(Celebrity)
The Most Iconic Oscars Beauty Looks Ever Will Take You Back In Time
A journey through every trend.
Even in the hustle and bustle of award show season, the Academy Awards ceremony still reigns supreme. Moments from the event — which airs this year on Sunday March 10 — go from TV screens to sartorial legends in a matter of moments; and no, not just talking about Björk's avian gown or Hilary Swank's Guy Laroche dress (but more on that one later). The same goes for the best Oscars beauty looks from the past 100 years. While they might not come to mind as quickly as a swan dress, certain makeup looks and hairstyles are just as memorable as an iconic gown or particularly witty joke.
After all, the Oscars are where new makeup trends blossom, hair colors are debuted, and certain styles start to appear for the very first time. Although not every makeup look from the prestigious show is still as cutting edge as it was in, say, the ‘60s, if you look back, you’ll find so many beauty ideas to copy for 2024. (Though really, what part of Audrey Hepburn's beauty routine isn't in style today?)
Below, 25 of the most on-trend Oscars beauty moments from days gone by — that you might see popping up once again at the 96th annual Academy Awards on Sunday evening.
Michelle Yeoh’s Pearlescent Nails
It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve watched Yeoh’s tearjerking acceptance speech at the 2023 Oscars — it still feels just as fresh and resonate with every replay. The same can be said for her timeless white gown and the pearlescent nail color she matched to it. The manicure is gossamer-light and just shimmery enough for perfectly understated glamour.
Rihanna’s Cherry Red Nails & Lips
No one does a pop of color like Rihanna, and her 2023 Oscars look is the best of all time. Not only did she wear a towering bun updo to match the bun in her oven, but her deep apple nails and lips are an exact match.
Salma Hayek’s All-Over Amber
Talk about a power color — Hayek’s electric amber gown perfectly coordinated with her shimmery eyeshadow in the same shade, making her big brown eyes really stand out at the 2023 ceremony.
Halle Berry’s Asymmetrical Curls
Don’t worry — Berry’s legendary Oscars pixie cut made the list too. She’s just so influential, she can’t help but appear twice. At the 2023 ceremony, she showed off an ethereal waterfall of blonde-highlighted curls, coquettishly covering one eye. Meanwhile, the asymmetry of her side part just adds to the drama.
Megan Thee Stallion’s Siren Eyes
For the 2022 awards, Meg Thee Stallion sported one of the year's most talked about viral makeup trends: siren eyes. While the rapper looked flawless in her custom Gaurav Gupta couture gown, it was her smoldering eye makeup that commanded attention and dominated her look.
Kirsten Dunst’s Rosy Cheek & Lip Combo
A natural flush of color, like Kirsten’s rosy cheeks for the 2022 awards, is always the goal when it comes to wearing blush.
Zoë Kravitz’s Baby Bangs
Paying homage to the late Audrey Hepburn is never a bad thing, especially when it comes out this good. At the 2022 Oscars, Kravitz infused the glamour of a classic Hepburn look with baby bangs, a sophisticated chignon, and a stunning diamond necklace.
Vanessa Hudgens’ Sleek Updo
The elegance of a sleek updo is timeless, as Hudgens demonstrated at the 2022 awards.
Zendaya’s Mermaid Beach Waves
When it comes to red carpets, Zendaya is a master at nailing a look. For the 2021 awards, the Euphoria actress opted for a mermaid-esque look and donned a simple middle-part hairstyle with waist-skimming beach waves and sun-kissed makeup. The simplicity of the look was the perfect accompaniment to her vibrant yellow Valentino gown.
Maria Bakalova’s Classic Glamour
The glamour of the evening was not lost on Bakalova as she took the opportunity to bring Hollywood romance to her debut Oscars look. With a smoky eye, red lip and side-swept hair, the actress looked every bit the classic Hollywood star in 2019.
Emma Stone’s Auburn Waves
Old Hollywood glamour obviously looks right at home on the Oscars red carpet, and Stone perfected the look for her 2017 Academy Award win. Her timeless auburn waves looked beyond chic with her rust red lipstick and soft peach shadow.
Lupita Nyong’o’s Delicate Headband
For her 2014 Oscars win, Nyong’o dazzled on the red carpet with her Cinderella-esque baby blue gown, but it was her subtle silver eyeshadow, rosy pink lipstick, and delicate crystal headband that really stole the show. The actor looked every bit the movie star she is.
Karen O’s Long Bangs
The way Karen O’s long, dark bangs complemented the fluttery black dress she wore in 2014 is just so good, and red lipstick as a pop of color always works.
Anne Hathaway’s Gamine Pixie
Although the actor was growing out her shaved hair from her role in Les Misérables, she looked stunning and modern at the 2013 Oscars. Paired with luminous skin and a baby pink lipstick, Hathaway’s boyish pixie is still one of the most popular short hair trends in 2024.
Marion Cotillard’s Red Lipstick
Ever wonder why French-girl style is synonymous with red lipstick, simple makeup, and tousled hair? Look no further than Cotillard’s 2008 Oscars style.
Hilary Swank's Modern Minimalism
In 2005, when Swank won her Best Actress Oscar for Million Dollar Baby, minimalism was not the mode du jour. But Swank's understated makeup, sleek hair, and that Guy Laroche dress proved to be a winning combination — and one that's still echoed to this day.
Halle Berry's Pixie Cut
Novels could be written and poetry waxed about Berry's iconic pixie cut — which completed her ethereal 2002 Academy Awards look, where the Monster's Ball star won for Best Actress. And just in case you're wondering: Yes, celebs have officially brought the mega-short pixie haircut back in style.
Whoopi Goldberg’s Half-Up, Half-Down Braids
Likewise, long ‘90s braids are having a moment, and if you’re going to take the plunge, then save this half-up, half-down look Goldberg wore to win back in 1991.
Daryl Hannah’s Platinum Waves
Hannah’s hair was ‘80s style: Big, bold, and bleach blonde. This 1988 waved look and red lipstick gives it an Old Hollywood softness, though.
Farrah Fawcett’s ‘70s Hair
TikTok has fallen in love with Fawcett’s feathered ‘70s waves, worn here at the Oscars in 1978.
Cher's Pastel Lids
How do you style a pastel, ab-baring Bob Mackie outfit (that's accessorized with matching fabric hair flowers)? According to Cher's 1974 Oscars look, with graphic lavender eyeshadow, a trend that's just as relevant now.
Julie Andrews' Crisp Cat-Eye
The Mary Poppins star landed herself a Best Actress win in 1965 — though her minimalist, butter-yellow gown and elbow-length gloves look decidedly modern. Andrews' cat-eye makeup does as well, giving her expressive eyes and extra-long lashes a simple, dark backdrop.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Tiara-Crowned Updo
The Dame has entered the building. Taylor stunned at the 1957 Oscars with a queenly hairstyle topped with a tiara.
Grace Kelly's '50s Flower Crown
Long before Coachella and the modern flower crown, the 1955 Best Actress winner wore a wavy updo dotted with pale roses that wouldn’t look out of place on Bridgerton. (The same could be said for the opera gloves.)
Audrey Hepburn's Bold Brows
The timeless star's dramatic brows and short, choppy bangs — paired with a belted Givenchy dress — would look just as stylish on a 2021 red carpet as they did in 1954 (when Hepburn won Best Actress for Roman Holiday).
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