Valentine Week: Modern Vintage - "A deep and intense look, using the richest, most beguiling colors from captivating crimsons to sumptuous rose golds. As a modern woman with a classic, timeless appeal, you dress for yourself but can't help intoxicating others with just a glance. You have an obsession for all things antique gold and vintage treasures."
Hey guys! How is everybody doing? For the Love Month, I have decided to do some Valentine's Day Looks. Being (romantically) loveless doesn't mean that I can't participate in the fun, right? So instead of shunning the celebration, I have chosen to fully embrace all the major hooplas this involves. If you can't beat them, join them, eh?

First up is a look I would like to call "Modern Vintage," inspired by makeup from the days old past. I don't have a particular time period in mind, but I drew more inspiration from the opulent 1920's palette of rich antique golds and dark crimsons.

BASE: I used Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in Vanilla to create a flawless, non-dewy canvass and my handy-dandy Laura Mercier Flawless Face Palette for those more stubborn marks.

Laura Mercier Flawless Face Book in Nude and Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in Vanilla

EYES: I didn't want to use the usual nude colors on my eyes so I decided to add a rich hue to create a romanticized aura. ELF Essential Eye Color in Luxe and a Sleek eyeshadow in Ruby both add a rubescent, rich hue to the eyes without overwhelming it.

For the Eyes: Sleek, ELF and Stila

ELF Essential Eye Color in Luxe

Step 1: I applied the leftmost pearlescent color from the ELF palette all over my lids as a base color:
Step 2: Apply the reddish color from the same ELF palette on the outer corner of the eyes:

ELF Essential Eye Color in Luxe

Sleek Maximum Impact Eye Shadow in Ruby

Step 3: For more dimension, apply the Sleek in Ruby shade on outer corners, layering over the lighter reddish shade. Take the same color and blend towards the crease. I also used the same shade to partially line under my eyes, about halfway in.
Step 4: I used Kitten (from the Stila In the Light palette) to add a bit of shimmer along the inner V of my eyes and at the middle of my eyelids.
CHEEKS: I didn't want to add an obvious color on my cheeks so I sparingly used the bronzer (from Sleek Face Form Palette in Light, using Real Techniques Buffing Brush) to add contour on the hollows of my cheeks. This warms up my face a bit.

Sleek Face Form in Light and Real Techniques Buffing brush

I also applied a bit of highlighter from the same Sleek palette on the high points of my face - cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid's bow.

Above: Subtle highlights and contours on the face

LIPS: I chose a rather unusual shade for my lips to offset the strong eye I have. Clinique Lipstick in Surprise has an rich, opulent color that changes with the light. I like how unique it looks, sometimes browner, sometimes more plummy and berry.

Clinique Different Lipstick in Surprise

I also like how the gold shimmers in the lipstick catches the light. It adds another interesting dimension to my lips - an almost ethereal, mysterious feel.

Clinique Different Lipstick in Surprise

Styling Notes: I think this romantic, vintage makeup look would be perfect if you are wearing something classic and sophisticated - a voluminous dress clinched with a belt, a lacey top and a midi, curve-hugging skirt or the more casual floral frock. You can also add some sparkling hair pieces to achieve a more vintage-y Daisy Buchanan vibe.

Final Look: Modern Vintage