Valentine’s Day Makeup Looks to Make Hearts Skip a Beat

Love is in the air, and so is the perfect excuse to experiment with makeup looks! Whether you’re headed out for a romantic date, planning a Galentine’s bash, or treating yourself to some self-love (as you should), Valentine’s Day makeup is all about dialing up the romance with a touch of drama.

Here are some swoon-worthy looks and tips to help you look and feel your best—whether it’s at dinner with your love, a party with your friends, or from your couch with a pint of ice cream.

We’ve even included some of our favorite products that you can purchase for 14% off throughout February with code XOXO14 (stackable with PRO discount)

1. The Classic Romantic: Soft Glam

You can never go wrong with soft, dreamy vibes on Valentine’s Day. Think glowing skin, fluttery lashes, and kissable lips.

• Skin: Start with our FIRST Skin Smoothing Primer and a dewy foundation like Face Atelier. Add a soft pink or peach blush to the apples of your cheeks for that naturally flushed look.

• Eyes: Use neutral/soft metallic shades like champagne or rose gold and blend out to perfection for a defused shimmery look. Pop on a pair of wispy lashes for extra romance. We recommend using the Inglot Soft Sparkler Face Eyes Body Highlighter as your eyeshadow to achieve that soft romantic glowy look.

• Lips: A rosy pink gloss or a velvet-finish nude lipstick completes the look. Bonus points if it’s transfer-proof (because, you know, kisses). Check out these velvety Elle Artistry Liquid Lipsticks.

2. Bold & Beautiful: The Red Lip Moment

Valentine’s Day is practically begging for a statement red lip. Keep the focus on your pout while keeping the rest of your makeup polished but simple.

• Skin: Opt for flawless matte or satin-finish skin. Keep contouring minimal but defined.

• Eyes: Go for a soft neutral base on your lids and a precise winged liner. Add mascara to make your lashes pop.

• Lips: Choose a bold red that flatters your skin tone and top off with a juicy gloss. Bonus points if your gloss tastes/smells like sweet candy (FYI—the FIRST by MAKE UP FIRST® Lip Gloss does!)

Pro Tip: Exfoliate and hydrate your lips beforehand for a smooth application. Lip liner is your BFF here!

3. Pretty in Pink: Monochromatic

Pink is the ultimate Valentine’s Day color, and a monochromatic pink look is trendy, playful, and oh-so-chic.

• Skin: Keep your base light and luminous with Prism FX Hydrating Lotion. A touch of Dew Wet Balm on the cheekbones will make you glow like Cupid kissed you.

• Eyes: Use soft pink hues on your lids and blend a slightly deeper pink into the crease for dimension. Add a little sparkle if you’re feeling festive.

• Lips & Cheeks: Match your blush and lipstick in complementary pink shades. A creamy, slightly glossy pink lip is perfection.

But wait, we can make this super easy for you… Want the exact shade of pink for all eyes, lips and cheeks? Use Colorfix Mattes in shade Valentine and blend/sheer out on the skin for the perfect easy monochromatic look.

4. Smoky & Sultry: For the Drama Queens

If your idea of Valentine’s makeup involves a little edge, a smoky eye will have all eyes on you.

• Eyes: Start with a creamy black base and blend it out with rich chocolate or plum tones. Add shimmer to the center of the lid for a smoldering effect. Don’t forget to smoke out your lower lash line! A crease-proof product we recommend for the perfect black smoky eye is the Colorfix Mattes in shade Blackout.

• Skin suggestion: A matte, sculpted look.

• Lips: A soft nude or mauve lip balances the drama of the eyes perfectly.

5. Glitter & Glow: The Fun-Loving Flirt

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to add a little sparkle to your look! Glitter accents are playful, fun, and guaranteed to catch the light.

• Eyes: Apply Colorfix Foils as a glitter liner along your lash line or add a pop of glitter on your lids for extra glam.

• Skin: Keep the rest of your makeup glowing with a luminous foundation and a cream blush that makes your cheekbones shine like Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder in shade Rose N Brunch.

• Lips: Pair with a gloss or a subtle shimmer lipstick for that extra sparkle.

This Valentine’s Day, whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or yourself, your makeup should make you feel confident and unstoppable. So grab your brushes, turn up the romance, and remember—you’re the main character. Go break some hearts (in the best way possible).

Let’s face it: the beauty industry is fierce. With new trends popping up every second and countless artists showcasing jaw-dropping work, sometimes standing out as a makeup artist can feel as tricky as creating the perfect winged liner on a squirmy client. But don’t worry—if you’re ready to set yourself apart, we’ve got the tea.

Here’s how to make sure clients and colleagues remember you for all the right reasons.

1. Never Stop Learning (Seriously)

Sure, we are a makeup school, so of course we will always push for more education, but hear us out. Makeup trends are like exes—they come and go, and sometimes they circle back unexpectedly whether we want them to or not. One minute everyone’s obsessed with dewy skin, and the next it’s all about matte finishes and bold eye looks. If you’re still stuck on techniques and trends you learned more than 6 months ago, it’s time to freshen up your skills.

Not only are trends constantly fluctuating, but products, techniques, and the latest business strategies are constantly being introduced and its crucial to keep up if you want to stay inline with the industry pros.

Continuing education isn’t just a buzzword; it’s your ticket to staying relevant. Whether you’re refreshing the basics, taking advanced courses, attending workshops, or even practicing new techniques at home, investing in your education is KEY to a successful career.

2. Master the Art of Professionalism

No matter how stunning your makeup skills are, if you roll into a gig late, unprepared, or with a messy kit, clients won’t book you again. Here’s how to get it right:

• Be on time. Fashionably late is cute for parties, not for work—and yes that includes those unpaid gigs as well!

• Keep your kit clean. No one wants last week’s lipstick germs on their face. Ew. Enough said.

• Communicate like a pro. Texting “u good w 2pm?” isn’t going to get you your dream career. Be professional, easy to reach, respectful, and THOROUGH in your communication. Your clients/colleagues should never feel like they have to work for your attention!

When you carry yourself like a polished pro, you not only attract clients, but you also build respect among peers in the industry.

3. Be your client’s hype person

Here’s the thing: being a makeup artist isn’t just about what you do with brushes. It’s about how you make people feel. Every client wants to leave your chair feeling like a super model—confident, glowing, and ready to take on the day.

So, compliment them! Gas them up! Tell them how amazing they look. Your energy is contagious, and when clients feel great about themselves, they’ll rave about you to everyone they know. And yes, word-of-mouth marketing still reigns supreme.

4. Brand Yourself and NETWORK. We can’t stress this enough.

You can be the best artist in the world, but if no one knows who you are, it doesn’t matter. Get your name out there by:

• Posting your work consistently on your website and social media—hello, Instagram and TikTok. Trust me, after those rough few hours of no TikTok, everyone will be graciously spending time on the app—take advantage of it!

• Engaging with your followers by replying to comments and DMs.

• Collaborating and supporting other creatives. Let’s help each other out and hype each other up! Not only other MUAs, but expand your network with photographers, stylists, and models as well!

Your vibe attracts your tribe, so make sure your branding reflects who you are as an artist.

5. Stay Humble, Hustle Hard

Even if you’ve mastered the art, there’s always room to grow. Stay humble, ask for feedback, and never stop pushing yourself.

The key to standing out as a makeup artist is to be more than just good—you have to be someone clients WANT to be around. Keep learning, stay professional, and always bring your best self to the table (or vanity). Before you know it, you’ll be the artist everyone’s talking about—and not just because of your killer skills.

kick off the holiday season with not just one, but two black friday deals at The Make Up First® Pro Shop!🛍️

• All Thanksgiving week: Take 10% off all products at checkout. (Stackable with your PRO discount!)

• Black Friday through Cyber Monday: Stack 10% off all products and take $20 off all orders of $100 or more!

This deal is available online at shop.makeupfirst.com or in-store from 10am-5pm only on Black Friday!

Need help with stocking stuffer ideas? Click here to view our Holiday Gift Guide.🎁

And while you’re there, sign up for the Make Up First Pro discount program to receive everyday discounts on hundreds of pro products!

*10% off sale 11/24 - 12/02

*$20 off $100 order 11/28 7pm - 12/02

*In-store Black Friday hours 10am - 5pm

Winter 2025

Our next session starts January 20th with Basic Makeup I, which covers fundamental principles such as color theory, facial anatomy, and sanitation. In addition, students will learn crucial skills like highlight and contour, foundation matching, skin prep, shaping brows, false lash application and more!

At Make Up First® School of Makeup Artistry, our certification program is streamlined to give you exactly what you need to become a pro. Our program, approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, offers in-depth makeup artistry training with extensive hands-on studio time using pro cosmetics and taught by the finest instructors. By offering professional instruction in all areas of makeup artistry, we prepare our students to be able to accept work in all avenues of the industry, including editorial, bridal, theatrical, media, and clinical!

Bundle & Save

To earn a Certificate of Completion from Make Up First® School of Makeup Artistry, students are required to complete all eight courses. The program duration is 150 clock hours over the course of 10 weeks.

You can purchase all eight courses as a bundle for $6,000 (including the student makeup kit). Alternatively, if purchased individually, the total tuition cost for all eight courses is $9,030, which includes the student makeup kit. The courses included are:

• Basic Makeup I

• Basic Makeup II

• Media Makeup HD

• Media: Runway, Editorial, Fashion

• Theatrical Makeup A

• Theatrical Makeup B

• Clinical Makeup

• Careers in Makeup Artistry

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hang with us at The Makeup Show!

Saturday, November 16, 2024 – 9:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, November 17, 2024 – 9:00am-5:00pm

Rockwell on the River – 3057 N Rockwell St
Chicago, IL 60618

Demo Stage B: Sunday, November 17th 11:15am-12:15pm: Mythical Transformations with Hannah Dorion for Make Up First® School

throughout the weekend We will have special guests at our booth demonstrating their techniques!

Stop by our Booth (B11) to see artists in action!

Along with demonstrations at our booth (B11) we will be selling some of our Make Up First® Pro Shop favorites at SPECIAL SHOW PRICING! 

Follow us on Instagram @makeupfirstschool to see behind the scenes all weekend long! We hope to see you there.

Fall 2024

Our next session starts September 9th with Basic Makeup I, which covers fundamental principles such as color theory, facial anatomy, and sanitation. In addition, students will learn crucial skills like highlight and contour, foundation matching, skin prep, shaping brows, false lash application and more!

At Make Up First® School of Makeup Artistry, our certification program is streamlined to give you exactly what you need to become a pro. Our program, approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, offers in-depth makeup artistry training with extensive hands-on studio time using pro cosmetics and taught by the finest instructors. By offering professional instruction in all areas of makeup artistry, we prepare our students to be able to accept work in all avenues of the industry, including editorial, bridal, theatrical, media, and clinical!

Bundle & Save

To earn a Certificate of Completion from Make Up First® School of Makeup Artistry, students are required to complete all eight courses. The program duration is 150 clock hours over the course of 10 weeks.

You can purchase all eight courses as a bundle for $6,000 (including the student makeup kit). Alternatively, if purchased individually, the total tuition cost for all eight courses is $9,030, which includes the student makeup kit. The courses included are:

• Basic Makeup I

• Basic Makeup II

• Media Makeup HD

• Media: Runway, Editorial, Fashion

• Theatrical Makeup A

• Theatrical Makeup B

• Clinical Makeup

• Careers in Makeup Artistry

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Prom season is approaching! Whether you’re a makeup artist prepping for clients, or going to prom yourself, you’ll want these tips to achieve that picture-perfect prom night look that’ll last all night! 📸

When prepping for your prom night looks, there are a few things you’ll need to consider…

1. Flash photography

2. Oil & sweat from dancing in a heavy dress

3. Adapting to current trends while still looking timeless (to avoid regretting that glitter cut-crease a few years later) 😉

There are simple solutions to these 3 considerations…

1. Flash cell phone photos are nearly impossible to avoid during prom night, so BE SURE to use a high definition setting powder. Let’s not turn our girls into Flashback Mary. 👻

   An HD powder we love and recommend is INGLOT Cosmetics HD Illuminizing Loose Powder. This product is a subtle loose powder with a touch of diamond dust. This powder is perfect to hide skin’s little imperfections, and leave the face looking refreshed and rejuvenated. INGLOT’s HD products contain HD pigments that are designed to look flawless in high definition film and photography, ensuring the makeup looks perfect in all lighting and photos.

   P.S. Get 10% off all INGLOT products on shop.makeupfirst.com with code SPARKLE10

2. Prep 👏 the 👏 skin! 👏 Prom may look like a night of glitz and glamour, but really, it’s mostly a night of maneuvering a big heavy dress while you’re trying to dance. Let’s face it… you’ll get sweaty.

   So how can you keep the sweat/oil from showing through the makeup? Use mattifying products. We’ll make it simple for you → Embryolisse Soin Hydratant Matifiant + Mehron Skin Prep Pro-Mattifying Toner = 💗.

3. Now, I’m all for hopping on the popular trends. But, similarly to your wedding day, prom might not be the best day to try out that bold new trend you saw on TikTok the night before. Simply because you’ll have those photos forever. Luckily the current trends are a little more subtle compared to those 2016 makeup trends we all knew… and participated in. 😅 Let’s chat about some trends to follow that wont have you burning your prom photos in 10 years.

   My personal favorite - Monochromatic looks. This means 1 color and 1 color only. That doesn’t mean you cant mix different shades of that color. If you’re wearing a bright pink dress, try a soft pink eyeshadow, pink blush, and a pink glossy lip.

   Another trend that we’re loving right now is the “barely there” base with a pop of color. Try a soft pop of color in the inner corner of the eye, or even a bold lip to pair with your “clean girl” fresh-face foundation.

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Calling all teen makeup enthusiasts!

Do you ever dream of the MUA/Influencer life?

This is for you.

This 3 day Teen Camp includes demos and hands-on practice. Learn how to use colors, textures, and pro products to create day to night looks, trending Instagram looks, and theatrical/SFX looks.

June 25, 26, 27

3:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Danessa Myricks

Dew Wet Balm

“Clear”

Shop Dew Wet Balm

Danessa Myricks Colorfix

“Valentine”

Shop Colorfix

Danessa Myricks Twin Flames

“Angel Heart”

Shop Twin Flames

Danessa Myricks Glaze

“Clear”

Shop Glaze

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The holidays have passed, our skin is DRY, it’s too cold to go out, and Spring seems SO far away.

Let’s face it, this is not our favorite time of the year…

Let’s talk about how we can combat the cold and stay looking fresh and fabulous..

When Winter hits, our skin typically needs a little extra TLC… Okay, a LOT of extra TLC. The lack of humidity, and cold wind strips the moisture from our faces and leaves us feeling dry and looking dull compared to that bronzed glow we love to achieve in the summer. Well lucky for you, we’re here with some beauty tips & tricks to keep you looking and feeling fabulous all throughout these frosty winter days.

Let’s be real, obviously we are makeup artists and know how to beat a face, but we aren’t magicians, and can’t totally change skin texture with some foundation. Your makeup will only look as good as the skin prep you have under it. However, with the right combo of proper winter skincare and makeup products, it is not impossible to keep that glowy skin year-round. So how is that possible, you ask? Keep reading, we got you!

A few things you’ll definitely want in your makeup bag;

1. Skin prep! Get out those moisturizers. We recommend Embryolisse moisturizers, which have a primer built in! An absolute favorite is the Embryolisse under eye cream, great for everyone but especially for our ladies with matured skin. And don’t forget how easily our lips get chapped in the winter. Rosebud Salve = Easy Fix.

   Pro Tip: Apply a generous layer of your skin prep before you start working on your eyeshadow, let it soak in while you glam the eyes. Then, (if necessary) add another layer of moisturizer before applying your foundation.

2. Now for the the makeup.. I think this goes without saying, but if you want to glow in the winter, you’ll need to invest in a MOISTURIZING foundation. Put that matte foundation away, girls!! Our top pick (and top seller) is Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro - it’s not just a recommendation, it’s a MUST-have! Face Atelier is a buildable, self-setting foundation, so you wont need to set the full face with powder! Powder sets our makeup by soaking up the excess oils, so not needing it much during the winter is definitely a win in our opinion.

   Pro Tip: Use a damp sponge to apply foundation. This will help you waste less product, blend easier, and add a tiny bit of extra moisture.

3. Finish✨.. Lastly, for our super dry girls, we want to give the skin one last little boost of moisture. Cinema Secrets Moisture Spray is the perfect and EASY product to do just that! It’s made with the same top-quality ingredients found in heavy creams but applied with a fine, refreshing mist which can be applied both under and on top of your makeup.

   Pro Tip: On days where you do need a little setting powder, spray a mist of Moisture Spray at the end of your makeup application to soak up any excess powder.

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2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Time to kick off the Christmas season with some holiday shopping! Looking for the perfect gift? You’re in luck! We’ve hand-picked our favorite items that any MUA or makeup enthusiast would adore this holiday season!

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We often get asked, what’s it like in the suburbs now that Make Up First® changed locations?

The answer is, it’s fabulous! Not only was Naperville ranked the safest town in the COUNTRY, but it’s also filled with so much holiday cheer. After class, our students enjoy wandering around our “Hallmark movie” town on their way to the Metra station. Downtown Naperville has so much to offer all year round (including Make Up First®, of course!), but around the holiday season it feels just a little more special! Everywhere you walk, the trees are lit up in twinkling lights throughout the entire downtown area. You’ll commonly stumble across live musicians and Christmas carolers on the street corners, and inside restaurants and coffee shops where you can find specialty hot cocoa and other holiday treats. Dozens of storefronts (including us!) are on the Holiday Window Painting map provided by the city, so visitors can search through the streets for the most adorable holiday window paintings! On Water Street, you’ll find a stunning holiday light display along the River Walk, where you’ll hear Christmas music playing through the streets every night of the week from 4pm-9pm. The River Walk is a scenic pathway overlapped with picturesque covered bridges adorned with lights and wreaths. And the best part? Make Up First® is submerged right in the middle of this holiday magic! Come visit us soon for some holiday shopping, our Holiday Glamour Makeup Demo, or just to say hi!

Make Up First® artists invaded the runway on the first weekend of November. For years, Make Up First® has provided countless opportunities for artists around the world. Our first time producing a runway show was a celebration of creativity, passion, and dedication. We are proud to give the ARTISTS their time to shine on the runway. INVASION: The Runway Show was an "out of this world" runway experience. We merged the worlds of dance, makeup, and fashion. We're grateful to have put together an incredibly talented team of our graduates & staff, designers, and other creatives to bring unearthly creatures to life. Keep reading to take a look into INVASION: The Runway Show from the producers’ prospectives…

After months of preparing, we were anxious for our rehearsal on the Friday night before the show. After arriving to the venue inside Water Tower Place, we piled all of our stuff in, waiting for an elevator to carry our bins of theatrical makeup products upstairs. Once we settled in, we were struggling to figure out how to use the speaker for the first 20 minutes or so. We’re not very tech savvy if you couldn’t tell! We got it running, and it really started to sink in that the show was the next day. Before the models and a few of the artists arrived, Hannah (Theatrical Instructor) and Jade (Co-Owner) took a deep breath trying to calm each other’s nerves. Michelle (Co-Owner) was on her way, bringing the whole family to watch the rehearsal, baby and all! Once the crowd arrived, we were pretty overwhelmed with the amount of energy in the room. “Lets get the girls in their heels and we’ll get started in 5 minutes” said Britney Wittes from Why Not Petites. Britney had been helping Jade and Michelle with the modeling aspect of the show, from the casting call until the second before she walked the runway during the show. We had not only models, but dancers as well. The designers were doing their last-minute fittings during the rehearsal and the vision really started to come together. After rehearsal, we still had some work to do. Finalizing face charts, last minute HMUA timeline adjustments, etc. We finished up just around midnight and tried to get some rest before the big day.

Saturday morning, 31 models, 12 artists, 4 designers, and full team of backstage helpers came together and began to create extraterrestrial magic. Somehow everything backstage ran seamlessly. It made us beyond proud to have a room full of artists who were trained by us, all together executing the most flawless makeup designs. After a few hours, which seemed like minutes, someone yelled to us backstage “People are lined up outside waiting for the doors to open! It’s PACKED out there!”, and our nerves started up again. By then our models were makeup-ready, and the designers were getting them into wardrobe. We finished up our final run-through of the show before opening the doors.

MUA: Ciarra O’Reiley, Photographer: St.Micca, Designer: Zo Roze, Model: Raquel Horvath

It was 5:00 when the doors opened to the public. Each member of the audience checked in at the door and were taken to their seats. It was not only a show but also a reunion for so many people who came together with like-interests in the beauty and fashion industry. Our Photographers (St.Micca Photography, Ed Sochacki, Henry Bat Photography, and Arijit Ghosh) were set up at the end of the runway to capture each look. We were peaking out into the crowd, amazed with the amount of people who came to support our graduates, models, and designers. We gathered all of our MUAs and sat together in the VIP section to watch the show at the end of the runway. All of our artists squished together on the couch was such a heartwarming sight for everyone walking by. The Make Up First community really feels like a big happy family when brought together.

At 5:45, the music started. It began with a minute long intro to catch the audiences attention. The audience all took their seats and waited for the first model to appear. The music was building and the audience was in awe when the first dancer opened the show in a full theatrical alien look dressed in a cyborg inspired metal tutu designed by Zo Roze. She danced down the runway performing her quirky, alien-like moves. The music kept building until the first model appeared with an exceptionally powerful walk, followed by many many more unique designs by Zo Roze, Naomi, Qualia Arte, and DRIA/V.

The show came close to the end and it was time to take the MUAs backstage for their final walks. The models walked with their designers and the crowd cheered them on. Once everyone was back from the runway, the makeup artists walked out and were recognized for their incredible work. The models and designers cheered for the artists from backstage, along with the crowd in the audience. It was such an unforgettable moment for our artists, and for us.. Backstage after the show was filled with excitement, relief, many “I’m so proud of you”s, and happy tears. Our very first show was one for the books!

The holidays are here! Visit our Pro Shop website for online shopping with FREE SHIPPING + FREE MYSTERY PRODUCT for all orders over $20 placed on Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

check out our most popular products at The Pro Shop

• Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Oil

• Danessa Myricks Prism FX

• Celebrè Pro-HD Pressed Powder Foundation 12 Color Contour/Highlight Palette

• Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro

• Face Atelier Pro Adjuster

• Face Atelier Ultra Air

• ATTN! Beauty Makeup Sanitizer Mist

• Embryolisse Soin Hydratant Matifiant