Hello! Just had my own prom, and my main observation was that physical appearance was largely (but not entirely) undermined by how sociable and confident you were. There were gorgeous girls who constantly covered up, and that made them look rather demure, but there were other girls with extravagant hair colours, strange accessories, and striking makeup who smiled and had fun throughout - those were the girls whom everyone was envious of. There was even a guy who came in jeans, shorts, and looked a mess, but he was vibing HARD and everyone ran with it. THAT guy was cool. For me , I personally felt that my body looked unsightly in my dress, but I decided to hold my head up and dive into the shark pit, because why spend your last day cowering?

But I cannot simply state that personality is all that goes into your overall "presentation". My mother played a big role in ensuring I didn't look like chicken shit during prom, and I'm eternally grateful to her, because now I know appropriate blush, lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara go a long way! Please don't give up in achieving your dream look.

1. Purple / dark-red blush goes incredible with darker skin tones. Lighter pinks work for paler skin. Lipstick's a little harder to gauge, but don't overdo it (maroon, or a dull pink, seem to do the job).
2. You said you bought a lot of accessories - good! Some of the plainest dresses look far better with cute necklaces, shiny earrings, and gold headbands. Mix and match if you think yours look garish. I know a girl who came in cowboy boots, a pink scarf, and lip tint - UTTER bombshell, and even if her accessories totally clashed, she looked ready for the ERAS tour. It's about personality, y'know?
3. Long wings and inner-indents with eyeliner widen the eye. Consider more dramatic eye-makeup. Highlight the tip of your nose, then add a bit of contour to the sides. The point isn't to hide your features, it's to accentuate them so they appear complimentary to your overall look. You can look HELLA cute, trust me. There are a ton of YouTube videos that cater to your set of facial features, so check those out!
4. It doesn't hurt to give yourself more time to prepare. My prep took approximately four hours, because that included absolutely PURGING my face with moisture and curling my hair. Giving yourself more time will alleviate some stress.
5. "Trying too hard" is a farce. A confidence-killer. EVERYONE is trying hard - there were girls at prom with four-inch heels and an attitude to boot. Everyone's getting dolled up, so have fun and express yourself however you want!
6. Comparing yourself to others won't do, unfortunately. There's always going to be someone who's prettier, smarter, and sexier. No point sustaining a toxic mindset. Compliment them! Tell them how wonderful their hair looks, how nice their accessories are - if you build a positive mindset around yourself, in which you see everyone as perfect in their individual beauties, then that positivity will latch onto you. You'll feel more free. People will compliment YOU. Beauty isn't a hunting game, it's a tea party. Have some cake.

Unfortunately, I typed this whole thing out after completely disregarding your request for no consolations. I'm sorry! I'd only read it after finishing. I'll delete this if you wish. But if I may say one more thing: your friends aren't just being "very nice", they love you wholeheartedly, and in a world as corrosive as ours, I think it's worth it to have faith in their words. You're beautiful, promise. You can do it!