The Met Gala might be one of fashion’s biggest nights, but it wasn’t just the couture that was on show. Our beauty director has tracked down the exact products used for some of our favourite Met Gala beauty looks.
From the new lip products used to recreate Zendaya’s statement lip to the complexion heroes of Hailey Bieber and Suki Waterhouse, these products from Nars, Merit, K18 and more are worthy of your next beauty shopping list – whether you have a red carpet to walk or not.
1. Suki Waterhouse’s gorgeous glow
View this post on Instagram
The secret to Suki Waterhouse’s glowing complexion? According to her makeup artist Cedric Jolivet, it was prepping her skin with skincare-makeup hybrids from Merit, so that the light (and camera flashes) reflected off her skin. Instead of using larger amounts of one base product, Jolivet layered the Great Skin Instant Glow Serum and Great Skin Priming Moisturizer with the soon to be launched Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen for a truly lit-from-within level of radiance we can’t wait to copy.
2. Zendaya’s lined lip
View this post on Instagram
Zendaya’s over-lined lips were the perfect partner for the structured lines of her white suit and the look came courtesy of queen of glow, Charlotte Tilbury. In fact, the Met Gala red carpet was the debut for two lip products from the brand – the Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Tan, which was used to give the bold definition, and the Lip Plumpgasm in Nudegasm Diamonds, which was responsible for the super glossy smooth finish.
3. Simone Biles’ kiss curls
View this post on Instagram
Kiss curls – where a lock of hair is curled and wetted down over the forehead – were by far the biggest hair trend of the Met Gala. Sydney Sweeney, Dua Lipa and Simone Biles were all pictured trying the vintage style, and the latter (inspired by the iconic entertainer Josephine Baker) didn’t have to rely on tons of irritating hairspray to achieve the look. Instead the hairstylist Brenton Diallo used a generous amount of K18’s Astro Lift Reparative Volume Spray before blowdrying and curling the strand. The finishing touch, for the necessary high gloss finish was a touch of the Molecular Repair Oil.
4. Hailey Bieber’s soft contour
View this post on Instagram
We are calling it now: soft contour is going to be gracing the cheekbones of every beauty (and fashion) insider this summer. The technique, whereby your cheekbones look defined and sculpted without distinctive lines, was used by the celebrity makeup artist Nina Park to achieve Hailey Bieber’s bronzed, glowy complexion. She used Nars’ new Light Reflecting Luminizing Powder in Crystal to diffuse out the warmth of the iconic Laguna Bronzing Cream in 02, by layering one over the other.
5. Lupita Nyong’o’s smoky eye
View this post on Instagram
We love the creativity behind Lupita Nyong’o’s jewelled brows, created by the make up artist Nick Barose, but don’t overlook her (more wearable) smoky eye too. For just the right amount of bold definition, Barouse used Chanel’s clever eyeshadow-and-liner-in one, Stylo Ombre Et Contour in Rouge Noir, in a purpley black (rather than matte black) shade. This was then teamed with the creamy Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Noir Black and lashings of the Inimitable Intense Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel Sophistiqué in Noir.
6. Rihanna’s bold blush
View this post on Instagram
You can’t blame Rihanna for using her own makeup brand, Fenty Beauty, on the Met Gala red carpet – especially when she can achieve a bold blush look like this with so much ease. The product you need is Fenty Beauty Suede Powder Blush In Lolly Poppy, applied as a sweep across the cheekbones – just as makeup artist Priscilla Ono did here. We also love the makeup artist’s attention to detail around her lips. To get that definition around your cupid’s bow, follow suit and use the Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner In Extra Thigh and the new Gloss Bomb Shimmer Stix In Fu$$y.
7. Jenna Ortena’s feline flicks
View this post on Instagram
When we could tear our eyes away from Jenna Ortega’s statement ruler dress (one of our favourite Met Gala looks on the red carpet this year), we were definitely lusting after her makeup too. The actress’ eyes looked so big and bright because her makeup artist Melanie Inglessis paired her sultry feline flicks – created using Dior’s Diorshow Liquid Liner, with a mink-silver metallic shadow that immediately caught the light. Recreate it using Diorshow 5 Couleurs in Silk Taupe.
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Lead image: Simone Biles courtesy of K18
Any Questions or Tips to add?