Matching makeup to a dress is less about matching and more about choosing what leads. A bold dress usually wants makeup that supports it. A quiet dress gives your makeup room to be the bold part. Pick one feature to lead, either the eyes or the lips, and keep the rest soft.
This page goes by dress color family, from red to black to metallics. It assumes you have chosen the dress. If you are still deciding on a color, our guide to prom dress colors covers how each one looks in photos, and the page on dress color and skin tone covers the shades next to your face.
Three rules that work for every color
- Match the temperature, not the shade. A blue-based red dress pairs best with a blue-based lip. An orange-red dress pairs with a warmer lip. The same idea works across pinks, purples and greens.
- Do not copy the dress color onto your eyelids. Emerald shadow with an emerald dress tends to look like a costume. A shade that complements it, such as bronze or plum, usually looks better.
- Every skin tone can wear every one of these looks. What changes is the depth and warmth of the shade. A nude lip on fair skin and a nude lip on deep skin are different lipsticks.
Red
Red is the dress color people ask about most, and it gives you two good paths.
The first is a red lip. It is classic and confident, and it works if you get the tone right. Hold the lipstick up to the dress in daylight. A cherry or berry red belongs with a cool, blue-toned dress. A tomato, coral or brick red belongs with a warm, orange-toned one. A lip that is close but not quite right is more distracting than a contrasting one. Keep eyes simple, such as winged liner and lots of lash.
The second path is soft lips with defined eyes. A rosy or brown nude lip, warm bronze or champagne shadow, and a touch of blush. This lets the dress do all the talking.
Either way, avoid heavy red or pink tones in eyeshadow, which can make eyes look tired next to a red dress.
Pink and blush
Soft pink dresses suit soft, glowy makeup. Rose and peach blush, a pink or mauve lip, and shimmer on the lids in champagne, rose gold or soft brown. A glossy lip looks especially fresh here.
Hot pink and fuchsia dresses are bolder and can take a stronger lip in a matching cool pink, or a neutral lip with a sharp liner. Skip orange and coral tones, which clash with cool pinks.
Blue
Navy
Navy is almost as easy as black. It suits a smoky eye in brown, bronze or deep plum, a warm nude lip, or a deep berry lip. Gold or copper shimmer on the lid looks rich next to navy, since warm tones contrast with the cool dress.
Royal blue and cobalt
Bright blue wants confident makeup. Gold or bronze eyes are a natural complement. A nude lip keeps the focus on the color, while a bright pink or red lip makes a bold statement. Silver works too, if your jewelry is silver.
Light blue and periwinkle
Pale blue looks best with soft, airy makeup. Pinky-brown shadow, peach or rose blush, and a soft pink lip. Heavy black liner can look harsh against such a light color, so a brown liner may be the better choice.
Green
Emerald, sage, mint and olive all pair well with warm, earthy eyes. Bronze, copper, gold and plum shadows complement green across the board, and plum in particular makes green dresses look richer. For lips, a warm nude, a terracotta or a deep berry all work. A red lip with emerald is a bold, festive choice.
Sage and mint are softer, so keep the makeup soft too. Peach blush, a glossy nude lip and champagne shimmer.
Purple and lavender
Deep purple and plum dresses look rich with smoky eyes in gray, taupe or deep brown, and a mauve or berry lip. Lavender and lilac look best with fresh, light makeup, such as pink blush, lilac or silver shimmer, and a pink lip. Avoid bright orange tones with any purple.
Yellow and orange
Bright warm colors can be tricky near the face, so makeup helps balance them. With yellow, try bronze or warm brown eyes, a peach or coral lip, and a glowing finish. With orange and coral, keep eyes neutral and match the lip to the warmth of the dress. A cool pink lip next to an orange dress tends to clash.
Black
Black goes with everything, so it gives your makeup the most freedom. This is the dress for a red lip, a sharp graphic liner, a full smoky eye or a bright pop of color on the lid. The one thing to watch is going so dark everywhere that the whole look feels heavy. Pick either the eyes or the lips to lead.
White, ivory and champagne
Light dresses reflect light up onto your face, and they show every smudge of makeup that rubs off on them. Soft, warm makeup is the safe choice. Champagne or golden shimmer, a rosy cheek and a nude or pink lip.
Two practical warnings. Foundation and self-tanner can transfer onto a pale neckline, so set makeup well along the jaw and neck and let it dry before dressing. And step into the dress rather than pulling it over your head. The booking order page covers how to keep a spray tan off a light dress.
Gold, silver and metallics
Metallic dresses already shine, so keep the face matte or satin where you can. With gold, go for warm bronze eyes and a nude or brown lip. With silver, try gray or taupe smoky eyes and a cool pink or berry lip. Too much highlighter next to a sequined bodice can make everything look slick in flash photos.
Prints and multicolor dresses
Pick the one color in the print you like most, and echo it lightly in your makeup. A floral with touches of pink can take a pink lip. Otherwise, neutral eyes and a soft lip keep the print as the focus.
Test it before prom
Do one full trial with the dress on, or at least with the dress next to your face. Look at it in daylight, then take a flash photo. A shade that looks good in the bathroom mirror can read very differently next to fabric and in pictures. Our prom makeup page covers what makes makeup last and photograph well.
If you are still choosing the dress, the dress style finder suggests colors and silhouettes, and you can browse prom shops by state to try colors on in person.