While the little black dress and the floral frock have their moments, nothing shines quite like a sequin dress. While you might be tempted to match the power of a gold- or silver-bedazzled gown with some equally shimmery makeup, avoid the call. Instead, keep your face matte, bold and crisp for a beautiful and classic style pairing.
Prep your skin for foundation by applying a face primer. This product creates a smooth canvas for applying makeup and also keeps the makeup in place all day or all night.
Since sequins add plenty of dimension and texture to your overall ensemble, choose a liquid or cream foundation with medium coverage and a matte effect. Apply to your entire face, including your eyelids, and blend in until it sits smoothly on the skin.
While you want to keep shine and shimmer to a minimum, apply a fine-grained, sheer highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones for a fresh, dewy effect.
Add a warm glow to your skin with a gentle rose or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks. Keep the application light and airy with a large fluffy brush. Avoid any blushes or highlighters that shimmer or sparkle, as this can clash with sequins of any color and make you look overly made-up.
A classic, smoky cat eye creates balance between a strong dress and a strong face so that the frock doesn't wear you. Opt for a rich purple or dark navy matte eyeshadow if you're wearing neutral sequins, such as gold, pewter, ivory or silver. If you have on a more daring color, choose a dark matte gray or deep brown shade to keep the look balanced but still smoky. Sweep the color across your eyelid and into the crease.
Apply a black liquid eyeliner along your top lash line using small dash strokes as close to the lash line as possible. Flick out the liner at the corner of the eye to create a retro effect.
Follow up with two coats of black, voluminous mascara to open the eye and finish the smoldering look. Leave the bottom lash line clean and fresh to maintain that natural glow. If you're going to a big evening bash apply false lashes for an even bolder eye to mimic your dress.
Set the makeup with a sheer mineral veil and a large kabuki brush.
Tips
- No glamorous evening outfit is complete without some kind of lipstick or stain. If you're wearing a more classic, subtle sequin, such as silver or ivory or even rose-gold, you can opt for a daring red lip. Look for a shade with some blue undertones to keep the look slightly retro and classic. Go for a lip stain that stays in place for hours without wearing off or bleeding.
- For a modern approach to sequin glam, keep your lips in the neutral family with a sandy pink lipstick or a lightly stained beige lipgloss. This look pairs beautifully with bold dress designs or frocks with more than one color to keep the makeup look simple and fresh. This strategy also keeps the focus on the eyes -- and your killer dress.