10+ Prom 2025 Makeup Looks for Your Perfect Dress

By Anne Lenielyn UntalanMay 2, 20250 comments

Classic & Timeless Approaches

Soft Glam Makeup

If there's one makeup look that never disappoints for prom, it's soft glam. It's been many girls' go-to recommendation for years because it photographs beautifully and suits practically everyone.

Soft glam works especially well with:

Pastel-colored dresses
Champagne and rose gold gowns
Classic black dresses when you want to look elegant but not severe

Natural Makeup

I've noticed a huge shift toward natural makeup for prom in the last couple of years. Gone are the days when prom meant piling on as much makeup as possible!

For truly natural-looking makeup:

Spot-conceal instead of using heavy foundation all over
Try cream blush instead of powder (tap it on with fingers for the most skin-like finish)
Define your brows but don't draw them on completely
Curl your lashes before applying mascara—sometimes you don't even need shadow!

Pro tip: If your skin's been acting up before prom (stress breakouts are real!), focus on skincare the week before rather than planning to cover everything with makeup.

Simple Makeup

Sometimes the simplest approach makes the biggest impact.

Simple makeup doesn't mean no makeup—it means being strategic about where you focus your efforts. Maybe it's perfect skin with minimal eye makeup, or maybe it's a bare face with dramatic lashes.

Works perfectly with:

Any heavily embellished dress
When you're wearing statement jewelry
If you're planning an elaborate hairstyle

Classic Red Lip Makeup

Nothing says confidence like a perfect red lip. The right red instantly elevates any look and photographs beautifully.

Finding your perfect red depends on your skin undertones, but here's a shortcut:

Cool skin tones: Look for blue-based reds like cherry or raspberry
Warm skin tones: Orange-reds like coral or tomato will look most natural
Neutral skin tones: True reds work beautifully

Red lip reality check: Be prepared for maintenance throughout the night! Pack your lipstick for touch-ups, and consider using a clear lip liner all around the edges to prevent bleeding.

Color-Inspired Looks

"Peach Girl" Makeup

"Peach girl" makeup has completely taken over the social feeds this spring! This look centers around warm peachy tones across eyes, cheeks, and lips for a cohesive, sun-kissed effect.

To nail the peach girl look:

Use peach-toned blush on cheeks AND eyelids for a cohesive wash of color
Try glossy peach lips instead of matte for a juicy effect
Add a touch of gold highlighter to amp up the warmth

Pro Tip: This trend works beautifully with warm-toned dresses but can clash with cool colors like royal blue or emerald.

Strawberry Makeup

Strawberry makeup is having a major moment right now. Think berry-flushed cheeks, strawberry-tinted lips, and soft pink lids for a romantically cohesive look.

What makes strawberry makeup work:

Focus color intensity on the center of your face and blend outward
Layer cream products for the most natural-looking flush
Keep the finish dewy rather than matte for that "just ate berries" effect

Matcha Latte Makeup

This look isn't about looking like Kermit! It's about incorporating subtle sage and olive tones that create the most interesting dimension without screaming "I'm wearing green makeup!"

For wearable matcha-inspired makeup:

Use olive-toned neutrals in the crease of your eye
Try a hint of sage eyeliner instead of black
Keep the rest of your face warm and neutral to balance the green tones

Pro Tip: This isn't the easiest look to DIY if you've never worked with these colors before. Do a practice run a few days before prom, and have some makeup remover ready just in case!

Silver Makeup

I've watched silver makeup transition from a winter-only look to a year-round statement, and it pairs beautifully with so many of prom dresses.

Silver makeup can go from subtle to statement:

A touch of silver in the inner corners brightens any eye look
Silver eyeliner offers an unexpected twist on a classic technique
Full silver eyeshadow makes a dramatic statement that photographs like a dream

Statement Styles

Simple Makeup with Bold Accents

One of statement prom makeup is starting with a simple base and then adding just one bold element. It's less intimidating than a full glam look but still makes a statement.

Some bold accent ideas that work beautifully:

Colored eyeliner (especially when it complements your dress color)
A single pop of bright shadow in the inner corner
Glossy, almost-wet looking lids
A bold brow with minimal everything else

Pro Tip: If you're doing a bold accent, photograph it in different lighting before committing. Some bright colors can look completely different under venue lighting than they do in your bathroom mirror.

Bright Eye Makeup

If there's ever a time to go all out with colorful eye makeup, prom is it!

For wearable bright eye makeup:

Try a bright color all over the lid with neutral definition in the crease
Use colorful mascara for a subtle pop of color
Consider gradient effects that transition from bright to neutral

Pro Tip: If you're nervous about using bright shadows, try using a white base underneath to make the colors pop while using less product overall.

Trending Style Aesthetics

Clean Girl Aesthetic

The "clean girl" look has completely dominated beauty content this year, and it's perfect for prom-goers who want to look polished but not overdone.

Clean girl essentials:

Skin tint rather than full coverage foundation
Strategic concealer only where needed
Cream products for a skin-like finish
Slicked-back hairstyle to complete the look

Pro Tip: This trend looks deceptively easy on social media but actually requires really good skin prep. Start using hydrating masks the week before prom if you're going for this look!

Vintage Prom Makeup

Vintage makeup styles have been making a major comeback, and they pair so beautifully with many of more classic dress silhouettes.

Vintage makeup varies by era:

1950s: Winged liner, red lips, defined brows
1960s: Cut-crease eyeshadow, pale lips, spidery lashes
1970s: Warm tones, glossy lids, sun-kissed skin
1990s: Brown lip liner, matte skin, thin brows (though maybe skip the thin brows!)

Pro Tip: These looks often require precise application. Whatever era you're channeling, YouTube tutorial it first and give yourself plenty of practice time before the big night.