How to Look Pretty at School

Last Updated: January 22, 2023 References

Physical appearance plays a significant role in how you are perceived by others. ^{[1]
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Research source} In a setting such as school, there are lots of eyes on you - students, faculty, staff, coaches, etc.- using your appearance, in part, to form an opinion about you. Looking pretty will help them gain a better impression of you, and help you to feel better about yourself.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Keeping a Pretty Face and Hair

1
Tone and moisturize your face. Toner and moisturizer help to achieve a glowing complexion. Toner goes onto a cleansed face first. It tightens your pores and reduces the oil that builds up on skin and makes it shiny. Moisturizer goes on after. It keeps the skin hydrated, reducing flakes and scales.^{[2]
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- If you have oily or combination skin, use a moisturizer made for oily or combination skin. This way, it won't make you break out.
- If you have dry skin, look for a toner made for sensitive or dry skin. You could also try a natural toner, such as rosewater.
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Apply basic facial makeup, such as concealer and blush if desired. Face makeup helps to even out your skin tone and make your face look smooth and flawless. A basic makeup routine each morning before school may help you look your best all day long.^{[3]
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- Use a concealer that matches your skin tone to cover up blemishes, then blend it in with a makeup sponge.
- Use powder makeup brushes to apply powdered blush or powdered bronzer. Use a makeup sponge for cream or liquid products. Be sure to blend well.
- Set your makeup and help it last longer with translucent setting powder or setting spray.
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3
Make your eyes pop with the right color of eyeshadow. Wearing eye makeup highlights one of the most mesmerizing features of your face. Basic eye makeup consists of eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara. Choose which of these, if any, you want to use. Wear eye makeup that works best with your eye color.
- Blue Eyes: Use eyeshadow in neutral colors, such as rose, terracotta, or light purple. Extend your eyeliner past the outer corner of your eyelid to create a "cat-eye" look.^{[5]
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- Brown Eyes: Choose deep colors like plum, charcoal, or forest green for dark brown eyes. For medium brown eyes, try purple, green, or bronze shadow. If your eyes are light brown, try bronze or champagne. Wear dark brown eyeliner instead of black.^{[6]
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- Green Eyes: Try different shades of purple shadow, copper, or gold eyeshadow. Skip black eyeliner and try chocolate brown or espresso eyeliner instead.^{[7]
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Accentuate your lips. Adding color to your lips makes them look fuller while slimming the rest of your face. Basic lip makeup consists of lip liner, lipstick, and lip gloss. If using all three, carefully line your lips first. Follow with lipstick and top with gloss. Use colors on your lips that complement your features.^{[8]
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- Blonde Hair/Light Complexion: Wear hues that look light and natural, such as pale pinks, peach, or rose.^{[9]
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- Red Hair and Light Complexion: Try nude and beige shades and avoid pink or red shades.^{[10]
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- Brown or Black Hair/Light or Dark Complexion: Stick with deep, rich tones, such as spicy reds or bright corals, regardless of your skin tone. Skip pale, neutral shades.^{[11]
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Style your hair. Different kinds of faces look best with different hairstyles. Choose the style that will best fit your face shape.^{[12]
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- Round Face: Wear your hair down with long layers, especially in the front. Try a middle part, and avoid bangs, bob cuts, and side parts.
- Oval Face: Experiment with any length or texture. You can also try bangs and different parts. Long, voluminous layers would look great, however.
- Heart-Shaped Face: Wear bangs that are cut straight across or swept off to one side. Keep your layers around your cheeks. Shoulder-length and chin-length hair looks best. Slicked-back or sleek, straight looks don't work as well.
- Square Face: Wear hair wispy and falling in front of your face at your jawline. Side-swept bangs and hairstyles that are high (teased) at the crown work well. Avoid blunt haircuts and bobs.
- Oblong Face: Straight-across bangs with a side part look best, along with layered, wavy styles. Avoid middle parts, and hairstyles that are high at the crown.
- Triangle Face: Try layered hairstyles that taper at the jaw line. Stay away from longer hairstyles, but don't go as short as a bob cut.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Dressing Nicely

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Dress for your body type. Wear clothing that flatters your bodies and instills a sense of confidence when you put it on. Decide what kinds of clothes accentuate the best features of your body, while downplaying other areas you’re not as comfortable with. There are certain clothes that look universally great on different body types.^{[14]
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- Hourglass Body: Draw attention curves and a thin waistline with a wrap dress, pencil skirt, belted jacket, or high-waisted, wide legged pants.
- Apple Body: Accentuate thin legs while de-emphasizing the waistline with a flowing top, low-waisted straight leg pants, circle skirt, or shift dress.
- Pear Body: Highlight a small waistline and downplay hips, butt, and thighs with an A-Line skirt, fit and flare dress, embellished shirt, bootcut pants, or structured jacket.
- Rectangle Body shapes: Create the appearance of curves and highlight thin areas with a ruffled top, mini skirt, side cutout dress, skinny jeans, or cropped jacket.
2
Choose a color palette. Decide which colors best complement your skin-tone and features. Choose clothes within that color palette to underscore your natural beauty.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- Warm Skin Tones: Try warm reds (like tomato), peach, golden yellow, golden brown, olive green, gold.
- Cool Skin Tones: try cool reds (like cherry), pink, blue, teal, turquoise, purple, mint green, silver.
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Accessorize, but don't over do it. Accessories add pizzazz to an outfit. Even the most basic of clothing can look great when dressed with the right accessories. Consider the kinds of accessories that will complement your outfit and reflect your personal style.^{[17]
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- Draw attention to your face with big earrings, or emphasize your top with a long necklace. Don't be afraid to mix metals when wearing jewelry, as long as jewelry is allowed at your school.
- Break up monotony with a belt. Wear a belt around your waist to make it appear smaller, or around your hips to make them appear broader.
- The simpler the outfit is, the more accessories you can wear. The more complex or patterned the outfit is, the fewer accessories you should wear.
- Wear accessories that say something about your personality or interests. Consider boho, gothic, punk, or vintage/retro accessories.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Practicing Good Hygiene

1
Shower or bathe daily. Each morning before school or the night before, take a shower or bath and wash yourself thoroughly with soap or body wash. Cleanliness is key in achieving a comely appearance.
- Remember to wash your face with a gentle face wash that is suitable for your skin type.
- There is more to being pretty than just looks; you have to smell good too!
2
Wash your hair. Frequency of hair washing is an individual preference, depending largely on your hair type. Figure out how often you need to wash your hair for it to maintain a clean look. For some, this may be every day, for others a couple of times a week. Use shampoo every time, and conditioner if desired.
- If you have naturally curly, dry, or brittle hair, consider using a hair mask every so often to keep your hair looking soft and healthy.
3
Brush and floss your teeth. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. No exceptions. This will help maintain a healthy-looking smile.^{[18]
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- If you have to wear braces, take a toothbrush with you to school so that you can brush your teeth after eating lunch.
4
Wear antiperspirant or deodorant. While not necessarily affecting the way you look, wearing an antiperspirant or deodorant will make you feel and smell fresh throughout the day. An antiperspirant will also help to eliminate sweat stains on your clothing, adding to your hygienic appearance. If you are a young school girl, aged 7 or 8, you might not need deodorant.
- Not every product will work for you, so you may have to try a few different before you find the right one.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Being Pretty From Within

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Smile. Studies have shown that people find a smiling face more attractive than one with a scowl.^{[20]
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Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} People are naturally drawn to happiness and will gravitate toward you if they see your happy, smiling face. A smile will also make you look more approachable to others.^{[21]
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- Remember to smile with your eyes as well; this will make your smile look genuine.
- This doesn't mean that you have to smile all the time like a doll. Smile whenever you feel like it, or when you meet people.
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Be confident. True beauty comes from within. If you feel beautiful on the inside, it'll be reflected in how you look on the outside. As celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown once said, "Feeling confident, being comfortable in your skin — that's what really makes you beautiful."^{[22]
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- If feeling confident doesn't come easily to you, try this: each day, look in the mirror and say one compliment to yourself. Start small, then move onto bigger things.
- There's a difference between being confident and arrogant. You're confident if you know that you draw well; you're arrogant if you think you're the best artist ever.
3
Focus on what you have, rather than what you don't. We all want the perfect body, thick lustrous hair, pouty lips, and impeccable skin. Very few people have all of these qualities. Be thankful for the things about yourself that you love, and learn to embrace the imperfections.^{[23]
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- For example, you might choose to focus on your pretty eyes or gorgeous hair. You might look great in hats or glasses, or maybe you pull off the retro style incredibly well.
- Don't forget about the non-physical traits, such as your talents and personality. If you're a good singer, show it off!

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I look pretty with makeup?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. With more than 10 years of experience, Natalie specializes in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Keep your makeup minimal so your natural beauty shines through. You don't need a lot of makeup to be pretty!
Question

How can I be more naturally pretty?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. With more than 10 years of experience, Natalie specializes in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Wear colors and textures that complement your hair, eyes, and skin. If you like to wear makeup, I suggest going with something minimal so your natural beauty can shine through.
Question

Makeup isn't allowed at my house, but I want to have some so badly. All the girls at my school have makeup and its driving me crazy not having any. What do I do?

IiPancakes

Community Answer

If you want makeup to look nicer and you can' t have it, just take care of your skin. Get plenty of sleep (about nine hours) and wash your face every day. Wear sunscreen on your face when you go out to prevent wrinkles and freckles. Try to work on the makeup thing with your parents gradually. Ask them if you can get some tinted lip gloss or something, perhaps as a reward for good grades, and gradually work your way up to other things.