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Prom Makeup For Every Dress Color and Style

by Dana Oliver (Subscribe to Dana Oliver's posts)
Posted May 21st 2010 at 6:30PM  
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Prom is almost here, and you put the final touches on your dress, and prom hair, the next detail to tackle is your prom makeup.

Your cosmetic choices should be inspired by your dress cut and color, so we took a cue from the stars and sought the knowledge of celebrity makeup artists Mally Roncal of Mally Beauty and Molly Stern of CoverGirl for prom queen worthy makeup that look best with a range of dress styles. From nude to black, rhinestones to cutouts, and splash prints to pinks and purples, we've got the perfect beauty looks for every prom dress.

Read on for the hottest prom makeup and tips straight from the pros on how to recreate the looks.

Prom Makeup for Nude Dresses

Nude and flesh-toned dresses look best when worn with a smoky eye and nude lip or neutral eye and bold red pout. Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images (2) | John Shearer/Getty Images

NUDE/FLESH-TONED DRESS
At this year's Golden Globes, Drew Barrymore hit the red carpet in a stunning Atelier Versace one-shoulder champagne silk chiffon gown with equally breathtaking hair and makeup. The actress's simple updo, soft face, and pink pout added the finishing touches to her flesh-toned look.

If you're going nude (neutral, that is) for prom, Roncal and Stern suggest two ways to get glam with this on-trend dress shade: smoky eye and nude lip or a neutral eye and red lip - a la Miley Cyrus and the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2010 model above.

To recreate Cyrus' smoldering eye makeup and sheer lipstick (pictured above, center), start with a clear and even complexion. Shape and define brows using Mally Beauty Brow Beauty Eyebrow Kit. Apply individual lashes for a fluttering, eye-opening effect. Layer on Mally Beauty Waterproof Volumizing Mascara. And finish by smoothing on Mally Beauty Evercolor Lipcolor in Summer Nude and topping with Crystal Clear Gloss.

If you're in search of an old Hollywood look, Stern suggests creating a red or berry lip. "I love CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Wild Berry Wink," she says, "because it's sheer so you won't be too overbearing in color, and it will last all night!" Insider trick: use a nude liner that matches your lip tone and then fill in with a red shade to create a softer effect.

Prom Makeup for Black Dresses

Round out your black chic prom dress with either lush lashes and statement-making lips or a fresh face and soft, pink pucker. Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images | Kevin Winter/Getty Images | Jason Merritt/Getty Images

BLACK DRESS
"Twilight" star Kristen Stewart stole the spotlight at the 2010 Oscars in this midnight Monique Lhuillier gown that she paired with neatly pinned up strands, a fresh face, and smoky eyes - a makeup look that stood out without competing with the intricate designed dress.

Black is a popular dress color for prom. And according to Stern, it gives you the freedom to experiment with your beauty look or you can choose to keep it subtle. She recommends pairing the classic dress style with a gold eye and ultra-long lashes for high-impact similar to January Jones (pictured above, center). For lit lids, apply a layer of CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast in Bronze fire and follow with a few coats of CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara. You can even kick it up a few notches by wearing a bright red lip.

If you're feeling Penelope Cruz's soft and glowing look, Roncal says to go for a natural face. "I would stay with a neutral eye, defining it with lots of mascara, lashes, and black liner to tie it all in," she said. "A soft cheek and lip with a pink or mauve shade softens up the smoky eye." For a flawless glow, lightly dab on cheek color from Mally Beauty's 24/7 Professional Blush System and finish it off Mally Beauty's Life, Love, and a Really Great Lipgloss in Pearly Girl.

Bronze, metallic lids and glossy pink lips complement vibrant watercolor or splash print dresses. Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images | Randy Brooke/WireImage.com

WATERCOLOR/SPLASH PRINT DRESS
You may be inspired to hit the prom dance floor in a watercolor gown similar to the strapless Dries Van Noten draped evening dress Maggie Gyllenhaal to this year's Academy Awards. And we say go for it -- especially if you're still tanned from spring break vacation.

To complement this fun and vibrant dress style, Stern advises pairing it with a bright, glossy lip like Gyllenhaal's. "Fuschia lips are gorgeous and totally wearable for spring," Recreate this popping pout by applying NARS Lip Color in Funny Face with a CoverGirl ShineBlast Lip Gloss on top to add a hint of shimmer.

But if you're afraid of looking too cotton candy, Roncal recommends defining the eyes with bronze and metallic tones and wearing with a sheer lip as seen on the models at Donna Karan's Spring 2010 runway show (pictured above, right). Make your peepers stand out with Mally Beauty's Evercolor Shadow Sticks in Bronze or Gunmetal.

Soft, pretty makeup work best with risqué prom dresses. Photos: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images | Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

CUTOUT DRESS
If you're bold enough to pull off a risqué prom dress similar to the backless long-sleeve Emilio Pucci gown Kate Hudson slipped into for the 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Stern and Roncal both suggest wearing this daring dress style with "less is more" makeup.

The barely-there beauty spotted on the Spring 2010 Milly runway (pictured above, right) is the perfect look to pair with a cutout dress. A great secret to making that prom picture special, according to Roncal, is luminizer. "It's important to make your skin glow on the cheekbones and tip of the nose." With just a few strokes of Mally Beauty's Finish Line Eye Brightening Face Luminizer, you're shining. Top cheeks and lips with Evercolor Lipcolor in Perfect Rose to finish.

Play up your cheeks and lips with warm peachy hues when rocking a pink, orange or red prom dress. Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for IMG

PINK/ORANGE/RED DRESS
When Emily Blunt hit the 2010 Golden Globes red carpet in this dusty rose strapless Dolce & Gabbana dress with gathered fabric, there was no doubt in our minds that teenage girls across America would flock to stores and seamstresses in search of this dress for prom.

If you're thinking of dancing the night away in a pink, orange or red prom dress, Stern and Roncal suggests taking a fresh approach when it comes to your makeup. To recreate the naturally beautiful look worn by the Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2010 model (pictured above, right), try NARS Sheer Lip Color Barbarella and brightening cheeks with a sheer layer of CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach.

Incorporate just enough color into your makeup to accentuate a purple, blue or green prom dress. Photos: Matt Sayles/AP | AFP/Getty Images

PURPLE/BLUE/GREEN DRESS
Sandra Bullock hit all the right marks at the 2010 Golden Globes when she sauntered down the red carpet in this strapless purple Bottega Veneta gown with a wavy asymmetrical bob and gorgeous makeup.

One question that always comes up when its time to get glam for prom is: should your makeup match your gown. And Roncal's answer is to do just a pop of color as your liner while keeping the rest of the face nude similar to the look seen on models at Michael Kors' Spring 2010 fashion show (pictured above, right). "A neat trick that I've been doing lately is a neutral shade on lid and lining the bottom with blue, purple or green," she says. "That's a nice modern way of doing it."

Try Mally Beauty's Evercolor Shadow Sticks for bullet-proof eye color that can withstand tears, sweat, and more on prom night.

Take a cue from your beaded or rhinestone embellished prom dress and wear a little sparkle on your eyes. Photos: Getty Images | Paul Morigi/WireImage

BEADED/RHINESTONE EMBELLISHED DRESS
Leave it up to Nicole Richie to make hippie haute! The pint-sized star sparkled on the 2010 Oscars red carpet in a retro Reem Acra embellished gown that she paired with a chic bun and smoky eye makeup. Stern and Roncal are advocates for translating rhinestones and embellishments into your prom makeup.

"I love a little bling!" says Roncal. "Always keep it on the lash line and the lid. Never go to the brown bone -- to keep a little subtly when you blink. Anywhere other than that, is a no-go."

To recreate the pretty futuristic lids spotted at Preen's Spring 2010 runway show, line your eyes with Mally Beauty's Evercolor Shadow Sticks in Bronze, Gunmetal, Saddle Shimmer, or Champagne.

For 10 simple tips to buying the perfect prom dress, click here!
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Filed under: Beauty, Makeup, Beauty How To
Tags: blush, bronze eyeshadow, color eyeliner, expert beauty tips, mascara, pink lip gloss, prom, prom makeup, red lipstick, smoky eyes
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