A navy blue dress can be elegant and understated or bold and imaginative, and your makeup can reflect either look. If you're wearing the dress to a business meeting or job interview, your make up shouldn't be over done. But if you're attending a formal event or going out for a night on the town in your navy dress, your makeup can definitely be bolder and more attention-grabbing.
Daytime Makeup
Apply foundation. A warm or cool foundation enhances your skin tones and covers any imperfections and skin impurities. This is the base step for your navy blue dress makeup regime. If you're using a mineral-based powder makeup, use the brushes to smooth the foundation onto your skin. A creme-based foundation is smoothed on with your fingertips. You want to be sure that you add a light layer of foundation to your eyelids to help your eye shadow stay in place.
Use an eyeliner pencil to draw a thin line across your top lid. Start at the inside corner of your eye and follow the edge of your eyelashes very closely. Use a brown, grey or neutral tone since you want to contrast your eyes subtly with the dress.
Apply eye shadow in a neutral, light pink or beige shade. You want to highlight your eyes without drawing attention to them. The dress is the most important part of your outfit and you want it to be front and center. Finish with a light brush of navy blue mascara on your top lashes to pick up the color of the dress. Use a light color or neutral lipstick to finish your look. Now you're ready for any daytime occasion.
Evening Makeup
Apply foundation. For an evening look, add blush across the top of your cheekbones over your foundation. Since your dress is navy, a cool blush with hints of silvery shimmer will complement the blue dress.
Draw eyeliner over the top and under the eyelids. This enhanced attention to your eyes is appropriate for evening and supplies the base for a smokey-eye look. Use a brown, or even navy, eyeliner to pick up the color of the dress and supplement your color scheme.
Create smoldering eyes with dramatic gold, grey or brown shadows to work in contrasting colors. Brush a silvery nude at the brow line to increase the contrast, brighten up and enlarge your eyes.
Finish with a layer of navy mascara to upper and lower eyelashes. Use a bright and bold lipstick in a red or plum shade to finish your look.