wears a sparkly bronze eyeshadow paired with bronzer and a nude glossy lip.

Barley There Beauty

Hannah Einbinder’s Golden Globes glam shows that simple makeup can be just enough. “It’s all about that soft, natural radiance and shades that feel effortless and timeless,” her makeup artist Molly Greenwald previously told InStyle.

Subdued Cut Crease

Ariana Grande stuns in this soft and simple makeup look. What makes it really stand out is the subtle flick of brown eyeliner just above her crease.

Soft Nudes

Victoria Monet stuns in this nude makeup look that features a subtle champagne eye look paired with bronzer and a nude lip.

High Shine

Sometimes, a super-shiny lipgloss is enough of a statement. This sweet look on Zendaya allows a rosy-pink glossy lip to steal the show as her blush and eyes take a back seat.

Minimalist Flush

To go pink in a way that feels more mature, opt for a cool-toned shade. Lily Collins chose a lip and blush in matching icy pink for a super subtle look.

Pretty in Pink

Rihanna looked like a pink dream at her Fenty Beauty Event back in 2019. To recreate her look, you’ll want to add the Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in the shade Crush on Cupid to your cart, as well as the Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in the shade Unlocked.

Subtle Shimmer

Kiki Layne wowed onlookers at the 2019 LACMA Art + Film Gala with her gorgeous sculptural braided hairstyle and subtle shimmer lids. Teetering somewhere between pink and purple, her eye makeup works well for Valentine's Day. After all, purple, while less popular than pink and red, is the third hue of the classic V-Day color trio.

Blushing Ballerina

Emma Stone looked like a blushing ballerina bride at the 2022 Met Gala. For her look, she went with brushed-up brows and a mauvey cheek and lip combo.

Sheer Rouge

Ayo Edebiri showed up to the 2023 AFI Awards with a positively glowing complexion. If you look closely, you’ll notice a sheer rouge on her cheeks, a pink-tinted gloss, and a subtly smudged cat eye. To copy her lip, try Too Faced’s new Kissing Jelly in the shade Raspberry.

Shimmering Inner Corners

Back in the early 2010s, shimmery inner corners were the makeup move. In 2021, Dua Lipa proved that they still can be at the Brit Awards.

Barely There Blush

Selena Gomez turned heads on the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards red carpet when she showed up with fresh-faced beauty and an arrow through her ear. Whenever you’re looking for a flawless-looking complexion, Greenberg says prep is key. “I like to start with a natural base and use Neova Silc Sheer 2.0 to prep the skin,” Greenberg says. “It gives you a nice sheer, lightweight tint and that much-needed SPF for year-round protection—and it lays beautifully under makeup.”

Peachy Keen

Taylor Swift is renowned for her no-makeup makeup skin and bold red lip but every now and again she opts for a peachy-pink beauty look. Case in point: Her beauty beat for the 63rd Grammy Awards.

Neutral Glam

Let's be honest: Not everyone wants to wear a pop of color on their face. If you prefer a more neutral approach to your makeup palette, take Shay Mitchell's lead and make it glam.

Glowing Skin

When your complexion looks picture-perfect, all you need is a little eyeliner, a coat or two of mascara, and a bold red lip to leave you feeling Valentine's Day (or night) ready. Danielle Brooks proves it!

Angelic Flush

Hunter Schafer looked downright angelic at the 2014 Golden Globes. With ultra-pale pink blush and lips, she nailed the year's coquette trend. Be sure to follow up with a matte setting powder if you want to mimic her matte finish, too.

Old Hollywood Glam

Blake Lively tends to keep her beauty looks more neutral in complexion while adding a pop of shimmer or color to her lids and lips. For the 2016 Met Gala, she went with champagne shimmer lids and a bold red lip for an old Hollywood feel.

Lavender Lids

Laverne Cox is no stranger to color and for the world premiere of the last season of Orange Is the New Black, she let lavender be the star. By adopting a neutral palette for the rest of her face, the purple shadow really stood out.

Dramatic Lashes

Jennifer Lopez rocked a heavily lashed look for the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival. And it's an approach Arlt enjoys. “If you’re feeling frisky throw on a false lash,” he says.

Beauty in Berry

Love the idea of a two-tone approach to your Valentine's Day makeup look? Kerry Washington makes a case for pale lilac lids and a berry lip.