Prom Tutorial: Adaptable Golden Purple

9:33 PM

Oh, high school prom. If only I could go back and re-live my old prom days! It was a time when your biggest concern was if your hair would be curls down your back or an updo with braids. Honestly, I had a wonderful time at my old high school proms even though I didn't quite have the makeup skills I do now. ;)

I'll have to make it a point to dig up my old prom photos for some good laughs.

Until then, you will just have to endure this tutorial for prom makeup so you high school girls can get your dance on this year.



Products Used:
MAC Studio Sculpt foundation in NC30 (mixed w/ Skin79 hot pink bb cream to lighten it a bit)
MAC Select Cover-up Concealer
MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Inglot palette (AMC Shine 15, Pearl 439, Pearl 434, AMC 63, DS 467)
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara
Forever 21 False Eyelashes
Rock & Republic Contrived Press Blush in Call Me
MAC 3D Glass in Racy

I was actually pleasantly surprised with these Forever 21 lashes. Usually when I see lashes this style they are too long but these are shorter and full, which is perfect for prom. They are a bit too much for everyday makeup but I think they add the right touch of drama for a special occasion.


I specifically wanted to do a look that would be adaptable for whatever colors will match your own dress, so I chose a bright purple as the main color so it would show up better on camera. I also have a golden peachy color on the inner half of the eyelids to brighten up the look.


 I pulled my hair up to simulate how it would look with an updo. I actually like it better this way! It really shows off the eyes without all the distracting hair.


Big smiles!


 Here are some of my personal tried-and-true tips for prom or other special occasions with lots of pictures:

1. Avoid foundation with high spf since this will give you a mask-face in photos.
2. Go for a matte finish on your face instead of satin or pearl so you don't look oily.
3. Use a highlight shade that is matte or nearly matte. This brings more attention to your eyes and not your brow bone.
4. Go for classic cheeks and lips. Heavy lipliner, dark lips, or overly contoured cheeks may haunt you years later. ;D
5. In your purse or clutch, keep it simple. Gloss and blotting sheets are lightweight and make for easy touch-ups.
6. Neutral shadows will always look great with bright dresses, and jewel-tone dresses really pop with a similar accent color in your shadow.
7. For neutral-colored dresses like black, grey, or gold, a neutral eye with bright lips looks really classy.
8. Be safe and have fun! No matter what happens, you will never regret dancing with the girls, laughing, and feeling beautiful on prom night.

I hope this tutorial was helpful! I know I wish I had youtube videos to help me out when I got ready for my prom (which was eons ago because I'm so darn OLD).

Let me know in the comments:
what your best (or worst) high school dance memory was
OR
what color and style your dress is if you are going to prom this year

I hear kids these days don't wear the giant, pouffy, floor-length princess dresses that we wore back when I was in high school. Loooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllyougirlsdon'tknowwhatyou'remissingouton. I am a pretty pretty princess!

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48 comments

  1. zhitingApril 18, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    I love your pink sweater. Where did you get that?

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  2. AthenaApril 18, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    I'm wearing a purple poofy dress (aka i'm going to be a princess). I've always dreamed of wearing a poofy dress. Anyone not wearing a big dress is missing out :)

    love the makeup tutorial, I might just have to use it :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. tsukiApril 18, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Ahhh, prom stuff makes me feel so nostalgic. All the prom dresses I see now in stores are short, and it just boggles my mind! My class def wore long, pouffy dresses... mine was royal blue, and I wore tons of glittery makeup and a terrible updo, hahaha ^_^

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  4. judyscribblerApril 18, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    could you show us some close ups of the actual forever21 lashes that you have on? it's hard to see which style they are but they look gorgeous! :]

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  5. JulieApril 18, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    Definitely pull out those old prom photos! I'm so curious!

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  6. UnknownApril 18, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    LOL Jen @the pretty princess part! Well my senior prom is in less than 2 months, and I will be wearing a gray puffy on the floor dress like a princess :)

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  7. gold N turquoiseApril 18, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    loved the makeup! gorgeous as always.

    my prom dress was the same lavender as your sweater. this makeup would have been the perfect match (eons ago)!

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  8. #iwriteApril 18, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    really like ur style...

    thankz 4 d tutorial..

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  9. UnknownApril 18, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    This is beautiful! I remember my prom, it was...interesting. I too wish I knew then what I now know about makeup. :)

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  10. Mindy♥April 18, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    I enjoyed junior prom way more than senior prom. For senior prom, I went with a guy that I really didn't want to go with. lol. I ended up trying to figure out ways to stay away from him during the dance, but he ended up always finding me. >.< It was like "hide-and-go-seek" style. Anyways, your makeup looks absolutely gorgeous here! If only I knew how to do makeup at my prom years ago....

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  11. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    i never enjoyed my prom! hahaaha both :)

    love your look! so pretty and classy!

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  12. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    Love it! You look gorgeous Jen =)

    Mine senior prom wasn't so bad. I wore a baby blue dress that my sister wore to one of her high school dances LOL. My makeup & hair was horrible though.

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  13. nahomiiix3April 19, 2011 at 2:17 AM

    I loved my big poofy Cinderella dress! :D
    http://tinypic.com/r/2yxj0ab/7
    I wish I had this tutorial to watch BEFORE my prom ):

    ReplyDelete
  14. TanyaMarieApril 19, 2011 at 3:23 AM

    Nice :)

    I had a great prom experience.
    I recently experienced it last February. It was amazing, great memory! Loved it :) hehe

    warbl

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  15. PaulineApril 19, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    I want to see your prom pictures!

    I still have no clue as to whether or not I'm going to prom :/ Even if I am, I'll probably have a hard time finding a pretty dress since the girls at my school created a group on facebook claiming their dresses and saying that they're going to bring grape juice and spill it on anyone wearing the same dress as them, even if it's in a different color. And I don't know how I'll feel about 1000 kids grinding on the dance floor. I like those classy dances more (damn, I've been watching too many kdramas again)

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  16. a girl named SamApril 19, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    Woo, pretty :)
    I graduated last year, but my boyfriend is still in high school (I get a ton of cougar jokes, lol.) So I'm going, My dress is teal pick-up style ball gown with silver/ pearl beading. There's a pic of it here: http://chasingbluefeathers.blogspot.com/2011/03/because-retail-therapy-is-often-best.html#comments

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  17. o0SerenityAngel0oApril 19, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Wow Jen this look is absolutely gorgeous. Wish I wore this to my prom lol

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  18. KatherineApril 19, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    Wow love this tutorial...you look so beautiful! I wish I had this tutorial when it was my prom....so so so long ago!

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  19. PatriciaApril 19, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    I love this tutorial!

    My funny prom moment: My date was trying to be all cool and picked me up in his dad's BMW. When we were almost at the dance, the front of the car blew a gasket and broke down LOL! We had to get it towed after the dance, and his mommy came to pick us up and take us home. At least he tried!

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  20. YukiApril 19, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    I went to prom as a freshman. My corsage flowers fell off and got stomped on =/

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  21. YukaApril 19, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    I LOVE your tutorials!
    Is is the first time I let comment.. I am as you monolid, hope one day get your makeup skilss too! ;)

    from Paraguay!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Cat in CalicoApril 19, 2011 at 4:36 PM

    Wow, I don't know if it's the purple eyeshadow or the lashes or both, but this look really makes your eye color POP! I love this! Cute sweater, too.

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  23. AnonymousApril 19, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    Oh the memories :] I wore a long purple glitter ombre halter style gown that I got last minute lol! My hair & makeup was a Beyonce look inspired from her 'Get Me Bodied' MV. The only thing I regret is my eyebrows T.T

    ReplyDelete
  24. yombombbApril 19, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    loved your tutorial! do you have any tutorials about applying false lashes? and do you recommend applying eyelid tape if you have a monolid and want to wear false lashes?

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  25. ballerinaApril 19, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    This look is great on you, and thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  26. CeeceeApril 19, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    love this look Jenn, it's gorgeous

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  27. AnnaApril 19, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    I wanted a poofy-princess dress, but couldn't afford it. So I went with something simple and slightly flowier? Oh man! My prom was kind of awful. I only went to my Senior prom, and my date and I only stayed for about a half our and then he took me to a move (-____-) I'd do prom night over, and maybe have a nicer date. LOL! Awesome tutorial!! I'd totally wear it out on a date or even to a wedding ^_^

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  28. ManaApril 20, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    This is a gorgeous lavender look! Great tips for prom makeup too!

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  29. LauraApril 20, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    So pretty! Great tips too :)

    bambilovesbeauty.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. kaizokumousyApril 20, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    really clean makeup!^_^ I <3 it!

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  31. KatherineApril 20, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    Super pretty Jen! :D
    my hair and makeup were horrid :( GAH but oh well, what's done is done!
    i always thought i was gonna wear those puffy dress but I suddenly fell in love with the long, flowy dresses~

    haha my friend and I matched and its not even planned! this is what we get from trying to keep each others dress a secret...
    http://i52.tinypic.com/2uza2bd.jpg
    left is me :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. CrystalApril 20, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    I use to wear those long large princess dresses too (back when I was in high schook which was 2 yrs ago), and I really loved it.It was a golden color, which goes really well with yellow undertoned skin. But the worst thing is to get rid of the dress, I didn't want to throw it away because it was relaly expensive, but it takes so much space. Now I have to move it around with me in college, which is such a pain, haha^0^~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linlinhimeMay 16, 2012 at 6:03 PM

      Oh I totally understand what you mean. I went to three proms during high school and can't even fathom throwing away that much money. So I've been hauling these three huge poofy things for 8 years now. I keep thinking I'll donate them, but here they still are. Hanging in my closet. Taking up 80% of the space.

      Delete
  33. TerriApril 20, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Hi dear. I just wanna let you know I awarded you with the Stylish Blogger AWARD! =) Check out the link to the award here: http://maichouterrimoua.blogspot.com/2011/04/stylish-blogger-award.html
    <3 Terri-fic

    ReplyDelete
  34. UnknownApril 20, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    I like your lashes, which type are you using?

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  35. HayleyApril 20, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    For me, purple is a must this year! Hmm, preferably something flattering and elegant? =)

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  36. UnknownApril 21, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    you should post a pic for memory's sake of your PROM

    ReplyDelete
  37. UnknownApril 22, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    I love the Inglot palette. What are the other 5 eye shadow colors in the palette you showed?

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  38. UnknownApril 22, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    Thank you so much for the tutorial! ^^
    Quick question: If I'm wearing a silver dress, should I use silver as my main eyeshadow color or go with neutral bronze colors? Also, any suggestions for hair?
    Thanks again! LOVE your youtube channel!

    ReplyDelete
  39. TasamiamyApril 23, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Hi Jen! I absolutely love your blog! I get so much inspiration from you. I noticed from your video that you had a really cute large white velcrow bow. Where did you get it? I tried to search for it, but only polka dot ones came up.

    ReplyDelete
  40. liiyueh (JanLee)April 23, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    I love purple but it does not love me! Thanks for the tut, we both worked it out!^^
    By the way, I tag you
    http://liiyueh.blogspot.com/2011/04/tag-10-things-i-love.html

    ReplyDelete
  41. guus van vugt (owner)April 26, 2011 at 4:17 AM

    lovely blog, check my blog also http://guusvanvugt.blogspot.com en let me know that you think about it pleas?! x

    ReplyDelete
  42. TorylalalaApril 26, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    I'm wearing a floor-length hot pink dress. Haha, it's very princess-y :] I'm so excited and I'm probably going to use this look, just with less purple.

    You're amazing Jen!!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  43. sonagitokkiApril 27, 2011 at 2:57 AM

    I didn't go to my high school prom.. sometimes I wish I did, but I wanted to go with someone special. I was super insecure in high school (still am, just a bit more self-confident with myself now) and was embarrassed about 'feeling pretty' :(

    ReplyDelete
  44. loisMay 2, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    Can you please come to California to do my prom makeup for me TT____TT? In the meantime, thanks for the video :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. gloriakimMay 15, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    LOL I'm not a fan of princess dresses, so I'm glad times have changed. I'm going to two proms, but I'll be wearing a blue and red one, and I have no clue what I'll be doing for hair and makeup D:

    ReplyDelete
  46. 100% JadeNovember 11, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    As much as I love purple, it makes me look bruised. =(

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hến dimMay 2, 2012 at 9:18 PM

    It's so easy but its effectiveness is PERFECT!

    고마워요 언니 :">

    ReplyDelete

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