Valentine's Vamp Look

I have to admit, I'm not big into Valentine's day, part of me likes it, the other part thinks it's slightly needless and overly commercial. However, it doesn't have to be the latter and instead it can serve as reminder to spend a day or evening with a loved one, showering them with attention and (optional) gifts. Now I think Valentine's day itself is much more exciting when single. It's a good time to get dolled out and go out with some friends and enjoy contemplating romantic possibilities before coming crashing down to earth. So this look today is completely impractical for smooching with a loved one but who cares?!

Now after over a week of flu and being stuck indoors I'm looking paler than usual, I actually like being pale so I'm working with my alabaster skin-tone and going for an overall vamp, Gothic look.

At first I wanted to go completely dark with my eyelids but I also wanted a dark lip so instead I kept t simple with light purple on the lids and plenty of thick black liner for that cat eye look. I've used my normal foundation but less blush than I usually would on my cheeks, I have flushed a bit over for that just about alive look. Now my lips are pretty much normal, I;ve used multiple layers which I'll go into later, I've kept to my usual lip shape although I've kept it just that slightly bit lower at the cupid's bow, this was a change of plan, I'm always a bit self-concious about creating a different shape to my lip which is why this small change was enough, originally I had wanted to create something a little more Siouxsie Sioux but I'm not quite there. Now, onto the products used.

The kit

I kept my foundation simple using bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation in Fairly Light, then added just a light sweeping just below my cheekbones of bareMinerals Ready Blush in The Natural High. I then filled in my eyebrows, lightly, using Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Thunder. After this I used some Benefit High Beam, adding to the apple of my cheeks and below my eyebrows to give myself a little bit of a glow.

Moving onto the eyes, I made good use of my MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show Riff-Raff Palette, using just the top two on the left, Oh, Rocky!!! a soft muted white which I applied all over the top lid, up to the brow followed by Blackberry, a burgundy plum shade which I applied heavily in the crease and lightly under the lower lashes. Now to top this off I went heavy with the cat eye liner, using one of my favourites, Illamasqua's Precision Gel Eyeliner. Finally I topped my eyes off with my new favourite mascara, Benefit's Roller Lash, so far I only have the sample but this has made its way to the top of my birthday wish list.

Finally to the lips, I prepared them by applying Dr Lipp's Original Nipple Balm for Lips very lightly. I then lined my lips with Models Own Colour Lip-Stix in Very Berry before colouring my lips in lightly with the same shade. I then layered my lips in the luscious Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Black Dahlia, this is a matte gloss but with some shine to it.

Now I didn't neglect my nails, I'm currently wearing NARS Chinatown, see below, full review of that to come.

So that's it, a heavy make-up anti-Valentine's, Valentine look on a girl that will be spending the night with her cat watching films!


What are your plans for Valentine's day? Single or celebrating? Make-up heavy or just a little bit?