Ah that time of the year is back again, where girls across the country are prepping and planning (and probably driving themselves crazy) for the greatest night of their high school careers…if you haven’t guessed already, we’re talking about prom!
That magical night where you get to look and act like a princess is a dream come true for many girls, but we all know it doesn’t come easy. There’s a lot of work that goes in to making your prom night perfect. Aside from finding prince charming, brushing up on your dance moves, and snagging the perfect dress, your hair and makeup has to be spectacular! That’s where we come in. We’re here to provide DIY beauty tips, tricks, and rules to help you get pretty for prom with ease… and most of them won’t cost you a penny!
First you must choose your look. While this may initially seem overwhelming, fear not: we have three simple rules to follow and a few do’s and don’ts to help you prep and plan for the best (and most beautiful) prom ever! Next week we’ll give you a few specific on trend looks and narrow down the nitty gritty of how to DIY yourself pretty!
Rule #1: Match your beauty vibe to the dress. It’s best to stick with a look that emphasizes your personality and compliments your dress. Take a look at your dress to determine what “feel” it gives; for example: a chiffon floral halter dress emulates romantic, whimsical beauty, much like Keira Knightly, so loose curls and simple makeup would be a perfect addition. On the other hand, if you’re rocking a silk, low back black number, a sexy up-do and sultry makeup will top off your Megan Fox bad-girl vibe. Pick your look, have fun with it and go all out!
Rule #2: Pick a focal point. Once you have the desired “look” chosen, you have another decision to make: eyes or lips. It’s best to choose to focus on one of the two, yet many girls make the mistake of emphasizing both and wind up looking way too made up or even clownish: enter Christina Aguilera.
Unsure of which asset to emphasize? Go with what most people notice or compliment you on! Make sure to keep other areas of your face toned down and as neutral as possible, which will make your focus feature pop!
Rule #3: Prep, prime, and practice! For the days leading up to prom, pamper yourself pretty! Use an exfoliating scrub on face and body (for face we love this Seaweed Exfoliator from The Body Shop and indulge in a sugar scrub like Dirt Vanilla Sandalwood Sugar Scrub from Coterie.com for baby smooth skin all over) this will help remove any dead skin cells and promote cell growth for fresh, glowing skin. Get eyebrows waxed at least a few days, if not a week before prom, to ensure you won’t have any redness or irritation on your big night. For silky smooth hair, use a smoothing and restorative hair mask (Neutrogena makes an amazing one, here) 2-3 days before, and try to wash your hair no less than 24 hours before prom night (slightly dirty hair is more manageable and easily styled). You should pre-plan your look a few weeks ahead of time, so you’ll know exactly what products and tools you’ll need. Take a few free hours the week of prom to do a practice run through of your whole look to ensure smooth sailing the day of.
Now a few DO’s and DON’Ts for the big day that are key to making sure your night and everyone along with it goes perfect:
DO wear confidence. It’s hands down the best accessory, and no amount of makeup could ever make you look as beautiful as confidence. When you feel beautiful, you look beautiful, so work it girl!
DON’T stress out. Prom is meant to be an unforgettable occasion, and wouldn’t you hate to remember it as a stressful time? Relax, everything is going to turn out great! Plus, stress can lead to breakouts (eek!), headaches, and anxiety; three things you definitely don’t want on prom night.
DO get your beauty sleep! Don’t let prep time take away from bedtime! Getting the right amount (7-9 hrs) of Z’s is crucial to looking and feeling your best.
DON’T worry about what others are wearing. Be yourself! Pick a look that you absolutely love, and don’t worry if you’re the only one rocking that look you’ll be an inspiration for others to embrace their own unique style!
DO pack a mini emergency kit. Foldable flats, concealer, and blotting papers are you friend.
DON’T bring a huge bag. This is a formal event so only little clutches will do.
P.S. Don’t let this go-to guide for looking and feeling your best be limited for prom night, you can apply these tips and tricks to any big night out! We all know our hunger for glamour is never satisfied, so keep those special occasions coming and we’ll keep you updated with all the latest on getting gorgeous for less!
P.P.S Don’t forget to check back next week for our favorite prom hair and makeup trends for this year with tutorials on how to DIY!!
P.P.P.S The dess pictured is from JCP!! Pearl Georgina Chapman of Marchesa Organza Rosette Dress, $110.
