Billboard Music Awards 2018: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup on the Red Carpet
Last night's Billboard Music Awards were all about bold glamour. Some of the highlights: Mila Kunis' adorable bangs and sparkly eyeshadow; Ciara's big waves and golden glow; and Taylor Swift's romantic updo with pink makeup.
Here are the hair and makeup close-ups:
Mila Kunis
What I like: Mila's choppy bangs and wavy bob! I *think* the bangs may be clip-ins, but either way, I love this style on her SO much. I'm equally obsessed with her silver and charcoal eyeshadow, just up to the crease, with black waterlines, long lashes and natural lips. What I'd change: Nothing.
Ciara
What I like: Ciara's voluminous curls and glowy makeup. I love how the gold eyeshadow is concentrated on the inner half of her eyes, rather than the outer edges, and I'm fine with the fluttery lashes. I like that she did glossy nude lips instead of matte. What I'd change: I'd try to create a slightly straighter shape with brow pencil.
Taylor Swift
What I like: Old Taylor is back! After a few years of experimenting with edgy looks (which I never felt suited her), this romantic hair and makeup feels quite refreshing! It's 2010 all over again. I really like the undone updo and matchy pink lipstick and eyeshadow. What I'd change: The black liner is a little harsh.
Alison Brie
What I like: Alison's Brigitte Bardot-esque long bangs, high bun, '60s cat eyes and pink lipstick. This is my favourite look on her in a while—it's a lot softer than what she wore to the SAG Awards, for example. What I'd change: Nothing.
Camila Cabello
What I like: Camila's wavy, face-framing, centre-parted bangs (her hair is in a long bubble ponytail at the back). The makeup is nothing groundbreaking, but I still like the smoky eyes and subtle peach lips. What I'd change: Nothing.
Hailey Baldwin
What I like: Hailey's blunt, wavy bob—she's already back to blonde after the pink she wore to the Met Gala! As usual, her skin looks amazing, with natural lashes, barely-there lipstick and a wash of pinky shadow. What I'd change: Nothing.
Hailey is wearing: Tinted primer in Latte • Eyeshadow in Cashew • Eyeshadow in Papaya • Blush in Cashew • Blush in Papaya • Lip liner in 018 • Lipstick in Meringue • Lipstick in Pink Salt • Tinted body lotion in Latte (on body)
Normani
What I like: Normani's half-up waves. Notice how the ponytail is tight to the head and wrapped with a piece of her own hair, to make it stand up even more. Her makeup is similar to Ciara's, with gold shadow focused at the inner corners, and a nude gloss. What I'd change: The false lashes have an exaggerated curl that I don't love.
Dua Lipa
What I like: Dua's sleek bob, straight brows and sheer purple eyeshadow, to match her dress. I even kind of like the exaggerated cat eyes and spider lashes—I think they work because the rest of the makeup is quite modern (no contour or drawn-on eyebrows, for example). What I'd change: I'm not crazy about the white eyeliner. Her lips look super-injected!
Padma Lakshmi
What I like: Padma's straight, centre-parted hair and gorgeous skin. (She is 47!) I like the warm tone of her lipstick and blush; the smudgy metallic liner goes with her dress. What I'd change: I think it's more modern to use a darker shade in the waterlines, and I would also define and brush up her brow hairs with a tinted gel. Her upper lip looks lumpy!
Demi Lovato
What I like: Demi's off-the-face wet hair—so glam with the oversized earrings and leopard dress. What I'd change: I always feel her makeup is too contrived, from the angular brows to the false lashes to the shading under her lower lip. Her 2016 Grammys look is still my favourite; it was so much fresher.
Ashlee Simpson
What I like: Ashlee's skin looks flawless, and I like this luminous nude lip colour a lot. What I'd change: The false lashes are way too much, and her brow pencil doesn't match. Also, her blonde is so light and solid... I thin it works better at a shorter length (I miss that cut!).
Christina Aguilera
What I like: Christina had a makeunder! Compare and contrast this look with her makeup in 2015, which was one of the heaviest applications I've EVER seen. Here, I love the soft lashes, subtle contouring and clean ballerina bun. What I'd change: She's doing the unblended bottom lip liner thing as well, and her brow pencil is too red. I would love to see her with a more natural shade of blonde.
Christina is wearing: False lashes • Brow pomade in Dark Brown • Lip liner in OG Lolita • Lipstick in Ophelia
Halsey
What I like: Halsey's bright pink eyeshadow... just not the way she wore it! What I'd change: With a colour like this, it's best to go clean everywhere else—so I don't like the false lashes, heavy contour, unblended lip liner or pink highlighter at the inner corners of her eyes. Her black hair colour is quite harsh, and her brows don't match. I preferred her style when she had short hair!
Jennifer Lopez
What I like: I'm still enjoying Jennifer's new lob, and the highlights. While she wore it sleek at the Met Gala, this textured, voluminous look is great, too. I don't mind the purple eyeshadow all the way around her eyes. What I'd change: All of her signature makeup moves are here—goopy gloss, obvious lip liner, heavy and unblended contour and over-the-top lashes. It's way too much!
Jenna Dewan
What I like: Jenna's straight bob is adorable—it's even shorter than the last time we saw it, at the Oscars. The yellow eyeshadow is fun. What I'd change: Overall, I wish she'd lighten up her makeup! In other words, less eyeshadow, softer brows, and shorter lashes. I'm not sure what's going on with her lips... is it the lip liner or overdone injections that are making them look so unnatural?
Kelly Clarkson
What I like: This might be Kelly's Life Cut. I really like the long bob length for her, worn straight and not over-styled. I always like orangey lipstick on blondes. What I'd change: These spiky false lashes would be bad idea on anyone! I think her brows could be drawn-on in a less angular/pointy shape, and it seems her foundation shade is a tad light. The yellow eyeshadow was unnecessary.
Kesha
What I like: Kesha's freckles are always a welcome sight, and I do like her full brows (just not in this shade!). What I'd change: Her face is super-orange compared to her body, and her brows are basically black now... why?!? I'm really surprised, because she nailed her look at the recent Grammys!
Who had your favourite (and least favourite) beauty look on this red carpet?