16 Prom Makeup Looks You’ll Want to Remember Forever

1. Nearly Nude Prom Eye Makeup

Whether you’re rocking a nude-colored dress or just want to keep your makeup toned down yet sultry at the same time, this monochromatic makeup look is for you. The key to this look is the nude lip definition. Start with a brown shade of lip liner that’s darker than your natural skin tone, like LORD & BERRY’s nude shades. Fully line the lips and even color outside of the lines a little if you want an extra puffy pout. From there, grab a lighter shade of nude to the center of lips and dab out with fingers. Seal it with a clear gloss. 

2. Gunmetal Glam Eye Makeup for Prom

Is she a brat? Is she in the matrix? Or is she just the coolest girl at prom? If you want to rock a makeup look with a bit of edge, go for this gunmetal glam look. For this, grab a matte and metallic eyeshadow duo, like SHAINA B MIAMI B. Extra Pressed Pigment Duo. Apply the darker matte shade all over your lids, then tap the metallic shimmer on top. From there, line your eyes fully in a black kohl eyeliner. 

3. Eyes That Shine Brighter Than a Diamond for Prom

Highlighter has been evolving over the last few years, and for 2025, liquid highlighter is having its moment. Apply your everyday makeup as usual, and then grab your perfect shade of blush. Extend the blush from the apples of the cheeks upwards to the temples for a lifted effect. Then it’s time to add the shine! Dab liquid highlighter on with your fingers, let dry completely, and then go in with another layer. You are going to glisten in every iconic prom night photo you take.

4. Ice Queen Prom Eye Makeup

This makeup look would be perfect with a silver or blue dress of any shade. Think, Elsa from Frozen, but wayyyy cooler. Grab a light blue eyeshadow and dust all over the lids. Then, grab a metallic liquid eyeshadow that you can dot in place for extra shimmer. We love the NATASHA DENONA Chroma Crystal Liquid Eyeshadow Mini Set for this. Dab it on the inner corners of the eyes, and with a brush, extend it towards the center of your eye near the waterline. Finish off the look with a bold blue-lined cat eye. 

5. Lightened Eyeliner for Prom

Using a nude eyeliner in the waterline can make your eyes look bigger, brighter, and yes, way better in the prom photos you’ll keep for a lifetime. Go for a matte or sharp liquid liner on top to create a cat eye, then add mascara to both top and bottom lashes. For the finishing touch, grab a nude or white eyeliner and smudge into the waterline. Our favorite is the TARTE™ Fake Awake™ Eye Highlight; it stays in place for hours, which is rare for a waterline product. 

6. Watecolor Prom Eye Makeup

Just because you’re going to prom doesn’t mean you need to cake on the makeup and become totally unrecognizable. Remember, you should always wear makeup however you’re most comfortable with it. If you want to keep it minimal, this stained lip look is perfect. It’ll draw the eye towards your pout, and since it’s a brighter red/pink shade, it will naturally make your complexion appear clearer and brighter. We love an optical illusion! For the stain, we love the E.L.F. COSMETICS Glossy Lip Stain. Apply some to your finger, make a pout with your lips, and dab it on. 

7. The Girl with the Pearl Eyeshadow for Prom

Delicate pearls and rosy pink cream shadows come together to create an ultra-romantic twist on a natural prom makeup look. Start with a pale pink blush like KIMCHI CHIC BEAUTY Thailor Blush Duo in Pinky on the apples of your cheeks and your eyelids. Then, top off with pearl decals under your brow bone and on the outer corner. Apply with tweezers and use a strong lash glue, while looking straight in a mirror so you can see where you want to place them. 

Finish with a swipe of glowy highlighter, like KVOSSNYC Fairy Dust Pressed Highlighter in Moonlight in the inner corner of your eye and on the top of your cheekbones. A volumizing mascara is all you need to add a touch of glam.

8. Stay Glossy Prom Eye Makeup

This glossy eyelid perfection relies on the glass-like shine over neutral lids, fluffed-up brows, and a wine-stained red lip. To get this look, skip the powder and cream shadows and head straight to your non-glittery illuminator to create that glossy-lid look. You can layer whatever you want under the gloss, just keep in mind that it will smear and crease—but we kind of love that. Once your glossy lids are locked in, finish the look with a deep burgundy red lip and complementary blush.

9. Glitter & Glow Eye Makeup for Prom

Skip the golden crown and go straight to the crown jewels with bold pink eyeliner, winged cat-eyes, and glitter decals on your eyelids. Get the look using a rose gold eyeshadow palette like MAKEUP GEEK Champagne and Rosé Eyeshadow Palette. Apply “Champagne” along your upper lash line, just above a jet black eyeliner. For even more rose gold inspired eye looks, make sure to skim our complete guide to wearing rose gold eye makeup and our collection of the best rose gold makeup looks. 

To add a sparkly edge, swipe a glitter eyeliner like TOO FACED COSMETICS Glitter Pop Eyeliner over your top lid and apply glitter decals using lash glue.

10. Purple Smoke Prom Eye Makeup

This dramatic prom makeup look is pure purple matte perfection on your lids, complemented by velvety neutral cheeks and lips. To get this perfectly-natural matte finish, we recommend starting with a great primer, like IT COSMETICS Your Skin But Better Primer. This oil-free primer not only helps your makeup last longer, but also improves your skin with ginger extract. Top off with WANDER BEAUTY Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation in Tan and then treat your eyelids to the cool-toned shades in the REALHER I Feel Beautiful Eyeshadow Palette.

11. Rosy Haze Prom Eye Makeup

Channel old Hollywood glamor with a smoky eye that ditches grays and blacks for a deep plum and champagne rose shimmer. Get the look with the ultra pigmented HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Palette in Mauve, starting with the rose pink as a base color, then building up with the plum and burgundy shadows in the crease of your lids for added depth. Top off with the pink shimmery shade under your brow bone and inner corner of your lids. False eyelashes complete this incredible prom makeup look.

12. Luxe Lilac Eye Makeup for Prom

Can’t decide between pink or purple eyeshadow? Now you don’t have to with a magenta ombre eyeshadow look that matches your glossy cotton candy lips. Start with our guide on how to do a smoky eye, but sub the dark shades for bright purples and pink. For the definitive magenta palette, snag VIOLET VOSS Berry Burst Fun Sized Shadow Palette. We’re obsessed with the perfect trio of finishes—matte, shimmer, and foil—which allows you to master every look. Dab on a dewy highlighter, like FLESH Touch Flesh Highlighter Balm in Pinky, on the tops of your cheekbones and the inner corners of your eyes to up the shimmer. Then pick your favorite shiny pink lip gloss and prepare for the prom night of your dreams. 

13. Chic Cat-Eye Prom Makeup

Take your everyday makeup look to new heights with extra shimmer on your brow bone, a dramatic winged eyeliner, and berry stained lips topped with a glossy sheen. It’s a look that’s subtle and sophisticated, keeping all the attention on your prom dress. A winged liner is classic in its simplicity, and all it requires is a steady elbow and IL MAKIAGE Inkliner in Black. Complete your classic look with a red lip for the ultimate statement look.

14. Grunge Glam Prom Eye Makeup

To maximize your grunge vibes, keep your foundation and blush simple and give your bronzer and contouring a night off. Then amp up the edginess with a shimmery eyeshadow like MAKEUP GEEK Peach Bellini Eyeshadow Palette and rim your eyes with a kohl eyeliner like TARTE Double Duty Beauty™ Easy On The Eyes Clay Liner in Black. For more grunge-inspired prom looks, check out our ultimate guide to grunge makeup.

15. Mint Wash Prom Eye Makeup

If you love pastel pigments, but aren’t ready to commit to Katy Perry-levels of elaborate makeup, this soft mint eyeshadow look is perfect for you. Start by applying a matte nude all over your eyelid. We’re huge fans of REALHER Eyeshadow in Incomparable, which was designed to be buildable and work well with whatever pigments you layer on top. Finish with a sheer green like OFRA COSMETICS Eyeshadow in Millennium Green, which will leave your BFFs green with envy over your makeup artist skills.

16. Tie-Dye Prom Eye Makeup

Take your prom eye makeup to the next level with a kaleidoscopic tie-dye look that combines bold orange and purple with bold raw umber. As if that wasn’t enough, a stained matte lip and just a hint of blush keeps the spotlight on your gorgeous eyes. Get the look by using a bright palette like NOMAD COSMETICS Berlin Underground Intense Eyeshadow Palette. Mix and match your favorite shades, or choose complementary colors to your prom dress for the ultimate prom makeup look.