Prom here to eternity

I married my prom date — no, not that very night, but eight years later. Not to say that all of you will meet The One in a few weeks, but really, your prom will be one of those vivid memories you will have of your high school days when it felt like you could die from kilig and heartbreak. Here, a practical guide to help you have fun and fond memories of this special day to come.

Do your research.

Go online, browse through fashion and beauty magazines, educate yourself on what’s available out there for you. This way you will find a dress that fits your budget and style, and also hair and makeup looks that you can bring to the salon so they know what you want. Take note of designers or brands of dresses that appeal to you and also of makeup artists and salons. You can then go to the store or make an appointment with the makeup artist so you get an actual feel of the dress and the makeup look.

Don’t have unrealistic expectations.

You absolutely loooove Katie Perry’s look; problem is, you look nothing like her. No matter how hard the makeup artist and hair stylist might try, they cannot perform plastic surgery with a brush and blush. When looking for makeup and hairstyles to copy, make sure that the model’s features are similar to yours. Check that the hairstyle you want is realistic for your hair texture and length. When it comes to choosing your dress, make sure that the style you like is suited to your body type and fashion personality.

Do smell good.

No matter how fashionable your frock may be, being stinky cancels everything out. If you’re wearing a borrowed or vintage dress, have it dry-cleaned several days before prom. — you wouldn’t want to smell like an aparador and mothballs. For your fragrance, the best way to make sure that your scent will last is to layer the same fragrance through different products from that line. Example: use the scent’s body wash when taking a bath, then slather on the same scented lotion; finally, spritz on the fragrance. This way, you leave a sweet trail of scent the whole night, and not an overbearing scent from over-spraying.

Don’t go too mature with your scent.

Choose a mild and refreshing scent, not your lola or your mother’s fave perfume — these might be too over-powering on you and will make your date faint not from the beautiful sight of you, but from your nauseating perfume. Besides, you wouldn’t want him to remember his lola when he smells you, right?

Do skin care way before prom.

Sleep early, eat good food, and take care of your skin weeks before the prom so you’re sure to look your best. If you have acne problems, as most teenagers do, visit a dermatologist several weeks before prom so she can help clear up your skin.

Don’t experiment with new products and procedures three days before.

No matter how much your friend raves about a new product or service, do not try anything new a few days before the prom as any allergic reaction or unfortunate accidents will not clear up in time for your big night.

Do go for makeup that is safe for your sensitive teen skin.

Just as you are rejoicing in your successful skin treatments from the derma, after your makeup is done for the night, your skin suddenly feels itchy and weird. Some of you might be getting your makeup done for the first time on prom night so, to be safe, choose products that are hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic — meaning they won’t cause allergies and won’t clog pores. Mineral makeup is a good choice; you can also read the label of the makeup products before you let them put them on your face.

Don’t just leave everything to the makeup artist.

As much as the professionals know, you need to be comfortable with the products and the look that they have in mind for you. Speak up if you don’t feel comfortable wearing false lashes or bold lipstick — or be self-conscious the whole night, therefore missing out on all the fun.

Do wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

No matter how cute and ferosh your sky-high, brand new heels may be, if you cannot walk in them for more than 15 minutes, then you are in big trouble. If you have to suck in your gut the whole night for that slinky dress to look good on you, then be ready to the most masungit date ever. This is one of those events when comfort is key as you will be dancing around and walking from table and table. Bleeding toes and a headache shouldn’t be your souvenirs from your prom.

Don’t suffer for fashion and beauty.

If a hairpin in your hair is bothering you, speak up. If the dress is too tight, change it to a bigger size. If the shoes you are trying on feel painful, you should not think that “breaking them in” will magically make them comfortable for prom. Comfort is just as important as style, so go for items that offer both. If you live this rule early in life and ditch the nonsense of suffering for fashion, then you’ll be rewarded with bunion and corn-free feet, plus smarter clothes purchases, years down the line.