Make-Up Tips for Formals

The weeks before a big homecoming dance or prom can be really stressful if you’re not used to dressing up. First, there’s the formal dress and heels that you probably feel a bit out of sorts in—even if you selected a gown from one of the lovely Henri'shomecoming dresses. Then there’s the make-up. If you don’t typically wear a lot, you can still look elegant and feel comfortable with my following four prom and homecoming make-up tips.

1. Accentuate your eyes or your lips—not both

The surest way to end up looking like a clown instead of a gorgeous prom date is to overdo the makeup on your eyes and your lips. But however do you pick? Really it comes down to which you tend to get more compliments on. Do you have big beautiful eyes like Mila Kunis? Well then this is your opportunity to use a bold eye shadow, fake eye lashes, or a sultry smoky eye and use a light gloss on your lips. If you have perfect pouty lips like Meagan Fox, keep your eye make-up subtle and go for glamour with an old Hollywood candy red or deep burgundy lip.

2. Be yourself

The most important make-up tip really is to just be you. Sure, you’re dressing up and wearing make-up, but like your wedding day, you want your date to recognize the girl he asked to the dance in the first place. He obviously likes that girl! Plus, you’ll be most comfortable in your own skin if you think you look like yourself—only better with subtle make-up. So ditch the bright red lipstick if it’s not you. Focus on being you and just having fun, which is really the point of the evening!

3. Play up your finest features

Aside from the lips and eyes, what are your best features—your flawless skin, your adorable button nose, or maybe your super high cheekbones? Well make-up can accentuate your best features even further by creating shadows to draw attention to these areas and draw away from others—a sharp chin or a larger nose.

4. Tag along tips

Because you'll be dancing, sweating, drinking and eating, you’ll probably need to bring along a few make-up must-haves in your purse or clutch for touch ups throughout the evening. I typically bring the following make-up necessities with me to formal events:

• My lipstick or gloss
• A few blotting papers for after dancing and before photos
• Finishing powder
• A cover-up or concealing stick
• A carry on bottle of hairspray to r-firm my up-do/perfect curls

About The Author

Evelyn Luo is a writer that has turned her love of shopping into a freelance career as a contributing writer for Style Cynics, a fashion and celebrity gossip site that features the latest star buzz and the hippest and hottest styles.