The Perfect Makeup for Your Party Dress

The best part about dressing up is wearing insanely glamorous clothes that you normally don’t wear and experimenting with eye and lip hues that you never thought you could pull off. We asked top makeup artists to come up with the best party makeup ideas to complement your dress color.

By Ariana Finlayson

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Dress Color: Purple

Light Skin Tones

On your eyes, experiment with purple! Choose lighter hues like lilacs and lavenders for a subtle pop of color. (Try E.L.F. Eye Shadow Palette in Party, $3; target.com) For your lips, go with a sheer pink gloss. (Try Rimmel London Royal Gloss Lipgloss, mass retailers)

Medium Skin Tones

Go dramatic with grape-hued eye shadows. (Try MAC Eye Shadow in Plum Dressing and Grape Dressing, $14.50 each; maccosmetics.com) Try a sheer beige on lips that's a bit on the pink side to balance out the boldness of the eye. (Try L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Anti-Aging Serum Lipstick, $9.99; drugstore.com)

Dark Skin Tones

On eyes, use a deep plum palette—the shade looks gorgeous against darker skin tones. (Try Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner, $10.95; physiciansformula.com) Go for a sheer burgundy gloss on your lips, but make sure it's not too bold to keep the focus on eyes. (Try MAC Tinted Lipglass in Pop Mode, $14.50; maccosmetics.com)

Joanna Schlip, celebrity makeup artist

Pictured: Doo.ri Violet Butterfly Gown, available at renttherunway.com.

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