Are you a voluptuous vixen or a radiant romantic? We provide you with two makeup options to try out for the month of love.

Voluptuous Vixen

If you’re keen to try an edgier look, this one is for you.

Face

Use a medium to high coverage foundation to even out skin tone. Ensure that you take care of any dark rings under your eyes and other imperfections. I can suggest Benefit Erase Paste – no concealing job is too big for this product. Keep the skin matte for this look.

Keep blusher to a minimum. Use a pinkish tone not too far from your natural skin tone. Smashbox O-glow is a gel formula that creates a blush which adapts to your skin tone — great if you’re not sure what suits you.

Eyes

This is where you can really vamp up your look. Eye shadow options would either be an on-trend metallic shade like copper or silver or otherwise opt for charcoal and grey tones.

I absolutely love the freedom system from Inglot – you can pick and choose different products to make up your own palette. Some neutral staples combined with one or two season trends will go a long way.

Eyeliner is definitely the key product in this step – use a dark liquid liner for a solid upper lash line, and flick it slightly in the outer corners. I love Maybelline Master Precise liner in black, but a dark navy or plum line also looks great.

Keep the lower lashes free from liner to attract attention to the upper lashes, which you should cover in layers of black mascara, and even some false lashes if you’re up for it. Again Maybelline is a favourite here – either the Colossal Volum’ or Colossal Cat Eyes mascara would do the trick. Eyelure has a great selection of false lash strips.

Lips

Go big or go home – either do a nude lip liner with a high shine gloss, or go for an intense shade of red (but keep it matte). Maybelline 24 hour superstay in Rouge Passion is my absolute favourite – no amount of snogging, eating or champagne sipping will get rid of this stuff.

Hair

Stay with the structured look, and wear hair dead straight, or do a side parting with a low bun.

Radiant Romantic

This soft, romantic look is easy to pull off and currently very trendy

Face

Stick to a light to medium coverage mineral foundation, or a tinted moisturiser. If you only have a full coverage foundation, mix it with some moisturiser for a more natural look. Elizabeth Arden Tinted Mineral Moisturiser is a winner, and so is their Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm foundation.

Use a highlighter/bronzer combo like Physician’s Formula Shimmer strips on the cheek bones, brow bones, collar bones and cleavage – but do restrain yourself otherwise you’ll end up looking like a foil covered robot.

Eyes

Play around with some pastel shades – lilacs, golds and beiges work well. Round this off with an eye pencil – any colour can work, but browns and plums are especially flattering. Michelle Ori (available at Dischem) offers a massive variety of eye liners – you’ll be sure to find a few gems.

Smudge the eyeliner, and if you know your way around your eyeballs, line the lower lashes (not inner rims) as well. A light dusting of gold eye shadow under your lower lashes (and extending to the corners of your eyes) creates a dreamy fantasy look. Finish off with lashing of mascara.

Lips

A nude or light coral lip with a hint of gloss, and you’re good to go.

Hair

Stick with the romantic look, and wear hair in natural looking waves. My favourite trick for achieving this is to tie hair in a high bun when it’s about 70% dry (very convenient while you’re doing makeup), and then to let it down when it’s completely dry. You can also try a loose, messy bun or a plait.

Visit Chantelle's blog Not another poppie for more on beauty.