As prom season is approaching, I am reminded of all of the amazing memories from my own prom, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share the makeup look I wore this special occasion last year! Whether your prom is in the past or the future, this rose gold look is beautiful for all formal evening events and I really hope you love it as much as I do.

~EYES~

As you can see in the photos, my eye makeup for prom was a dramatic yet neutral rose gold look and I am very happy with how it turned out. Whenever I do a look like this, I always do my eyes before my face to prevent fall-out. To be honest, when I originally created this look on the day of prom, I used what felt like every single eyeshadow in my entire collection and although that is completely ridiculous for today’s post, I do recommend using as many similar shades as you can because gradually building up pigment and consistently blending each layer really contributes to that multi-dimensional professional-looking smokey eye. After applying my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, I used my most favorite eyeshadows, all of which are highly pigmented, blendable, and long-lasting. First, I blended ‘Birkin’, a matte warm beige, by Anastasia Beverly Hills into and above the crease and outer corner as my transition shade. I continued to layer this shadow until I created a soft and subtle cut crease, which enhanced my eyes in photos. I patted, ‘Glisten’, a metallic rosy champagne, all over my lid, followed by ‘Rosé’, a metallic rosy-brown, on the outer half.  On the outer v, I blended ‘Truffle’, a deep brown with slightly shimmery plum undertones. For the final touches, I applied my favorite L’Oreal Infallible 24 HR Eyeshadow in ‘Amber Rush’, a true metallic rose gold, on the very center of my lid with a damp flat brush. As usual, I used the ABH Brow Powder Duo in ‘Dark Brown’, the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner in ‘Blackest Black’ for my cat eye and the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara for a false lash effect. In case you haven’t noticed, eyeliner can be very challenging to apply, so if you are still in the process of mastering your wing or are afraid to ruin your beautiful eyeshadow, then I suggest doing your liner before your shadow and then retracing it after.

This gorgeous photo from a very talented makeup artist on Instagram is very similar to the look I created for prom.

~FACE~

One thing I have learned is that my makeup looks its best only when my skin is feeling its best; even if I am breaking out, I always make sure my face is clean, exfoliated, and extremely hydrated before applying a full face of product. Click here to see my skin-pampering essentials! To begin my base makeup, I used a sample of the luxurious Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, which reduces redness, minimizes pores, and extends the makeup’s wear time. Although I do not think primer is necessary on an everyday basis, it does make a difference, so I recommend finding one that works for your skin type for special occasions like prom. To give me entire face a ‘lit-from-within’ rosy glow, I applied  the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter in ‘Rose Gold’ because it has a lovely sheen without any visible sparkles. For foundation, I set aside my typical dewy and lightweight products and instead used the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, which can be built up to a solid full coverage while still maintaining a natural skin-like finish. Even with the SPF, this looked flawless all night in person and in flash photography, so I was really happy with my choice. Next, I used the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser to conceal my dark circles and blemishes since it offers very concentrated pigment with a matte finish. If you are using a beauty sponge like I always do, one tip is to make sure it isn’t too damp because I have found that when I apply several layers of face makeup, the moisture can actually take my makeup off. Then, I used my beloved Maybelline Fit Me Concealer to highlight under my eyes in an upside down triangle shape, the center of my forehead, my chin, the bridge of my nose, my cupid’s bow, directly under the outer edge of my eyeshadow and winged liner, and just below my cheekbones. Using a sheer concealer a couple shades lighter than my foundation on the high points and in the center of my face was a very important step in my routine because it adds so much dimension to the overall look and prevents the makeup from looking too flat. Finally, I dusted under my eyes and my t-zone with a light layer of translucent pressed setting powder.

~CHEEKS~

To give my face more structure, I blended my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer, which is the ideal shade to simultaneously bronze and contour, upwards along my cheekbones, jaw line, and temples with gentle circular motions. Instead of using a generic opaque, matte blush, I opted for a subtle wash of rose gold with a very light layer of the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in ‘Rose Gold’ to complement the hues on my eyes. I highlighted my cheekbones, nose, cupid’s bow, brow bone, and inner corner with the same highlighter but in the shade ‘Champagne  Pop’. I also applied this to my collar boned and shoulder to accentuate the elegant features of my prom dress. To ensure that all of my makeup stays on the entire evening, I spritzed my face with the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray.

~LIPS~

For events that are as important as prom, I prefer to stick with what I know and love, so surprise, surprise! I used my signature lip duo: the Wet N Wild ‘Bare it All’ MegaLast Lip Color topped with the NARS ‘Supervixen’ Lip Gloss. This is a stunning mauvey-nude combination that is both comfortable and long-wearing!

I had such a fun time at prom last year and I hope this post gave you some inspiration and helpful tips for your own glamorous evening makeup. For special occasions when you want to look and feel your best, I always recommend practicing your makeup (and hair) the day before to make sure everything is how you want it. What makeup tips do you have for prom?

XOXO,
Makena

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