Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: The Best Celebrity Beauty Looks on the Red Carpet
Did you know there's another Critics' Choice Awards? Not for film—that happened here—but for TV, and it took place last Thursday night. This is a really good one, you guys! It's got everything we could ask for from a red carpet event: tons of legit beauty inspiration... and a few WTFs. Enjoy!
Michelle Monaghan
Oh my goodness, I might be having a beauty-gasm. Look at Michelle Monaghan! I actually only have vague recollections of seeing her on a red carpet before (most recently at the Met Ball, and before that, at least year's Golden Globes parties). Whatever she is doing now, she needs to keep doing.
Her hair is a masterpiece, both in terms of the deep side part and blow-dry and the subtle highlights. Makeup-wise, I love that she kept her eyes clean and just did strong brows with sheer skin to show off her freckles. Could this be any more perfect?!
Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman is looking really good these days. Maybe it's because we keep seeing her in pink lipstick and blush—like this look, and at the AMAs last year. Honestly, this is an amazing colour for her. Brows look great as well, and I appreciate the restraint with the eye area, since she already has such strong brows for definition. With the fun earrings and the half-up, slightly bouffant hairstyle, she looks young and fresh.
Try: Lip crayon in Yu // Blush in 210 Cool Pink
Emmy Rossum
Now this is unexpected from Emmy Rossum, right? It's super-summery and casual, and I'm right on board. (For context: It's also a HUGE improvement over what we saw at the CFDA Fashion Awards, and before that, the Met Gala—in case you need a reminder.)
I love a colourful eyeliner, and I love a matte coral lip. I can even support the choice of matchy earrings with the loose, natural hair. Possibly I would've done the liner in the lower waterlines, more lashes and skipped the obvious gold at the inner corners.
Try: Eyeliner in Ody(Sea) 62 // Lipstick in 38
Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Cuoco cut her hair! And it's SO much better. (This Kids' Choice Awards pic will remind you why the long hair had to go.) With the long sweep of bangs, this cut looks pretty adorable from here, and really helps to bring out her pretty green eyes. See? I hadn't even noticed her eye colour before.
I love what she did with the '60s black cat eye, as well! Although I don't think the lashes were necessary, and would've liked a pinker (less grey) lipstick. But we're getting there!
Kaley is wearing: Eyeliner in Black // Lipstick in Brainiac // Foundation // Illuminator in Warm // Bronzer in Deeply Bronzed // Blush in Breath
Diane Kruger
It's always a treat to see Diane Kruger on the red carpet. (But hey, it would be even better if Joshua Jackson was here.) Something looks different about her, and I think it's the new eyebrows? They look fuller and darker than they used to be, and very on-trend with the way they're brushed up. Otherwise, her hair and makeup are typically understated Diane: sleek low chignon, bit of shimmer around the eyes and a pink lipstick.
Try: Brow mascara // Lipstick in LA Exclusive
Lizzy Caplan
I've only recently discovered how awesome Lizzy Caplan is, and I've decided she's one of those people who needs to be in motion for you to appreciate her beauty. You might look at her photos and think, "okay, what's the big deal?" But I swear, everything changes when you get her entire charisma package.
There's no one thing I'm crazy about in this picture. Her hair—pinned up on one side to show off the ear cuff—is fine, and I like the strong, straight brows and the lashes.
Try:Blush in 400 // Lip stain in Showy
Natasha Lyonne
Wow! I might have to change my mind about brown, now that I see Natasha Lyonne wearing it so well. This is extra-beautiful, because it's her tawny hair colour echoed on lips, cheeks and lids—so it's more of a reddish brown and doesn't look muddy. I absolutely love the way her curls are styled, and the smudgy dark brown liner in the waterlines to make her brown eyes pop. I might've thrown on pre-event Whitestrip, however.
Try:Lipstick in 4 Chestnut // Eyeshadow in Desert 123
Angie Harmon
Angie Harmon looks amazing here! Like Sarah Silverman, her dark, straight brows serve to frame her face, although Angie did lots of lashes, subtle shading/lining and a touch of gold under the lower lids. Very pretty! The Barbie-pink lips are sort of off-brand for her, but look great against her colouring and slightly bronzed skin.
Keri Russell
I think Keri Russell's hair and makeup are probably the best we've seen on her in a long time. She's wearing a strong red-orange lip with flushed cheeks and dewy skin, to go with the loose waves over one shoulder. I particularly like the lash definition she's got going on. The whole thing is easy and summery.
Try:Lip gloss in Daredevil // Mascara in Black // Foundation // Powder
Kat Graham
I think Kat Graham's overall idea here is actually excellent: the side quiff thing is totally on trend right now, and I even like the daring combo of red lips with multi-colour, shimmery eyes. I guess I just feel like the shadow application isn't that well-blended, the false lashes are too obvious and it would be nice if we could see her skin instead of that major highlighted area in the centre of her face. Thoughts?
Mayim Bialik
I swear Mayim Bialik is getting cuter. Right? I think this has to be my favourite of anything I've ever seen on her—she needs to do this sleek, straight hair and red lipstick more often. I would like a tiny bit more brow grooming, though (maybe just some Givenchy brow wax to hold them in place) and colourless lip liner is needed ASAP!
Michelle Trachtenberg
It's not that Michelle Trachtenberg doesn't look good. She does! It's just that we always see the same thing from her: stick-straight hair, some kind of shimmery-smoky eye and glossy lips (just look back at the Art of Elysium Gala and you'll see). It's time to move on now. How about a cat eye, Michelle? Or a matte red lip? She does look amazing with the eye emphasis but come on now.
That, however, isn't the main thing I wish she would change. My gripe is with the hair colour-eyebrow discrepancy. Her eyebrows are way too light! I wish she'd lighten her hair a few levels to a rich, glossy medium brown.
Tatiana Maslany
How sweet is Tatiana Maslany? Okay, I may be biased because she's a Canadian. But so far she's doing well for a red-carpet newbie. Good job on the textured updo, combed-up brows and the lack of false eyelashes. Girl has gorgeous skin as well!
Allison Janney
The last time we saw Allison Janney, it was at the People's Choice Awards and I didn't like her heavy-handed pink blush. Here, it's the opposite problem: I wish she wasn't head-to-toe in these radiance-zapping greyish-golden browns. The woman has amazing hair and really, is quite attractive—I just wish she'd added a bit of colour on her face, even just the lips.
Minnie Driver
This is pretty good, for Minnie Driver! When we last saw her at the Globes, her hair was kinda triangular and frizzy. I think this smooth, controlled look is much nicer for red carpet. The unfortunate thing with the makeup is that she's got freckles all over her neck and chest, but then they stop on her face—why?! A sheer foundation to let them show through would've been much better.
Terri Seymour
No real complaints here about Terri Seymour's look. This woman has amazing, amazing hair. Really, her beauty look needs to always be about the hair. I'm not sure if it's just the photo or if her skin is a bit dry? It looks like she's possibly wearing a powder foundation, whereas I much prefer liquids for a more natural, youthful and dewy finish.
Bellamy Young
Bellamy Young is a gorgeous woman, but she does have a touch of the TV anchorwoman about her, no? The ear cuff adds a touch of coolness, though. Her bronzing/contouring is a little heavy, and something is off about the shape of her brows. Otherwise, I kinda like the anchorwoman look—I'd just go with it!
Wendi McLendon-Covey
I will assure you that this photo of Wendi McLendon-Covey came from 2014, not 1994. But it's hard to tell, right? Where the brown makeup worked amazing on Natasha Lyonne, here, it's really dating her. Maybe brown is only for the young?
What doesn't help matters are the drawn-on brows and false lashes. Think of how much fresher she'd have looked in a matte coral or fuchsia lipstick, natural lashes and feathered brows.
Christina Applegate
Okay, Christina Applegate must be dabbling with injections! Plus, I don't remember her being this tanned. As for her brows, well, she did grow up in the '90s.
Laura Prepon
I just can't believe this is the same person who was on That '70s Show! I know Laura's black hair is for her Orange Is the New Black role, but I can't get over the arching skinny brows (which seem to be distorting her inner eyes?). What is going on here?
Who had your favourite (and least favourite) beauty look on this red carpet?