Hey guys!
I thought making this post would be pretty helpful for those who are doing their own makeup for prom this year. My prom was two years ago, and I definitely have some things I'd change about my makeup for that night! So through my experience I have some really good tips to share with you guys.
Do a test run! Figure out what look you're going for, and practice it to make sure it will come out the way you want it to, and if you're new to falsies practice will make perfect! Not only that, you'll get faster at it, and if anything happens the day of and you're short for time, you'll know exactly what you're doing. Also, look at your makeup in different lighting situations to make sure it's as flattering as possible.
Choose your base makeup and skin prep carefully. Stay away from moisturizers with SPF, because even that can come through your makeup and cause a flash-back. Any base products with an SPF over 10-15 are a risk, so when giving your makeup a test-run, make sure you try out a photo with flash. If you can't afford a new foundation for the big day- head to your local Sephora or Shoppers Drug Mart and get a sample. MUFE HD and Smashbox Studio Skin both photograph beautifully, and the new line of MUFE Primers has something for every need!
Layer! If you can cream contour, go for it. Set it with coordinating powders for a super long lasting look. I also find that applying my powder with a sponge like the Beauty Blender and pressing it into the skin makes a huge difference in preventing my concealer from creasing, and my makeup is set a million times better. Doing this in the T-Zone will also help prevent oil breakthrough, and using a damp sponge also boosts the coverage of your powder a bit. Also feel free to "cook" your highlighted areas to really let the makeup set into your skin and last well, and you can also use this trick to clean up your contour if you have trouble getting it even. Just make sure the powder you choose is photography friendly, again, this comes back to checking on your trial run!
Be careful with shimmer! I know we all love to have that glow, but be mindful that any photos taken with flash, especially in a dimmer lighting, can really amp up how glowy you actually look and make you look oily versus dewy. My advice would be to stick with a more matte or satin foundation, and use a shimmery highlight only where needed. Also be wary of anything too bright on the inner corners of the eyes.
Set well! A setting spray will be your best friend, and will help all those layers settle better into your skin. Plus, most setting sprays to improve the longevity of your makeup, like Urban Decay's All Nighter. Another product I recommend is a lip sealer, which is a clear topcoat you apply over your lipstick- however it doesn't work with lipgloss. I have one from Anna Sui which works very well, and a more affordable option is available online from Lip Chic. Plus, lip sealers also help prevent transferring if you have a date!
Lastly, keep the essentials in your purse. Keep your lip colour with you- as any extremely oily foods do risk breaking down the sealer. Feel free to bring the lip sealer as well. Definitely bring lash glue- Duo has a brush on one thats very easy to keep in your purse (I do NOT recommend the brush on adhesive from Ardell- it doesn't stick to ANYTHING and burns like crazy- totally ruined my New Years!). Also bring a pressed powder if you know you have very oily skin or will be dancing/ sweating a lot.
Of course have fun! If you focus on your prep you shouldn't have anything to worry about through the night. Oh, and bring a pair of flats, last thing you want to do is be running around barefoot when your heels become too hard to dance in!
