Are you a teenage girl who knows next to nothing about makeup, much less how to choose and apply the right kind of makeup for prom?  Ann Marie Weinert lives in Chicago and has been a makeup artist for five years in the beauty industry.  She has experience with national advertising campaigns, including projects for Lasalle Bank, Tampax, and Cosmopolitan, and she offers these makeup tips for prom.

Tip #1 Complexion/Blush
When picking makeup for your complexion it is a matter of trial and error.  I’ve found that I can match most skin pigments using makeup from M*A*C or Chanel.  In addition, I believe that placement is more important than color when it comes to blush.  Blush should, as a general rule, be very subtle.  It’s a highlight, not the focus.  The placement of blush really depends on the shape of your face and the kind of look you are going for.

Tip#2 Covering up Acne or Scars
M*A*C has a great full-coverage concealer that really covers just about anything, including scars and acne. It’s very thick and should be cut with moisturizer if you require less coverage in certain areas.  Another good idea for covering blemishes is to use makeup fixatives that conceal different skin textures.  For example, M*A*C has a prep & prime primer that fills in pores and acne scars.  They also have a strobe cream that reflects light, which, when used under foundation, gives a dewy look and makes it harder to see skin imperfections.

Tip #3 Techniques for enhancing Your Eyes
There are two keys to doing eyes: brushes & quantity of product.  The wrong brushes and you won’t be able to get a desired blend.  Too much cosmetic product and your eyes will look small.  This is also an area where trial & error will really help.  Here’s a tip for making your eyes look bigger: use white eyeliner on the bottom inside eye ledge.  Another tip is curling your eyelashes!  This will pull them up and make your eyes look large.  My best tip for smoky eyes is to blend, blend, blend.  Apply a little color at a time and really blend it in before adding more to make it darker.

Tip #4 Reapplying Makeup for Prom Night
I always bring a little lipstick and powder with me during a special event.  If you are using good makeup, you shouldn’t have to worry about re-applying it through the night.  Nothing looks more self-conscious and vain than checking your makeup too much!  If you must bring makeup to reapply, bring the bare necessities – lipgloss, lipstick, and powder.

Tip#5 Buy Quality Makeup
I think the quality of makeup is really important, so I mostly recommend good brands like M*A*C or Chanel.

Tip#6 Choosing and Applying Lipsticks
Lipstick is a very personal choice, and the choices are endless! Matte/shiny, dark/light, shimmer, sheer/opaque… I suggest trying many lipsticks to find the one that best suits you.  I also suggest always using a lipliner!  A lipliner will keep your lipstick from moving outside of your lips.  You can apply it before putting lipstick on as well as after.  I also recommend using a lipstick brush to apply the lipstick instead of applying it straight from the tube.  When you apply it straight from the tube, it is harder to get the lipstick into all the creases, and you have less control over where it goes.

Tip#7 Matching makeup with Your Dress color
If wearing a red dress to prom and it depends on the color red, and the cut of the dress, you could go pinuppy with a bright red lipstick or you could go sophisticated with a nude/sheer lipstick.  You could go vampy with a dark/dark red.  A good rule of thumb when picking makeup to go with a dress is to consider what “kind of dress” it is – if you were going to go back in time, what era would wear the dress?  What is the dress “inspired” by?  If it’s a drop-waist, it might be inspired by the 20′s, and you could look at makeup techniques for that era.  If it’s a long, full, princess cut, you could look at Disney cartoons!

Tip#8 Final Advice
When applying makeup, allow about an hour for makeup application prior to a major event.  Experiment with makeup and use plenty of moisturizer!

Any last bit of advice?
Ann Marie- Be creative, practice, and use the right product to get the job done right!

http://annmariemakeup.com

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