42 Makeup Ideas to Wear With a Black Dress

Adut Akech in a glossy makeup look with a high pony — @adutakech / Instagram

A great pair of jeans, an oversized coat, and a classic white t-shirt are some staple wardobe pieces that deserve to be in every closet. But perhaps the most important garment is the little black dress. An icon throughout the history of fashion, there are so many ways to style a classic LBD.

"The goal is to avoid overwhelming attention with heavily saturated makeup. Since black signifies absence of light, any color in the makeup works," says celebrity makeup artist Claudia Betancur. "I love elegant looks that enhance one's features, achieved through well-managed highlights and shadows. If we focus on brows, we can also highlight the lips, or if the eyes are the focus, the rest can be kept more natural."

Whether you want to go simple with lip gloss and mascara or pull out the stops with your favorite bold lipstick, we've rounded up of our favorite makeup looks that you can wear with a classic LBD anytime, anywhere. We also asked Betancur and makeup artist Jeannia Robinette for their expert tips and tricks to achieve these looks, too.

Meet the Expert

Claudia Betancur is a L’Oreal League of Experts makeup artist.
Jeannia Robinette is a makeup artist and beauty expert.

Keep scrolling for 42 inspirational looks that pair well with a black dress.

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Mixed Mauves

Hannah Bronfman with a high bun and mauve makeup — Getty Images

Emphasizing eyes and lips while wearing a black dress brings balance and versatility to your makeup look, due to the fact you can choose any color palette you want. The options truly are endless. The soft mauve eyeshadow colors on the eyes and lips here are an excellent example of how wearing color can elevate any look instantly.

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Classic Lines

Gigi Hadid with a cream coat, red beret, and red lips — Getty Images

A classic makeup look that has stood the test of time, a liquid liner and red lipstick combo brings an element of sophistication to any given day. If you're someone who wants to keep it simple but also appreciates glam, this look is always a great choice to wear with a black dress. Physician's Formula Organic Wear Precision Liquid Eyeliner ($13) can help create thin and thick lines depending on the angle you hold the brush.

To wear an even more minimal look, makeup artists Jeannia Robinette suggests a simple clear gloss on the eyes. "Nothing and a red lip always looks good. An eyebrow, a little mascara, clear gloss on the eye, and a red lip, and you're good to go," she says. Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix ($20) in Clear, is the perfect multi-use product for eyes, lips, and cheeks.

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Yes to Pink

Davika Hoorne with subtle pink makeup and center-parted straight hair — @davikah

Wearing pink and nude tones on eyes, cheeks, and lips can elevate your makeup look ever-so-slightly while still remaining natural. Incorporating consistent, similar tones in your makeup is an easy way to keep things cohesive if you're someone who tends to shy away from wearing bolder colors. Lumene Invisible Watercolor Blush ($29) has buildable color you can add to your cheeks for a flushed look.

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Bold and Bright

Alessandra Ambrosio with a bold lip and straight hair — Getty Images

Bold and bright lips paired with minimal eye makeup show that the smallest bit of color is a powerful tool that takes your look to the next level while wearing a black dress. These red lips seriously set the tone for all the right kinds of drama.

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Abstract Feel

Maya Henry with abstract eyeliner — @maya_henry

Create an abstract feel with your winged eyeliner by pairing it with nude lipstick when wearing a black dress, especially if you're someone who likes to keep the drama only on the eyes. Be sure to trace out your wing on each eye before filling it in to ensure the shapes match.

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Smoked Out

Close up of actor Madison Bailey in smoky blue gray eyeshadow — @makeupvincent

Smoky metallic eyes and light lips show how textures and finishes in makeup can pop more than ever when worn with a black dress.

"I love a good NARS metal smoky eye palette, paired with lots of eyeliner and mascara, and a nice, natural brow," says Robinette. The glistening smoky blue gray shadow and peachy lipstick shown here are a modern classic, and we're truly loving it. We like the Eye Color Quad Eyeshadow Palette ($90) by Tom Ford to achieve this look.

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Glossy

Glossy, shiny lips and precise eyeliner are a quick and easy way to put a makeup look together to wear with a black dress—and cost-efficient, too, as they are usually items you already have in your makeup bag. This gloss from Mented Cosmetics is the perfect natural shade to wear. Simple touches like these are easy for anyone to re-create themselves and can also pair really well with any outfit.

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Earth Tones

Taylor Hill wearing simple earth tone makeup and nude lips — @taylor_hill

Earth-toned shadows, like this palette from Beauty Bakerie, and coordinating lipstick are the perfect go-to colors for makeup looks to pair with a black dress. They work with pretty much any outfit as well, making them quite a versatile option. The beautiful tones here show just how minimal makeup can make a major impact.

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Smoldering Eyes, Bold Brows

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley with a classic red lip and bold brows — Getty Images

"For fair and pale skin, red lips are a win," says Betancur. Bold brows, smoldering eyes, and bright lips—this classic makeup look is a total ace to pair with a black dress, and the reasons why are endless. Make the eyes as dressy as you like—the more dramatic, the better. Betancur recommends completing the look with fine eyeliner and great mascara.

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Rose Gold Sheen

Penélope Cruz wearing rose gold makeup — Getty Images

Rose gold eyelids give life to this makeup look and accentuate a black dress in all the best ways. The more metallic, the better, so don't be afraid to pack on the shimmer when testing out your eyeshadow looks.

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Hot Orange Lips

Bright orange lipstick brings the heat when paired with a black dress, and is a chic alternative to true red or berry colors. Seeing as it's suitable for all year round, test a few orange-red shades to see which one is your favorite. Use a similar lip liner to help shape lips and keep lipstick from smudging.

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Light Shadow Hues

Lily Aldridge wearing sheer eyeshadow and wavy hair — @lilyaldridge

Applying sheer, light shadow colors to top and bottom eyelids can change things up in an instant and work as a great alternative to smoky eye looks when you're pressed for time or want to keep your look a bit more natural.

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Gray Matter

Rose Byrne wearing silver gray eyeshadow and nude lips — Getty Images

Icy gray and silver shadows can create effects that are just as smoldering as smoky looks. Chantecaille's Le Chrome Luxe Eye Duo ($64) in Grand Canal is a great place to start when wanting to wear these tones. To create a more dramatic look, apply the shadow to the top and bottom eyes by blending it outward underneath for a smoky effect, and clean up any fallout with a Q-tip.

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Structured Eyeliner

"For olive skin, a vibrant and shimmery coral blush can take center stage, complemented by warm eyeshadows and ample mascara, with transparent peach lips," says Betancur. When creating this look yourself, be sure to use a long-lasting eyeliner for a structured look that will stay in place without smudging to ensure you keep the shape intact, and a creamy blush for a dewy effect.

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Shiny and Smudged

Sydney Sweeney in a smudged makeup look and slicked back hair — @sydney_sweeney

Smudged eyeliner on the top and bottom waterline can elevate neutral eye makeup in an instant and doesn't involve complicated steps. When recreating this look, line the rims of your eyes with a long-lasting, waterproof eyeliner before adding your eyeshadow of choice. Finish with a few coats of your favorite volumizing mascara.

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Going Green

Lucy Hale in bright emerald green eye makeup — @lucyhale

Green eyeshadow? Yes, please. This color is an excellent choice to wear with black dresses and comes in varying shades, as well. Try Kjaer Weis's Eye Shadow ($20) in Green Depth, or whatever speaks to you—whether you want a pastel or metallic finish, green really switches things up from everyday neutrals.

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Peachy

Anastasia Saf in an all over peach makeup look — @anastasiasaf

Peach very well could be the new pink, and this versatile hue looks stunning when paired with a black dress. From soft, pastel eyeshadow shades to a glossy lip, peach is a great place to start when bringing earth tones and natural colors into your makeup look, as it complements most complexions.

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Contrast

Shimmering white shadow creates a striking contrast when paired with smoky eyeliner and lots of mascara. You can choose to wear this color alone, or add definition in the crease by contouring with a deeper shade (as pictured here) to bring out your features.

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Gleaming Gold

Gleaming gold tones aren't only for golden hour, as the warm hues bring a delicate glow to the skin that works well with a black dress or any going-out outfit. If highlighter is all you have, try applying the product to your eyes and cheeks for a multi-use experience that also saves time. Ilia Beauty's DayLite Highlighting Powder ($34) in Starstruck adds a sun-kissed shimmer to both eyes and face.

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Deep Drama

Ella Balinska in deep burgundy makeup and a matching lip — @ellabalinska

The drama this makeup look is giving us is everything we want and more. Deep lips with glittering, smoky eyeshadow set the tone for turning heads all day (and night), and this lipstick from Uoma Beauty is a beautiful crimson hue. Not sure where to place the glitter? Start at the center of the eyelid first to get a handle on how the particular product looks and blends, then keep building onto it until you're satisfied.

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Bright and Bold

Joan Smalls wearing blue eyeshadow and a white dress — Getty Images

Don't be afraid to experiment with bold and colorful makeup when wearing a black dress, if you're used to wearing softer tones and not much else. This bright blue eyeshadow, placed strategically in the center of the top and bottom lids, helps to define and bring a lovely contrast.

Key Takeaways

A black dress serves as a blank canvas for your makeup look, whether you choose to stick with neutrals or embrace new trends and pops of color.
A little sparkle or shimmer in your makeup can go a long way when wearing a black dress.
Bright, bold statement lips pair perfectly with an all-black ensemble.

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Soft Petal

Bella Hadid wearing soft pink rose petal makeup — @bellahadid

Soft petal pink applied as a monochromatic tone throughout this makeup idea gives a natural, fresh feel to the skin all while defining features. This is an easy way to put together a makeup look for wearing a black dress, as it enables you to create a beautiful color story.

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Winged Liner

Create contrast in the eyes by extending the shape of your wing out and shade different areas to enhance. The pop of color on the lips and cheeks creates a radiant glow that works well with the dramatic eye makeup.

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Ethereal Glow

Jasmine Tookes with an ethereal makeup look — @jastookes

Ethereal, soft makeup gives a delicate finish and overall glow to the skin while pairing well with black clothing. "I love more neutral colors on darker skin. That golden brown, bronze, sheer gloss look is so pretty and soft," says Robinette. This look proves that nude and natural tones can look elevated and beautiful no matter the occasion.

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Playful and Defining

Yara Shahidi with graphic eyeliner and swirled baby hairs — Getty Images

Liquid liner, defined brows, and an accentuated crease help to bring definition to the eyes and add some drama to an otherwise natural makeup look. When blending eyeshadow in the crease, using a blending brush with a pointed tip can help blend color seamlessly without a ton of shadow fallout.

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A Bold Brow

Camila Morrone with wavy hair and bold eyebrows — @camilamorrone

Bold brows add structure to a soft, natural makeup look. When wearing neutral colors, enhancing eyebrows, eyelashes, and cheekbones are all ways of defining features without wearing a lot of product.

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Divine Liner

Kelsey Merritt with sharp eyeliner and nude lips — Getty Images

Sharp eyeliner paired with nude lips and brushed-up brows looks divine with a black dress. After drawing your wing with liquid or gel eyeliner, blend it under the bottom lashes to create drama without the need for extra blending.

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Eloquent Wings

Selena Gomez in winged eyeliner — @selenagomez

Winged eyeliner comes in many styles, and this subtle, defined liner makes the classic makeup style look eloquent as ever. Wear it with neutral eyeshadow and glossy lips for an effortless look that's impossible to ignore.

"This is a look where the eyes speak for themselves.A little color like a rose or orange tint on the cheek and some bronzer and a nude lip is so pretty and every age group can wear it," says Robinette.

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Festive Flick

Kenya Kinski-Jones in a flicked eyeliner look — @kenyakinskij

A festive, detailed flick takes eye makeup a step further than everyday trends and looks amazing when worn with a black dress. Shaped brows and a shiny, glossy lip don't take away from the work of art on the eyes.

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The Under Eyeliner

Lily Collins with a smoky brown under eye liner look — Getty Images

Add some drama to your makeup look by lining your bottom lash line. This technique allows for more prominent definition, especially in the outer and inner corners. Finish with a few coats of your favorite mascara and a soft contour on the cheeks, topped off with highlighter.

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Glossy and Chic

Skai Jackson with a braided un and pink eyeshadow — Getty Images

Glossy pink eyelids and cheeks are giving ethereal vibes, and the colors pop even more when worn with a black dress. Multi-use products that work on the eyes, cheeks, and lips are helpful when creating monochromatic makeup looks. Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint ($28) in Dew can be added to makeup to instantly make it glossy.

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Shades of Purple

Vanessa Hudgens with purple eyeshadow and a wavy curly lob — Getty Images

Varying shades of purple eyeshadow are always a good idea to wear with a black dress, and the violet and lavender shades here work well together to create a look that pops. Experimenting with purple tones until you find the best ones for your skin tone can be eye-opening, as this hue has major potential across the board.

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Exquisite Eyes

Anok Yai with blue green glitter eyeliner — @anokyai

A touch of highlighter with a pop of eye color is a gorgeous way to wear makeup paired with a black dress, and the shimmery inner corners here are exquisite.

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Smoky Rose

To create soft drama, try mixing a subtle smoky eye with lips in a pale rose shade. Go light on the liner with this one, and finish with a touch of mascara for a simple look that will stun alongside your black dress.

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Bold and Blue

Madelaine Petsch in bold blue eye makeup — Getty Images

Bold blue and aqua tones paired with an all-black ensemble show how color can make a huge impact against a neutral background. Blending one pop of color around the entire eye is a fun alternative to smoky shadow.

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Sharp Edges

Madison Sells in super bold overlined black eyeliner — @madisonsells

The sharper the edges on winged eyeliner, the better. This eyeliner exemplifies how a dramatic shape can change an entire makeup look. Paired with your favorite black dress, the whole look is unstoppable.

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'60s Inspired

Have some fun with your makeup by looking to past decades for inspiration. This 60's-inspired look combines liquid and pencil eyeliner with white shadow and several coats of mascara to create spidery Twiggy lashes.

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Amethyst Eyes

Soft amethyst eyeshadow paired with a matte peach lip will create a pastel fairytale of a makeup look that works amazingly with a black dress, making all the shades really pop. Wearing eyeshadow with a metallic finish is another option for making the purple tone stand out.

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Smoky Chocolate Shadows

Emily Ratajkowski in a smoky chocolate makeup look — @emrata

If you have a medium skin tone, "a smoky look with deep brown shades, paired with paler nude matte lips," works well with a black dress, says Betancur. Chocolate brown eyeshadow gives way to stunning smoky eye makeup when paired with subtle, smudged eyeliner. The neutral, glossy lips, soft contouring, and highlight all work together to create a stunning look, perfect for a LBD.

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All About Rust

Ruairi Luke in rusted eyeshadow — @ruairi_luke

Warm, rich rust hues pair well with black clothing, and can be worn on the lid for a touch of color or blended around the eyes for a smokier effect. Whether you opt for sheer lips and soft blush or want to wear a bright lip color, rust is a delightful color to wear on the lids.

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Shimmering Skin

Sometimes the best makeup look isn't for your face, but for your skin. If your LBD shows some skin, Robinette recommends her favorite body shimmer.

"You don't have to stop at the face. I have a body cream from Prtty Peaushun ($79) with a shimmer in it that i’m obsessed with. Use it on your décolletage, your arms, you can even use it instead of a highlighter," she says. "It has a luminescent glow and it lifts everything."

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Reverse Cat Eye

Betancur loves a good cat eye, and this reverse cat eye look works beautifully with the addition of white liner. "For deep or tan skin, a cat eye with gold eyeshadows and lips adorned with warm-toned lip gloss looks stunning," she adds.