Prom season is officially here, which means it's time to check all the essentials off your list before the big day. Did you find the perfect glam hairstyle to complement the dress you just DIYed? Have you booked an appointment for your super cute mani and relaxed with a skin-indulging facial the week before prom? Once all that is squared away, there's one thing left to do before the biggest party of your high school career: finding an easy, long-lasting, *and* affordable makeup look to rock for prom. You don't have to compromise looking and feeling your best with a $$$ receipt full of high-end products to slay the night away. We hit up YouTuber and makeup artist Sydney Morgan for all the best picks that will give you more bang for your beauty buck.
Below, Sydney let us in on her ~beauty expertise~ and dished on the three elements that make up the perfect prom glam.
Go For Long-Lasting
"A few things that I think are super important for a good prom makeup look is, number one: that it lasts all day," Sydney tells Seventeen. "You're going to be getting ready in the morning and you're not going to get to prom till the evening. Is it sweat-proof, is it transfer-proof, is it going to hold up while we're dancing and having fun?"
Keep Pics in Mind
"Number two, does the makeup look good in photos?" Sydney says. She suggests testing the look for flash-back by taking photos with your camera's flash on to see if a bright cast comes back under your eyes or in other areas where you applied powder. Sydney also advises to look out for cakiness and "wonky lashes" to ensure you'll be happy with the final result in all the pics you'll be snapping at prom.
Make Sure You Feel Confident
The third and "most important" element that Sydney considers when deciding on a prom makeup look is confidence. "Is [the look] authentic to you and does it make you feel confident? Because at the end of the day, you're going to want to wear glam that makes you feel good," Sydney shares.
As part of Seventeen's Prom Week, Sydney showed us how to achieve the ultimate prom glam with affordable, high-quality products you can snag from your local drugstore. Follow along with her GRWM tutorial above and shop all her picks below for a snatched and stunning prom makeup look.
Prep Your Skin
L'Oréal Paris Self-Tanning Facial Water Mist, Vitamin E
L'Oréal Paris Self-Tanning Water Mousse
Arches & Halos Eyebrow and Lip Waxing Kit
MIYA LASH 2 in 1 Lash Lift & Brow Lamination Kit
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream
Get Your Complexion Right
Huda Beauty GloWish Multidew Vegan Skin Tint Foundation
Create an Enchanting Eye Look
NYX Cosmetics Thick It. Stick It!™ Brow Gel
ColourPop Feeling Coconutty Pressed Powder Shadow Palette
AF94 Backline Liquid Eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara
Kiss Lash Couture The Muses Collection False Eyelashes, Noblesse
Make Those Cheeks Chic
NYX Cosmetics Wonder Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick
AF94 Playdate Multi Use Lip and Cheek Tint
Get Lux Lips
NYX Cosmetics Smooth Whip Matte Lip Cream
NYX Cosmetics Fat Oil Lip Drip
Lock Makeup In (and Remove It Later On)
NYX Cosmetics Plump Finish Setting Spray
L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Lock It Bold Control Hairspray
Sam is an assistant news editor at Cosmo, covering all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news. She previously covered those same topics along with health, lifestyle, and beauty at Seventeen. When she isn't catching a concert or live-tweeting awards shows, you can likely find her judging DJ sets at parties.
