The 2024 Met Gala Beauty Looks Are The Most Decadent In Years

Refresh your screen, prepare the pre-viewing beverages, and fire up the group chat. The Met Gala is officially — finally — here, and it’s already shaping up to be the most exciting event in recent memory. The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are already coated in plush carpet and the press barricades erected, but the fun doesn’t truly start until the big-name stars and the designer dates arrive. This year, though, expect drama from more than just the couture. The dress code is The Garden of Time, and fans are expecting the 2024 Met Gala’s best beauty looks to be equally notable as such — if not more so, in fact.

While the 1962 J.G. Ballard short story of the same name, for which the Gala organizers drew the dress-up theme, explores plenty of deeper, more metaphorical topics, there’s just as much literal makeup, hair, and nail inspiration to be sourced — think winding vines, lush, bright florals, and all sorts of botanical motifs. Interestingly, it all ties in to the event and exhibit’s larger theme: Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. Of course, the tone for the evening was set early with the arrival of co-chairs Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya, who’s making her long-awaited return to the fundraiser after a five-year hiatus. While these style icons kicked things off in dramatic fashion, a number of major beauty looks unfolded throughout the night, including Amanda Seyfried’s shiny silver updo and Ariana Grande’s iridescent face decals.

Ahead, explore all of the best beauty looks of the 2024 Met Gala.

Tyla

Playing off of the “sands of time” inspiration behind her dress, Tyla’s makeup consisted of shimmering sepia and golden tones. The duo of Ernest Robinson and Ryan Burke for Pat McGrath Labs used the legendary makeup artist’s Skin Fetish: Divine Glow Highlighter and Highlighter + Balm Duo in Bronze to achieve the singer’s unbelievable glow. Her fresh wet-look bob was styled to retro perfection by Lacy Redway.

Charli XCX

Channeling ‘90s gothic glamour, the singer’s spikey bun was paired with a matte nearly-black lip by Isamaya Ffrench. The makeup artist applied MAC’s Lip Pencil in Chestnut as the base, then added the MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Sin over top.

Alexandra Daddario

Daddario’s snake headpiece was an eye-catching interpretation of the night’s theme. Her hairstylist Christopher Farmer played off of the accessory’s shape by adding loose bends to her hair using Verb products. Meanwhile, makeup artist Lottie Stannard highlighted the actor’s piercing blue eyes with gold Dior eye makeup and her cheekbones with Dior Forever Glow Star Filter. The color palette expertly corresponded to the lace detailing of Daddario’s Dior gown.

Gabrielle Union

Soft, pretty vintage ‘70s makeup was the MO of Tasha Reiko Brown when getting Union ready for the night. She used various light pink shades of various Chanel products and Tweezerman tools to create a monochromatic watercolor look. For an extra glow, she prepped the star’s skin with Therabody’s TheraFace Mask ahead of their glam session. Further leaning into the vintage glamour, Union’s hair was pulled up into a sculptural beehive.

Nicole Kidman

With Kidman wearing a recreation of a ‘50s-era Balenciaga gown, hairstylist Adir Abergel channeled the voluminous styles of the decade when creating the actor’s smooth blowout with slight bends. He relied on the Virtue Labs products in his kit, along with Kristin Ess hot tools and a few Hidden Crown clip-in extensions. Makeup artist Gucci Westman also delivered retro glamour by creating a fresh-faced makeup look with soft winged liner using products from her namesake cosmetics line.

Amanda Gorman

With Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly on Joanna Simkin’s mood board, Gorman brought romance to the Met Gala red carpet with her flushed pink cheeks and lips. Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Envy Sculpting Blush in Mauve Mystique and Pure Color Explicit Slick Shine Lipstick in 903 Wrong Number were among the hero products in the MUA’s kit.

Michelle Yeoh

Yeoh’s dew-drop bob was created by Marty Harper and a lot of Fekkai hair oil to achieve the extra glossy finish. Her juicy skin and shiny rosy lip by Soo Park using Sisley Paris was also reminiscent of fresh garden florals.

Lana Del Rey

Channeling the romantic gothic aesthetic, Del Rey’s hairstylist Anna Cofone styled the singer’s hair in deconstructed waist-length waves with the help of Authentic Beauty Concept products. Her MUA Etienne Ortega used makeup from Charlotte Tilbury and his namesake line to create a tawny contoured lip and corresponding eyeshadow. The overall effect was ethereal and poetic — just like the singer’s brand of music.

Sabrina Carpenter

Working late because she’s a singer — and attending the Met Gala — Carpenter’s inner eye highlight and fresh-faced glow care of MUA Carolina Gonzalez and Armani Beauty will help her appear wide awake long into the night. Ahead of walking the red carpet, colorist Laurie Heaps refreshed her bright blonde shade with Redken dye, then stylist Scott King added loose romantic waves to her strands using Redken products and Dyson tools.

Cardi B

Cardi’s beauty look all tied back to her stunning emerald necklace. In addition to coordinating stiletto nails, makeup artist Erika La’ Pearl lined the rapper’s lower lash line with the green shades in NYX’s Ultimate Utopia Palette. While many celebs wore sculptural updos, Cardi’s beehive-like look by Tokyo Stylez and göt2b takes the cake for the most gravity-defying look of the night.

Kylie Jenner

With her soft blush monochromatic makeup and romantic rose-adorned updo, Jenner looks every bit the Old Hollywood starlet. Naturally, her makeup artist Ariel Tejada used various Kylie Cosmetics products to achieve the timeless look.

Rosalía

Moody and effortlessly glamorous, Rosalía’s reimagination of Dior’s New Look is quintessentially motomami. Using Dior Beauty products, her makeup artist Shelby Smith leaned into the vintage makeup looks of the era by pairing the singer’s soft matte skin with a lived-in wine-stained lip that perfectly peeked through her Stephen Jones headpiece. Hairstylist Evanie Frausto styled the singer’s hair in loose brushed-out waves using Bumble and bumble products.

Taraji P. Henson

Inspired by retro beauty icons Diana Ross and Minnie Riperton, Henson’s go-to stylist Tym Wallace crafted the star’s breathtaking updo adorned with flowers and crystal using TPH by Taraji products and custom hair jewelry made by Erynn Lyss using Swarovski crystals. Further proving the tiniest details can make the biggest impact, Henson’s makeup artist Saisha Beecham added a touch of pink Danessa Myricks eyeshadow to the inner corners of her eyes.

Kendall Jenner

Jenner was one of many celebs who wore their hair in cascading pre-raphaelite waves thanks to the magic of extensions. Her subtle cat-flick liner, rosy cheeks, and muted pink lip by Mary Phillips using L’Oréal Paris makeup drove the ethereal theme of her beauty look home.

Sydney Sweeney

After debuting a blonde blunt bob a few days ago, Sweeney took to the Met Gala red carpet with a chunky black version of the cut accessorized with bangs. The dark and moody style by Glen Coco using Sutra Tools and Kérastase products, was a cool contrast to her flushed pink cheeks and lip gloss crafted by Melissa Hernandez using Armani Beauty makeup and Laneige skin prep.

Kim Kardashian

Kardashian infused her signature Calabasas glam into otherwise low-key hair and makeup staples. Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton styled the star’s platinum blonde hair into unbelievably smooth beachy waves with Color Wow products and Shark FlexStyle Sparkle Air Styling & Drying System, then gathered the ends into a very loose braid. Makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic finished off the look with a soft smoky eye and nude matte lip using SKKN By Kim and Makeup By Mario.

Kerry Washington

Florals for spring? Groundbreaking when you execute the seasonal motif like Washington. Her makeup artist Carola Gonzalez played up the purple tones of her Oscar de la Renta dress by using Bobbi Brown products to create soft purple eye makeup and a petal pink lip. Known for her red carpet hair switch-ups, Washington naturally debuted a dramatic style for fashion’s biggest night, opting for a choppy pixie complete with baby bangs styled by Takisha Sturdivant-Drew using Schwarzkopf color and styling products and Conair tools.

Amanda Seyfried

Virtually unrecognizable without her flaxen blonde stands, Seyfried dyed her hair silver to match her Prada gown. Her makeup artist Genevieve Herr also referenced the violet flowers on her dress, choosing to paint her lips with Lancôme’s L’Absolu Rouge Drama Matte Lipstick in Rêve Toujours.

Cynthia Erivo

With extra-long fluttery lashes, winged liner, and shimmery rose blush draped up around her orbital bone, Erivo’s makeup by Sam Fine using Haus Labs channels the 3D flower petals on her deconstructed Thom Browne suit. Hairstylist Nai’vasha collaborated with Jennifer Behr on the dazzling embroidered butterfly accessory the actor wore on the back of her head to complete the thriving garden theme.

Ariana Grande

Grande leaned into her upcoming role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked with a downright ethereal look, from the opalescent floral bodice of her Loewe gown to matching decals makeup artist Michel Anthony added on the outer corners of her eyes after perfecting her complexion with r.e.m. Beauty. For her hair, she stuck with her signature sleek ponytail.

Keke Palmer

No doubt an impressive feat, Palmer’s gravity-defying sleek high ponytail accented with a strip of crystals at the hairline is impossible to miss on a red carpet stacked with dramatic updos and hairpieces. Her makeup by Kenya Alexis is equally glamorous, consisting of a soft chocolate smoky eye and a few swipes of MILK Makeup’s RISE Mascara for extra fluttery lashes.

Jessica Biel

Dusted in pink all over, Biel looks like a blooming flower in her petal-covered gown and matching eyeshadow. Artfully mussed waves complete her earthy look, a smart extension of her textured ensemble. Hairstylist Adir Abergel achieved the perfectly tousled texture with the help of Virtue Labs Healing Oil, Hidden Crown hair extensions, and a Kristin Ess curling iron, while makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua used Chanel’s Ombre Essentielle eyeshadow for the focal point of her makeup and the NIRA laser for skin prep.

Greta Lee

Lee expertly balances edgy and ethereal with the coolest haircut of the night. Embracing a full-fledged mullet with choppy micro-bangs created by Jenny Cho with Fekkai products, it’s a chic contrast to her snowy white gown. Nina Park added the faintest hint of pink Addiction Tokyo blush and a single coat of mascara (if that) adds fresh-faced appeal.

Emily Ratajkowski

Her clingy, beaded gown might be form-fitting, but Ratajkowski’s fanned-out hair has enough shape and structure to go around. Impossibly intricate with a braided back and spiked sides, her updo is truly wearable art.

Gigi Hadid

There are so many hidden details to enjoy in Hadid’s Met Gala look. There’s the Maybelline New York rosy blush, crimson lips, and retro-curled bob, of course, but take a look at her nails. Each one is carefully decorated with a 3D rose that matches the yellow ones on her gown.

Taylor Russell

How’s this for an on-theme hairstyle? The bouquet of floral pieces arranged in Russell’s hair are actually made from real wood. She says she took inspiration from trees, and it definitely comes across with her whimsical, intricate bun.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Though largely obscured by her massive (and very excellent) headpiece, you can still get the full effect of Parker’s radiant, rosy blush. The real star of her beauty look, though, might her hair, extended well past her hips and shaped with large, loose waves.

Ayo Edebiri

Leaning into the floral motif with a beautiful wash of petal-pink blush, Edebiri is a true breath of fresh spring air. Her lacy floral headpiece, only visible from some angles, is brushed with seafoam green and soft purples, to connect all the botanical shades in her sweeping gown. The sleek updo anchoring the look was created by Miles Jeffries using Maui Moisture and Olivia Garden. The actor’s makeup artist Dana Delany further played into the floral theme by adding a royal flush to her cheeks by layering Ilia Beauty’s Multi-Stick in A Fine Romance and Color Haze in Sing.

Mindy Kaling

By leaning into a classic, sultry combination of a voluminous lob and major lashes, Kaling lets her sculptural dress take the spotlight. A barely-glossed lip adds a hint of shine — as does the reflective product in her hair. Ahead of walking the MET steps, the actor prepped her skin with Lion Pose’s Unspotted 4X Serum to help her complexion really glow.

Zoë Saldana

Forget Sleeping Beauties — Saldana looked more like a modern incarnation of Rapunzel with her long, waist-skimming waves and glowing skin care of MUA Vera Steimberg, Patrick Ta makeup, and iS Clinical skin care. A flesh-colored gown adds to her sensual, ethereal look.

Madelyn Cline

Soft, smoke-gray eye makeup by Jen Tioseco using Revlon and Fig.1 adds a silvery, faintly shimmery sheen to Cline’s Met Gala look. It’s a smart contrast to her gown, complementing the buttery beige shade without striking an exact match. Tousled, voluminous waves, blown back from her face, frame it all. Her stylist Marc Mena turned to Marila Nila products and Great Lengths extensions for those extra inches.

Zendaya

With her ‘20-style brows and dark, gothic lips, Zendaya is already the evening’s standout — no surprise there. Her glossy nails match the moody lip shade, and ties together the deeper elements of her peacock-colored ensemble. Hairstylist Ursula Stephen added a softness to the overall look with a delicate updo created with Living Proof styling products and Dyson hair tools.

Jennifer Lopez

Incredibly, a low-key approach to eye makeup only serves to make Lopez look even more striking — especially with her hair pulled back into a high, whimsical bun. Her stylist Lorenzo Martin achieved the tousled effect with TRESemmé products, plus Shark and Tangle Teezer hair tools.

Ashley Graham

Using Revlon products, KISS lashes, and St. Tropez self-tanners, Graham and her MUA Ivan Núñez opted for a more minimal makeup moment this Met Gala, her edgy, piece-y micro-bangs bring more than enough drama to her beauty look. The gelled spikes her stylist and ghd ambassador Justine Marjan added lend an unexpected twist, accenting her leather-and-sequin gown.

Emma Chamberlain

Deep, chocolate-brown makeup slightly softens Chamberlain’s intensely smoky eye look, tied together by her sepia-toned lips and lacy, dress-matching gloves. Makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan created the soft goth look using Lancôme products. Chamberlain’s coordination was taken to the next level by hairstylist Sami Knight who added chocolate lace pieces to the twisted bun he created with Bellami hair extensions and Emi Jay accessories.

Lala Anthony

With her prim, perky ponytail and classic bow, Anthony is straight out of a storybook, underscored by a bit of retro charm. Her cat-eye makeup emphasizes the vintage appeal. Of course, no makeup look is complete without a flawless canvas. Makeup artist Rokael prepped her skin with Dieux’s Instant Angel Moisturizer before getting into glam.