10 Prom Makeup Looks to Bookmark for Your Big Night

From the dress and shoes to the makeup and hair, prom is known as one of the most memorable nights for high school juniors and seniors. After you’ve found the right dress, the work doesn’t end there because your prom makeup look is just as important. Prom is a night to remember, especially with all the pictures you're bound to take and you want your makeup to shine in a good way, not an I-need-to-powder-my-face way.  

Taking a cue from some of this season’s hottest beauty trends, including rhinestone embellished lids, velvety lips and dewy, luminous skin, we believe that prom makeup comes in all styles. To help you decide just how glam you want to go, here are 10 gorgeous prom makeup ideas, plus the best products to help you achieve them. 

10 Prom Makeup Looks to Recreate This Year

Prom is definitely the time to go bold with your makeup, so, here are 10 glam looks that we recommend recreating for the occasion.

1. Pink Lipstick and Bronzy Lids

A vivid shade of pink lipstick goes beautifully with bronzy shadows. Start off with your eyes, using a matte brown eyeshadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Matte It Up in the crease. Then, swirl your finger into the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Bronzed Taupe and gently swipe it across your lid. Finish the eyes with a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara to define your lashes. 

Choose a vibrant shade of pink lipstick to add a pop of color to your makeup look. We suggest the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Carmin Rouge or the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Miss Magenta. Don’t forget to line your lips first, we recommend grabbing the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner or the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lip Liner in a shade that’s similar to your lipstick. 

2. Glitter Lips and Winged Eyeliner

If you’re not one to shy away from glitz, try trendy glitter lips, which are a festive way to add an eye-catching sparkle to your prom makeup look. Apply a lip gloss, like the L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss Pomegranate Extract, then, use a makeup brush to tap a small amount of loose glitter (one that’s safe for your face, of course!) onto your lips Gently press on the glitter until you’ve achieved an even shimmery finish.

For the winged eyeliner, use a liquid eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner. It has a precision felt tip for creating sharp wings and a waterproof formula that’s perfect for crafting a long-lasting eye look.

3. Shimmery Eyes and Glossy Lips

If a glittery pout isn’t your forte, perhaps shimmery lids are. To achieve this look, we highly recommend the L'Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup. Not only does it have a high-shine, glittery finish, but the liquid formula helps to eliminate pesky eyeshadow fallout. After applying the glitter to your lids with the doe-foot applicator, finish your eye makeup look with a flick of the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner and a swipe of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara through your top lashes.

On the lips, use a hydrating, high-shine gloss, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Gloss Plump. Since you’ll want to keep your sparkly lids the focus of your makeup look, we recommend opting for a subtle shade, like Flush or Lucid Glow.

4. Colorful Lids and Matte Skin

Add some vibrancy and color to your eyes with the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Avant Garde Azure. It has everything you need, including four shades and finishes in bright blue tones, to really make your eyes stand out. Start with blending one of the matte shades all over your lids, then use a finger to gently swipe on one of the shimmery shades for some brightness and sparkle. 

Since you’re likely going to be in front of the camera all night, you’re going to need to tie your look together with a photo-friendly, matte foundation, such as the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder. This powder formula provides a filter-like finish and feels super lightweight on the skin while concealing all signs of blemishes. The bonus: It won't transfer or fade from sweat as you dance the night away.

5. Ombré Eyeshadow and White Eyeliner 

White eyeliner is one of the trendiest eye makeup looks at the moment, so why not incorporate it into your prom makeup look? With ombré shadow, the bright white liner creates a bold pop and a totally unique eye look. To create the gradient color on your lids, reach for an eyeshadow palette, like the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Enchanted Scented Eyeshadow Palette. Start with the lightest shade in the inner corner and apply the darkest shade to the outer corner. Take a clean blending brush and blend the two shades together on the lid to create a seamless ombré effect. 

Next, draw a wing with the stencil that comes with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner. Then, take your favorite white eyeliner and trace the top of the wing to create a two-tone, double-wing moment. Finish the look with your favorite mascara or false lashes and your makeup is complete.

6. Glowy Skin and Orange Lips

Glowy skin is all about skin care, so in the weeks leading up to prom, make sure you’re applying a hyaluronic acid serum, like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum to your skin daily to lock moisture in. On your big night, start by priming your face with the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. Applying this luminous primer before foundation will give your skin a fresh, lit-from-within look. Opt for a foundation with a skin-like finish, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation and use a damp makeup sponge to apply it so the finish is extra light and dewy.

Once your foundation is applied, feel free to amplify the glow by dotting a little bit of the Lumi Glotion onto your cheekbones. Finally, choose a bright orange lippie, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Volcanic to complement your complexion and top off the look. 

7. Embellished Eyes

Rhinestones and pearl embellishments are still among the biggest makeup trends of the year and adding sparkly embellishments to your makeup is a way to make your look more glamorous. You can keep things subtle with a few rhinestones in the outer corner or you can go with an over-the-top style and create a rhinestone gradient all over your lids. Match the color of the rhinestones to your dress to keep the look cohesive. 

8. Smoky Eye and Long Lashes 

A smoky eye is about as timeless and dramatic as your makeup look can get, which is why it’s perfect for prom. If you’re new to smoky eye makeup, make sure to take your eye shape into account, as doing that help you get the most flattering result. swirl your brush into one of the light brown shades of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Boudoir Charm and blend it all over the lid. Then, dip into the darkest shade and use it to smoke out the outer corner and lower lashes. 

Prime and condition your top and bottom lashes with the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Primer/Base, then layer on a couple coats of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara for volume and definition. 

9. Red Lips and Brown Winged Eyeliner

Ask any makeup artist, red lips is one of the most classic and chic looks you can go for. After all, the look is universally flattering, it works for every skin tone and it never looks dated. For prom, try the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Reds Of Worth Satin Lipstick — this lipstick collection comes in six different crimson shades that look flawless on all skin tones. Plus, the formula is moisturizing and budge-proof so you don’t have to spend the night worrying about your lipstick feeling dry or rubbing off on everything.

Winged eyeliner makes a gorgeous pairing with your red lipstick because it’s just as timeless and universally flattering. Instead of black, make the look softer by using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner in Brown to create a cat eye. 

10. Bronzed Skin and Colorful Eyeliner

If you want to look extra tan before prom, mix the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops, Fragrance-Free with your moisturizer a few nights before the big day to get some sun-kissed-looking color. On the day of prom, don’t forget to bronze and sculpt your features with a bronzing powder, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer.

Once your complexion looks like you just got back from a tropical vacation, next you can complete your eye makeup. Colorful eyeliner can go one of many different ways — we suggest a graphic eyeliner look or a pop of color on the waterline. Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Emerald Green or Blue Jersey and create your look of choice. 

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Photo Credit: IG/@via_venice_beauty, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier