7 trendy prom makeup ideas inspired by this year's red carpets and runways

Sara Miranda | Reviewed

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The arrival of spring means that prom is soon to follow. In preparation for attending the quintessential high school dance, you're probably busy choosing which dress and accessories to wear for the occasion, so coming up with ideas for your prom makeup look may be falling by the wayside.

As one of Reviewed’s beauty experts, I took a look through some of this year’s biggest A-list events (think: fashion week and award shows) to see what celebrities are doing to look and feel their best. Keep scrolling for seven prom makeup ideas inspired by some of the world's biggest A-listers.

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1. Bold, red lips with Fenty Beauty

Swiping a red lip color across your pout is an easy way to amplify your makeup for the big night. In fact, the vibrant hue has gotten lots of love this year from celebrities like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. RiRi wore her very own Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in the shade "The MVP" (blue red) during her performance at the Superbowl Halftime Show earlier this year—which means you should, too. The liquid lippie promises to deliver intense color and a long-wearing finish with one swipe.

$29 at Sephora

►Paste BN: This year's prom may mean a dress, a tux, and a Breathalyzer. Are we OK with that?

2. A sharp cat-eye with Charlotte Tilbury

For an eye makeup look that is sure to turn heads on prom night, opt for a cat-eye. The look has been spotted on A-listers everywhere this year, including Gigi Hadid at the Versace Fall / Winter 2023 runway show in Los Angeles and on Doja Cat at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

We recommend recreating makeup artist Ernesto Casillas' interpretation of the look on Doja Cat at this year's Grammy's. The sharp, angular wing was achieved with the help of the Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n’ Kohl Liner in "Bedroom Black" (black). The liner purports to glide smoothly along the skin to create a precise line, and its waterproof formula claims to have a wear time of up to 14 hours. Along with the top outer corners of your eye, try lining your bottom lash line like Doja did for the ultimate dramatic effect.

$29 at Sephora

3. Neutral eyeshadow with YSL and Urban Decay

Luckily, this year's red carpet served up inspiration for natural prom makeup looks, too. One of the most favored looks thus far is one that involves neutral eyeshadow—a color scheme that has been embraced by “White Lotus” star Aubrey Plaza at the 2023 SAG Awards and Hailey Bieber at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

To create Bieber's Oscars neutral eye look, makeup artist Mary Phillips teamed up with YSL Beauty and used the brand's Couture Clutch Eyeshadow Palette in "Desert Nude." The palette is comprised of ten shades in matte, metallic and "shiny" finishes that are reminiscent of the hues you'll find in a desert. For a more affordable alternative, we suggest using the Reviewed-approved Urban Decay Mini Naked Eyeshadow Palette in "Half Baked" to create a similar look.

4. Glittery eyelids with Ilia Beauty

If you want to "make the whole place shimmer," as Taylor Swift sings in her song "Bejeweled," consider decorating your eyelids with a sparkling touch of color. Hints of sparkle on the lids have been quite in demand this year, as evidenced by Laverne Cox at this year's Grammys and the models that walked the runway for the Sandy Liang Fall/Winter 2023 show.

Makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez was responsible for decking out the models' eyelids in glitter at Sandy Liang. He used the Ilia Beauty Multi-Stick in "Cosmic Dancer" (gold) and The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette in "Cool Nude" to make the eyes shine.

5. Bright blush with Charlotte Tilbury

Let your prom dress determine which color of blush and eyeshadow you should wear—just like Lizzo and Kacey Musgraves did with their respective gowns at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Both singers were treated to glam by Charlotte Tilbury for the occasion.

To match the rich, orange hue of Lizzo's Dolce and Gabbana gown, her makeup artist, Alexx Mayo, used the brand's Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand in "Dream Pop" (matte nude-peach) while Musgraves's makeup artist, Moani Lee, reached for the shade "Pink Pop" (matte pink) to complement her soft pink Valentino gown. Mayo even admitted that he decorated Lizzo's eyelids with the blush stick "for an extra pop."

$42 at Sephora

6. Nude lips with Stila Cosmetics and Pat McGrath

Not a fan of bright red lipstick? A nude lip is always a safe bet, and it's a trend that's very much alive and well on the fashion front and celebrities. At the L'Agence Fall / Winter 2023 presentation, Stila Cosmetics Head of Global Artistry Charlie Riddle used the Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks in "Caramello" (neutral nude) and "Sheer Narciso" (dark brown) on the models.

For a pink-leaning nude tone, take notes from model Emily Ratajkowski, who kept her lip color low-key at this year's Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Makeup artist Linda Hay lined the model's lips with the Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in "Contour" (beige brown) and glazed them with a coat of the brand's MatteTrance Lipstick in "Femme Bot" (pink).

7. Smoky eyes with Anastasia Beverly Hills

For a stunning-yet-simple prom makeup look, we suggest looking to one of the most classic looks in the book: the smoky eye. This sultry combination of colors was all over the runways this year, like at the Veronica Beard Fall / Winter 2023 and the Chanel Fall / Winter 2023 runway shows.

To ensure that you have all the colors you need, look for a palette with an extensive shade range, such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette that packs 14 colors in "ultra-matte, duo chrome and metallic finishes." All you need to do is pick a dark hue and blend it on the outer corner of the eye until it's diffused with no harsh lines, then choose a lighter tone for the rest of the lid.

$45 at Sephora

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