Last Updated on July 19, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

Graduation season is somehow always around! Whether you’re graduating from high school or college, you’ve probably been searching for the perfect graduation makeup looks and outfits to help you look stunning at your ceremony or in other pictures. If that is you, then you have come to the right place! We have collected several graduation makeup looks from natural to glam looks, the products you will need, and some makeup tips to make sure you look you are looking your best for the big day!

With all the outstanding makeup on social media as of late, the number of options has got many of us wondering which way to go. Should you go for a full face of makeup, or is a no-makeup makeup look the way to go?

Natural Graduation Makeup Looks

This makeup look is perfect for anyone who wants something a little more natural. In this look, the brows are lightly filled in to help them look fuller and accentuate their natural shape. Concealer is used under the eyes or on blemishes, and then blush and bronzer are used lightly to add some color and get that bronze look that we are all looking for even more if your graduation is in summer or spring!

Add some mascara to help make the eyes look larger, or if you want to look a little more polished, add some natural-looking false eyelashes. Finish off with some highlighter on the high points of the cheeks and the nose, and now you have a stunning natural glow. Just follow these steps, and you will have this natural look in no time!

Next, eyebrows. This Anastasia eyebrow kit is just the perfect addition to this natural makeup. Sure, it only contains 3 products: the Brow Wiz eyebrow pencil, Clear Brow Gel, and Brow Definer. What makes it so special, then? There are a few kits that can do a better job of making you look like a pro this easily or this quickly. At this price point, the Brow Wiz is easily one of the best choices to do the heavy lifting when it comes to natural eyebrows.

The Mini Clear Brow Gel is just over-the-top and good at finishing the job with a handful of strokes for each brow. The end result includes perfectly lifted and full brows without looking sticky, artificial, or anything less than complimentary. In other words, you can have perfect brows with minimal work thanks to this kit.

Our product recommendations:

Soft-Glam Graduation Makeup Looks

This look is perfect for anyone looking for a look that’s just a tad more than natural, and perhaps if you don’t live in a warmer city, you can rock this look without worrying about how it will stay in the hot climate!

These include a medium transition shade in the crease, a light shimmer on the lid, and a darker matte in the outer corner. Next, the skin makeup is a little more full coverage, utilizing light to medium coverage foundation and concealer (although you can use a tinted moisturizer if you are looking for a more fresh-faced look). And finally, add on some light pink or clear lip gloss. Use these tips, and you will have the perfect soft glam makeup look in minutes!

The brows are very important, and this Anastasia eyebrow kit is perfect, coming in 5 shades. The main selling point of this kit: it’s near impossible to get three super high-quality products for a price like this, so don’t think twice before buying it. The great thing about this kit is the versatility to customize the type of brows you want with the pomade and brush, this gives you more flexibility as to how bold you want your look to go.

Our product recommendations:

Glam Graduation Makeup Looks

This glam makeup look is a little harder to achieve, but it is worth the effort. Browns are filled in, defined, and carved out with concealer. Eyeshadow utilizes all matte shades, a light brown on the lid, medium brown in the crease, and black on the outer corner and lower lash line for the perfect smokey effect. Eyes are lined down to the inner eye corner to give the cat-eye effect. More natural-looking false lashes give the eyes a more dramatic effect.

In this case, the face makeup utilizes concealer, foundation, and contour. If you’re using all three of these products, make sure to set your face with setting powder! Highlighter is placed on the nose, and bronzer and blush are used to add color back to the face. Finally, a natural lip color and gloss over top finish off the look flawlessly. This look may take a little more time than the others, but if you follow these steps, you will be more than ready to rock your look at graduation.

For brows, you can opt for the Benefit’s Great Brow Basics Pencil & Gel kit which comes in 3 different shades. If you’re anything like us, you love to experiment with your makeup. So what if you could have a kit that’s got a bit of everything? We’d like to introduce you to the Natural and Polished Deluxe Brow Set by Anastasia Beverly Hills. For those of you who say you can’t have it all, this kit is here to prove you wrong. This five-piece kit includes a Brow Definer, Brow Wiz, Clear Brow Gel, Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara, and Dipbrow Gel.

I think this look is perfect if your graduation is at night, or you are planning on going out after, as it is definitely a full-out glam look that will make you stand out for sure! On such an important day of celebration, it is totally worth it to go big after all!

Our product recommendations:

Eyebrows on fleek

Let’s talk about those perfect brows for a minute. Decades ago, the universal trend seemed to be towards having thin and trimmed brows. Lately, however, millennials and Gen Z are much more about embracing bushy, feathered natural eyebrows, and we’re here for it. More importantly, just as the eyes are the windows to the soul, eyebrow makeup is also one of the first things to define the rest of your makeup look.

Velour Lashes

There’s a reason this brow kit is one of the most highly rated and highly purchased on Sephora. It’s not only because it’s vegan, gluten-free, and made of some exceptionally high-quality ingredients. Nor is it just because the 3-in-1 tool includes an excellent pencil for definition, a superb tinted volumizing and setting balm, and a top-notch spoolie to complete the look. No, the main reason this product is so insanely popular is because of the quality of the finish and how long it lasts! And this product doesn’t just differentiate itself in quality.

The kit comes in six different colors, so there will be no need to compromise! Altogether, if you had to choose just one brow kit to start with, this would be an excellent choice. And at this price point, it’s hard to have any regrets.

Best Eyebrow Gels

Clear

If you don’t need a whole lot of brow gel, there’s next to nothing that can beat the value of this Mini Clear Brow Gel by Anastasia Beverly Hills. Perfect to pack away for a trip, it’s vegan, long-lasting, effective, and even contains hyaluronic acid. Basically, this is a product we’d swear by.

Not to be overlooked, this clear brow gel from Benefit Cosmetics also does a fantastic job. Its “24-hour” claim is definitely not without merit, but we especially love the packaging! If you’re looking for an ornamental makeup piece in your bathroom or on your dresser, this is one accessory we wouldn’t do without.

Tinted

If Benefit Cosmetics did well with their clear brow gel, they absolutely knocked it out of the park with their tinted ones. Almost nowhere else will you find this many choices of colors with this kind of quality. We’d even say that this product is probably the standard-bearer among tinted brow gels.

What would a roundup of the best brow makeup be without Charlotte Tilbury? You’ll definitely have fewer color choices here, but the quality is assuredly top-notch. Is it worth the price premium over some of the other products? As repeat users of this product, we’d undoubtedly say yes!

So remember: at the end of the day, this is what your makeup has to say about you, your taste, and your personality! Between pencils, lipsticks, gels, and pomades, there are SO many kinds of products to choose from. Luckily, we know the best makeup products to start off are an array of these products, and of course, we gave some inspo on how the look may go on these 3 grad looks!

What makeup should I wear to graduation?

Stick to light pinks and peaches for the cheeks and lips to showcase your youthful face and keep things fresh for graduation. Use eyeshadow that is a few shades darker than your skin tone to create a subtle yet striking look. To make your eyes sparkle in pictures, don’t forget to apply some inner corner highlights!

Should I wear makeup to graduation?

You should dress in whatsoever makes you feel most at ease on your graduation day, whether that be a colorful, dark, or natural makeup look. The focus of the day is on you and everything that you have accomplished.

Is red lipstick appropriate for graduation?

No matter what color your cap and gown are, a timeless red complements everything. Your graduation is a celebration, therefore you need to dress up in your cap and gown a little bit. Matte red lips can help you do this!

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Meet Kourtney, a writer specializing in sex and relationships. Known for her honest and insightful approach, she explores themes of intimacy and personal growth. Her work combines personal anecdotes, expert opinions, and practical advice, helping readers navigate the complexities of modern relationships and embrace their desires. Kourtney's writing serves as a guide for those seeking authentic and fulfilling connections.