(Culture)
These Were The Best Hair & Makeup Looks That Graced The Critics’ Choice Awards Red Carpet
Awards season is in full swing — and with it comes mega-inspiration season. As each new red-carpet show airs (basically every weekend in January), celebrities offer up tons of ogle-worthy material, not only in outfit styling choice, but in hair and makeup, too. So if one show doesn't supply the night-out beauty inspiration you need, another certainly will. The most recent one to provide endless inspo? The best beauty looks at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards.
The 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards aired Jan. 12, and for everyone who only watches the first hour (aka when the celebrities arrive), it was riveting. As each new celebrity made their entrance, the tally for best looks seemed to just keep growing. While many stars followed in the Golden Globe footsteps of bold red lips like Saoirse Ronan and Awkwafina, others — like Zendaya and Lucy Hale — took on a new trend of directly matching their makeup to their outfits in a way that doesn't harken back to sixth grade.
Aside from the many makeup looks, hair-spiration was bountiful as well. Hopping on the '70s shag moment, Chernobyl star Jessie Buckley sported a faux mullet (yes, it's worth trying out) while Lupita Nyong'o took her hair sky-high. Whether you're wanting to create something bold like those two or take things a more classic route like Cynthia Erivo's chopped 'do, there was a little something for everyone this show. Keep scrolling to see the best looks from the star-studded evening, and be prepared to want to copy them all.
Rachel Brosnahan
Hair stylist Owen Gould expertly crafted The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star's plait using budget-friendly Suave products. But in a most delightful twist, he finished the look by wrapping a silver thread found at a local craft store around the braid for added edge.
Awkwafina
Just when you thought cascading waves couldn't get any better, Awkwafina and her golden hair pin arrived to prove you wrong. This small detail highlighted the actor's face, and gave added dimension to the classic hairstyle.
Lucy Hale
There's no better way to describe this look than Hale's makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan did in her Instagram caption: "MINT to Be 💚." Deenihan matched Hale's makeup to her dress by using the green color subtly and only on the inner corners of the eye. By sticking to neutral tones on the rest of her face, she balanced out the bright, spring-like color and kept the look from appearing overly sweet.
Cynthia Erivo
You can thank makeup artist Terrell Mullin for Erivo's take on old Hollywood glamour. Instead of going all out with a bright red lip, a press release explained that he used two shades from Armani Beauty to achieve the actor's pretty pout: Lip Magnet Liquid Lipstick in 402, and a touch of Lip Maestro Liquid Lipstick in 300 just in the center of the lip for dimension.
Saoirse Ronan
On the other hand, if you're wanting a bold red lip, why not go all the way and carry shades of the color across your entire face like Little Women actor Saoirse Ronan? While the lip does take center stage, the pink accenting in her eyeshadow and blush add to the spellbinding nature of this look. (Hats off the the amazing side-swept bang moment happening here, too).
Lupita Nyong'o
Celebrity stylist Vernon Francois came to play. He created what he termed "afro clouds" on Nyong'o (one of his longtime muses) by keeping her natural hair, utilizing Matrix haircare products, and artfully wrapping a gold wire at the base of the puffs to finish off the look.
Zendaya
By now, you've probably seen images of Zendaya floating around tenfold. This entire look could not be left out, though. From the bum-grazing braids to her fuschia-rimmed eyes, the Euphoria star might have taken home "best beauty look of the night" if that were a real award.
Florence Pugh
Hairstylist Peter Lux's swooping updo for Little Women actor Florence Pugh is just as chic as it as affordable. The stylist achieved the smooth and silky texture using Dove products, so you can easily rock this look even if you aren't stepping onto a red carpet.
Jessie Buckley
If you want to foray into the mullet world without having to entirely commit, take notes from Wild Rose star Jessie Buckley. Her usual blunt bangs are pushed back into a tousled coif, allowing for the rest of her hair to jut out the back creating an effortless faux mullet.
