Prom season is here, and that means there are a lot of decisions to be made: the color of your dress, if you’re going to take a date, and, of course, your makeup look for the big night. While you could go all out with neon eyeliner or glitter lips, you can also let your gorgeous dress and statement accessories do all the talking and leave your makeup on the natural side.
And if you’re thinking that something basic will be too boring — prom isn’t just any other day, after all — it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to make a natural makeup look really stand out, whether you’re accentuating your lashes or building up the glow on your cheeks. We’ve rounded up some classic looks, along with the products you need to achieve them. Find everything you need for simple-yet-stunning makeup on prom night, ahead.
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Natural doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with shimmer eyeshadows. It’s about finding a sheer tone that can be built up to the shine level you’re comfortable with.
Leave the eyeshadow brushes behind and color your eyelids with this creamy shadow stick that comes in variety of shades and finishes, including shimmer, matte, and metallic.
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow, $29, available at Sephora
If contour is your jam, go for a bronzy look that emphasizes your cheekbones. The look will be worthy of a close-up when it comes time to hit the prom photo booth.
Rihanna’s new bronzer range comes in eight shades. And better yet, it’s long-wear and transfer-resistant so you can slow dance the night away without your cheek color rubbing off on your date’s shoulder.
Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer, $30, available at Sephora
You can keep the glamour alive in any simplistic look with va-va-voom lashes. But keeping it on the natural side means putting down the falsies and layering on a volumizing mascara instead.
That’s where this mascara comes in. This formula targets every individual lash to pack on HD volume. It’s like an instant lash lift, minus the salon visit.
Dior Diorshow Pump ‘N’ Volume HD Mascara, $29.5, available at Sephora
Another trick for upgrading a natural makeup look is going for a monochromatic theme. It looks simple but still adds an element of warmth.
This all-over color stick can do it all — eyes, cheeks, and lips — plus it has a brush on the other end. The best part is that you can plop this compact stick into your clutch to touch up your makeup easily throughout the night.
NudeStix Nudies Matte Blush & Bronze, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
If you can’t live without eyeliner, let that be the star of your simple makeup look. It’s all about the tool and keeping a thin line close to the lashline. You could even flick out lightly at the outer corner for a delicate cat-eye.
If you want a more natural look (or just suck at eyeliner), a pencil formula works best. It makes for a diffused look rather than a bold pigment, and this waterproof formula will last until the prom after-party.
Glossier Play Colorslide, $15, available at Glossier
Sometimes a lit-from-within glow can make all the difference. In addition to using a moisturizing face mask before makeup application, dab on a liquid highlighter that gives you a natural radiance, not a chalky streak.
NARS converted its cult-favorite Orgasm blush into a weightless liquid highlighter that gives a subtle, dewy glow. You’ll be gleaming through every moment of your epic prom night.
NARS Orgasm Liquid Highlighter, $30, available at Sephora
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Source: Refinery29 – Thatiana Diaz