You remember that post I uploaded last year? While some of those tips I still believe in (like my guide to getting your makeup done), after attending many formal events last year, I now can give you my best tips so you can look your best on one of your special days :)

Remember, this is JUST a collection of tips. There are no rules to makeup, so you can choose to follow all of them, or pick and choose. :) Makeup should be fun and worn according to your style! :D

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Overall Look

1. Match the Style of Your Dress to Your Makeup
   
   • If you have a dress that’s very cute with a heart-shaped neckline and the bottom is very Cinderella style, don’t go with a black smoky eye.
   • Instead, go ahead and do a light look, or a neutral smoky eye. 
   • Here is a picture of me for my prom (my boyfriend’s mom used flash if you were wondering). Sorry the quality’s low, I didn’t get it directly sent to me by, I had to screenshot it.
     

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   • Notice how I kept the makeup light (though I wish I had gone lighter with my brows) since the colors of my dress were light and the overall style was very “princess” like. I also followed the next two tips…
2. It’s Ok to Look Like Yourself
   
   • If you never wore makeup before, it’s ok to look very natural.
     
     • A bit of concealer where you need it, powder foundation/bronzer (so you won’t look washed out), blush, filled in eyebrows (if needed), soft eyeliner and or some mascara, and a lip color is all you need to look made up. :)
   • Don’t believe me?
   • Here’s me (again), but with a light application of makeup.

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     • While I don’t have a fancy dress on, I definitely would go to prom looking like this (except, I would wear some powder foundation to even out my complexion a bit more)
   • Look at Fergie. She is absolutely stunning (it may not seem that way because of the flash and dark lighting) with a minimum amount of makeup.

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   • My best example: Jessica Biel . Who can’t say she looks glamorous, even without a lot of makeup?
     

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3. Go a bit heavier with the makeup cameras tend to wash people out.
   
   • Now, I don’t mean “cake on more makeup” because extra layers of makeup do no look flattering on the skin, on camera or in person.
   • I mean, it’s ok to leave some things more pigmented (like, if you always blend where you applied your bronzer (and it’s not too dark on you), try just blending the edges and lightly over where you placed it)
4. If You do Match Your Makeup to Your Outfit…
   
   • Don’t be over matchy like Paris Hilton is in this picture
     

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   • DO Take Color(s) From Your Outfit Like Jennifer Hudson (matching the lip to her skirt),
     

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       and Carla Gugino (who took one color from the flower on her lips and the overall dress on her lids)

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Eye Makeup

1. False lashes will always give a flirtier/bolder lash look than mascara (plus you don’t have to worry about flakes or smudges)
   
2. When matching your eyeshadow to your dress, DO sure it’s lighter/softer/is more neutral.
   

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     Eliza Dushku looks amazing because while it’s pretty much the same color, it’s so neutral (that it hits grey), making it much more wearable.

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     Jessica Biel also pulls off the matching look because she keeps the color softer and lighter. Also, the color is concentrated no higher than the crease
3. Smudging color along your lashline will make most colors wearable (especially when it’s a darker color)
   
   • If you look at my previous picture of Jessica Biel, she keeps the color concentrated on the lids and not higher than her crease.
   • Of course, this tip will vary depending on the type of eyelid you have
4. Blending the crease area with a matte neutral color will diffuse your lid color and make your colored look wearable.
   
   • Here (at my attempt in an Arabic inspired liner look), I have warm brown in the crease, so it makes the cool color on my lids wearable for my yellow undertones. Also, it makes it more defined.(without it screaming “look at the blue-green on my lids).

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   • I also blended the edges of the brown with a color that is my skin color, making the look nearly flawless.
5. Matte eyeshadow will always photograph better than shimmer
   
   • To maintain that bright eyed look, use a light color all over the lids.
6. Use an eyeliner you’re comfortable with, that will last all night.
7. Smudging eyeliner into the lashline will give the illusion of more lashes.
   

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Face Makeup

1. Using a pearly highlight on the tops of the cheeks will give your face a glow without looking greasy.
   
   • If you don’t have oily skin, feel free to apply it on the bridge of your nose and center of the forehead.
   • Naomi Watson is a beautiful example of a dewy, but not oily complexion
     

     

2. Highlighting is always better than contouring
   
   • You get that highlighted effect and instant contoured effect.
3. Use a matte bronzer where you feel you are lighter
   
   • For instance, my face, neck and chest is usually paler than my arms, so when they are exposed, I’ll apply some there to give the illusion of a even color overall.
4. It’s ok to go a few shades darker with the eyebrows than usual
   
   • In photography, the eyebrows tend to be washed out, especially with flash.
5. Undereye concealers must also give a brightening effect to effectively cover dark circles
   
   • My mistake of not having a concealer to do it made me look tired the entire time I was at prom.
6. Set your makeup with a powder foundation, not translucent.
   
   • Translucent in flash photography tends to give off a white cast.
   • People of deeper skin tones, this will make you look ashy
7. Prime the face well and set your overall makeup with a setting spray to ensure your makeup will last all night
   
   • Setting spray also removes that powdery look from over powdering your face

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Lips

1. Exfoliate your lips
   
   • I find that when I apply lip balm first, wait a few moments, and then exfoliate my lips (with either a sugar scrub, tooth brush, or towel), it tends to be more effective.
2. Moisturize your lips with a lip balm to prime your lips for lip products
   
   • Remember, a waxier lip balm will make your lip product to be less likely to slip around, as compared to a greasier one.
3. Use a balm or a gloss after applying your lipstain/lipstick (unless it adds a shine already)
   
   • First of all, flakey lips are never attractive.
   • Also, you can photoshop anything, but you can’t add a glossy shine to your lips.
   • Picture was from a Maybelline ad

     

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Finally, I like to add that it’s ok to experiment with your makeup before hand. (I was messing around with different looks a month before my prom before I finally decided on which looked the best) Take many pictures in different lighting (sunlight, bright light, dim lights, and etc) with or without flash. Then, adjust your makeup to how you see fit.
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I hope this was helpful and I hope it helped you have an idea of what to do for your special events.

Take LOTS of pictures and have fun at prom or special occasion. <3 Have fun, be safe, and take care! :)