As well as stunning gowns, awards shows bring us swoonsome hair and make-up ideas that – even better – we can try at home. Peruse the season’s best red carpet beauty looks
The gowns have been returned to designers, the statuettes engraved and the red carpets rolled up… awards season is over for another year, but the fun doesn’t stop there, because now we’ve got mountains of spring beauty inspiration to peruse and perfect.
And it’s not just guesswork, either – we’ve got the inside scoop from the make-up artists and hair stylists who made it happen for our leading ladies.
Read on for all the tips, techniques and products you need to transform yourself into an award-worthy goddess…
IN THE PINK
“The inspiration was Bombay Deco meets Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface!” explains make-up artist Romy Soleimani of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bold fuchsia lip at the Golden Globes, which contrasted beautifully with the muted gold tone of her floral dress.
Soleimani matched the Audacious Lipstick in Michiyo with a swirl of hot pink from the Dual Intensity Blush in Panic.
- Dual Intensity Blush in Panic, £30, Nars (narscosmetics.co.uk)
Audacious Lipstick in Michiyo, £24, Nars (narscosmetics.co.uk)
MAKING WAVES
There was barely a pair of straighteners in sight this season, as gentle waves were the by far the most popular choice in the hair department, as seen on Cinderella herself – Lily James – at the Golden Globes.
Stylist Ashley Streicher created the look – described as “1970s French Riviera, elegant and glamorous with an edge” – using Show Beauty products. She explains how:
“Start by spraying Show Beauty Sheer Thermal Protect on clean, dry hair to prepare for heat styling, then use Show Beauty Divine Thickening Mist at the roots to add some volume. Create a centre parting, then use a 1.5-inch curling iron to curl in sections, securing each row with a setting pin. The trick is to curl the first layer in one direction, the next layer in the opposite direction, and so on, to create a tousled wave. Finally, unpin the curls and brush out, finishing with a spritz of dry shampoo and hair spray to set the look.”
- Show Beauty Sheer Thermal Protect, £35, lookfantastic (www.lookfantastic.com)
Show Beauty Divine Thickening Mist, £35, lookfantastic (www.lookfantastic.com)
GOLDEN EYES
The golden girl of awards season, best supporting actress Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, chose a suitably molten eye make-up look to pick up another best supporting actress gong at the SAG Awards.
Make-up legend Charlotte Tilbury explains how she did it: “I applied a cream shadow, Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette, on the lids and softly blended upwards and underneath the waterline. I then applied the pop shade from my Luxury Palette in The Vintage Vamp to the inner corners of the eyes and to the middle of the lids. To add definition and length, Charlotte Tilbury Rock ’N’ Kohl in Barbarella Brown was applied to the outer corners of the top lashline, then I finished the look with Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes on top and bottom lashes.”
- Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette, £22, CharlotteTilbury (www.charlottetilbury.com)
Luxury Palette The Vintage Vamp, £38, CharlotteTilbury (www.charlottetilbury.com)
PERSONALISED POUT
“Effortless, young and fresh” was how make-up artist Stephanie Brooke Barnes described the look she created for Priyanka Chopra at the Academy Awards, the Bollywood beauty who’s now starring in US hit TV drama Quantico.
Starting with a clean matte complexion and subtle smokey eye, Barnes says her favourite element of this look is the unique lipstick shade she created by mixing Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colours in Cocoa Pout and Seduction. The latter isn’t available in the UK until July, but raspberry pink Coquette is the next best thing.
- Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Cocoa Pout and Coquette, £22 each, John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com)
GET KNOTTED
Fussy updos took a back seat this season, as relaxed, slightly undone styles, like Annabelle Wallis’ knotted chignon at the Baftas, came to the fore.
Kieron Fowles, creative director at Regis, demonstrates how to re-create the ’do’:
“Start by applying Sebastian Shaper Zero Gravity to wet hair to create a solid foundation and shine before blow drying, then use a curling wand to tong through the hair before brushing out with a paddle brush to create texture. Create an irregular side parting in the hair, leaving softer strands to fall around the face, then split the hair into two sections and cross one over the other and bring underneath to create a knot. Repeat the step, adding a second knot and secure with elastic. Take the knot and roll the hair under, pinning into place to create a chignon.”
- Sebastian Shaper Zero Gravity, £16.50, Regis Salons (www.regissalons.co.uk)
GOING GOTH
It was a bit of a snoozefest nails-wise at the Oscars, with a sea of nude and beige manis, but we love the way Jennifer Lawrence and Kerry Washington contrasted their black and white dresses with gothic nails. Try Deborah Lippman’s Fade to Black for shiny, long-lasting, pitch black perfection.
- Deborah Lippmann Fade to Black, £16, Net-a-Porter (www.net-a-porter.com)
FELINE FEEL
Saoirse Ronan picked up a heap of acting nominations this year – and the 21-year-old looked super-confident on the red carpet too.
Showcasing the power of simplicity, make-up artist Karen Alder designed Ronan’s Baftas look, saying: “We went for a fresh look and focused on the classic feline flick.”
The precise line was painted on with Lancome Artliner and followed by lashings of Hypnose Doll Eyes.
- Lancome Artliner 01 Black, £21, John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com)
Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara So Black!, £22.50, John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com)