7 Gorgeous Makeup Looks to Wear With a Red Dress

We’re not afraid to argue that the best part of a special event is getting ready for it. Choosing a killer outfit, a beautiful hairstyle and the perfect makeup look is equal parts as fun as it can be challenging.

If you’re planning on wearing a red dress to a wedding or prom this season, and you’re not sure what makeup look to pair with it, don’t stress — we’re here to help. We know that choosing the most flattering makeup to pair with a bold, colorful outfit can be tricky. So ahead, we’re sharing seven of our favorite makeup looks to sport with your special red dress. 

1. Red Lips 

You can’t go wrong by pairing your red dress with some fiery red lips. Keep the rest of your makeup simple and let your bold lip color be the focal point of your look.

If your dress is a warm-toned red, go for a warm red lipstick, like the L’Oréal Paris Reds Of Worth Satin Lipstick With Saturated Color in Lovely Red. If your dress is a cool-toned red, opt for a blue-based red lip color, like the L’Oréal Paris Reds Of Worth Satin Lipstick With Saturated Color in Respected Red. If your dress is neutral red, any red lip color will be flattering. 

2. Classic Smokey Eye

A classic smokey eye is a great makeup look to pair with a red dress because the look is neutral. Using just black and natural tones in your eye makeup ensures that your look won’t clash with your dress. 

If your dress is an orange-toned red, try swapping out the black eyeshadow with a deep brown, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Matte-ison Avenue.

3. Black Winged Eyeliner 

If you like the focus of your makeup to be on your eyes, keep your blush and lip color subtle and create a bold winged liner with a rich black eyeliner. Because this popular look is completely neutral, it works beautifully with any outfit. 
Use a pigmented eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Black, to draw on your wing. 

4. Dewy Skin

The contrast of a glamorous red dress with minimal makeup and dewy skin is really beautiful. The fresh-looking makeup ensures that your overall look for the occasion isn’t overdone. 

Get even, natural-looking glowy skin with the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect 4-in-1 Tinted Face Balm Foundation. It provides light to medium buildable coverage that gets slightly dewier as you wear it, without looking greasy. 

5. Bleached Brows

A red dress on its own is a statement, but if you believe that there is no such thing as being too bold, pair it with some bleached brows. Bleached eyebrows have been popular on the runways over the last few years, and they’ve certainly remained a trend as of late. 

If you’re into the idea but you’re afraid of the commitment, don’t worry — you can easily fake the look of bleached brows. 

6. Simple Brown Eyeshadow

A soft wash of brown eyeshadow looks flattering on pretty much anyone — and with any outfit. You can apply a matte brown shadow to your lids with a fluffy eyeshadow brush and call it a day, or you can dress up the look more by adding dimension with a deeper shadow at the outer corners of your eyes. 

Pull the look together with a generous coat of a volumizing mascara to create the ultimate definition. We love the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara because you can  build it up for intense volume without weighing down your lashes. 

7. Golden Soft Glam

Golden, bronze and copper hues pair beautifully with red. Create a soft glam look featuring bronze or gold eyeshadow and some glossy lips, and you’ll have a foolproof makeup look to complement your red dress. 

For the eyeshadow, we recommend something with a gorgeous shimmer, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Eternal Sunshine. 

Next: How To Use A Lip And Cheek Tint For A Full Face of Makeup

Written by: Alyssa Kaplan, Photo Credit: Alanna Martine Kilkeary