10 Gorgeous (& Surprisingly Easy) Prom Eye Makeup Ideas

1. The Girl with the Pearl Eyeshadow

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 TRIFLE COSMETICS Cheek Souffle - Cream-to-Powder Blush 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” on 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.

2. Stay Golden

This golden perfection relies on the shimmery trifecta of bronze lids, white gold highlighter, and a metallic red lip. To get this look, skip powders and creams and head straight to liquid gold illuminator, like KISMET COSMETICS Goldie Liquid Illuminator. Apply it on the highest point of your cheeks and the inner corners of your eyes. Work your best contouring magic just under your cheekbones and swipe on a bold red lipstick. For even more shimmer inspo, check out our best gold eye makeup looks.

3. Glitter & Glow

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.

4. Purple Smoke

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.

5. Rosy Haze

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 pale pink shimmery shade under your brow bone and inner corner of your lids. False eyelashes complete this incredible prom makeup look.

6. Luxe Lilac

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.

7. Chic Cat-Eye

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.

8. Grunge Glam

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.

9. Mint Wash

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 - Millennium Green, which will leave your BFFs green with envy over your makeup artist skills.

10. Tie-Dye Eye

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.

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