Want to steal the beauty secrets of the red carpet set? We pick our best of the awards season make-up and hair looks, while star stylists reveal how to recreate them at home
The dresses don’t half hog the limelight during awards season.
Seeing as they are the most exquisite gowns in the world, it’s fair enough, but the chance of us mere mortals squeezing into one of those extortionate frocks is about as likely as Keira Knightley wearing Primark to her next premiere.
Emulating the celebs’ hair and make-up is, on the other hand, a far more attainable goal.
And with so many heavenly hair styles and gorgeous make-up looks to choose from, 2015 has been a bumper year.
Now that all the major awards shows are done and dusted, we take a look back at the stars who shone on the red carpet, dish out our own awards, and get the experts’ advice on how to recreate their looks.
BEST BOB: ROSAMUND PIKE
“Stunning swish from the Gone Girl!” says hair stylist Errol Douglas MBE. “Rosamund’s honey-hued long bob is all in the cut – delivering just the right balance of edge, glamour and femininity.”
How to get the actress’ sleek Golden Globes style? “Prep the hair when wet with a hydrating styling product like Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling cream, which adds shine without weight,” Douglas says. “Then use a small barrel brush and tension blow dry with a nozzle in a downwards direction from root to ends.
“Next, run straighteners over sections starting at the back, to give a really sleek finish. Spray a little non-sticky hairspray onto your hands and smooth them from crown to ends – once on each side and once at the back.”
- Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, £23.75 (www.lookfantastic.com)
- Unite Round Brush 4, £15.25 (available in April; www.urbanretreat.co.uk)
PORCELAIN PERFECTION: EMMA STONE
Best Supporting Actress Nominee Emma Stone looked radiant at the Oscars, her flawless skin beautifully complemented with subtle peach make-up hues.
“The look I designed was a complete response to the colour of her dress, which is an amazing green,” explains Revlon’s Celebrity Make-up Artist Rachel Goodwin.
“I really wanted to let the colour speak, but with a fun, unexpected twist, so I chose a beautiful, peachy-coral lip to complement it. Her look is soft and ethereal, with the total feeling of spring.”
- Revlon PhotoReady Primer and Anti-Shine Balm, £9.99, Boots (www.boots.com)
- Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in HD Hibiscus, £7.99, Boots (available in April; www.boots.com)
BEST UPDO: JOANNE FROGGATT
Downton Abbey star Joanne was flying the flag for the UK at the Golden Globes, taking home the Best Supporting Actress gong for the TV show.
Hair stylist Ashley Streicher explains how to create a halo plait like Joanne’s:
“Spray damp hair with leave-in conditioner then blowdry. Once the hair is dry, shake Unite Expanda Dust on the root area before lightly backcombing and parting at the centre. Starting from just behind the temple, create a French plait with half the hair, then repeat on the other side. Gently pull the plaits apart to loosen them, then pin on the crown. Finish by smoothing any stray strands with Unite Second Day and add a spritz of hairspray.”
- Unite Expanda Dust Volumizing Powder, £11.99 (www.amazon.co.uk)
- Unite Second Day, £15.80 (www.tooperfect.co.uk)
EXQUISITE EYES: LUPITA NYONG’O
Oscar winner Lupita proved at the Golden Globes that matching your dress, jewellery and make-up isn’t necessarily a no-no, even if they’re all purple.
Make-up artist Nick Barose said he wanted to complement the actress’ flowing floral Giambattista Valli couture gown with glowing skin and a vibrant eye.
Barose used a new eye palette developed in collaboration with the Lancome Ambassadress, but you can recreate the look by layering the violet tones of the Reflet D’Amesth palette and finishing with paler purple at the inner corner of the eye.
- Lancome Hypnose Doll Eye Palette in Reflet D’Amesth, £38, John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com)
PERFECT PONYTAIL: JENNIFER LOPEZ
“Her long tresses look awesome in this high, wavy ponytail,” says Celebrity Hairdresser Nicky Clarke, of La Lopez at the Oscars.
“To achieve this look, put some mousse on freshly washed hair then blast dry. Using large heated rollers, roll all of your hair up and allow to cool before taking the rollers out. Next, brush all of the hair up into a high ponytail, keep it tight to the head and work the hair up to the crown before fixing in place with a bungee cord or covered band. Brush the hair using a couple of drops of Nicky Clarke Argan Oil to gloss the lengths and fix into a long waved ponytail.”
- Nicky Clarke Classic Compact Rollers, £19.99, Boots (www.boots.com)
- Nicky Clarke Weightless Treatment with Argan Oil, £20 (www.lookfantastic.com)
BEST SMOKY EYE: RITA ORA
Singer Rita Ora contrasted her platinum hair and dazzling silver gown with a gorgeous grey smoky eye on the Brits red carpet, created by Rimmel.
Start by applying Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Blackmail on the eyelids and under the eye, then add definition with a black kohl eyeliner, including on the waterline. Lighten the look by dotting Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Mercury Silver in the corner of the eye and blending outwards, then finish with a couple of coats of black mascara.
- Rimmel London Scandaleyes Shadow Stick, £4.49, Boots (www.boots.com)
- Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Mercury Silver, £2.29 (www.amazon.co.uk)