Cannes Film Festival 2018: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Looks on the Red Carpet

Of all the red carpet events I report on each year, I think my favourite has to be the Cannes Film Festival. 

Frankly, the beauty vibe is just BETTER. Fresher skin, more creative makeup, and, for the most part, an absence of my pet peeves like obvious contouring and false lashes. (Of course, it helps that at least 50 percent of the attendees are actually models!)

We have a lot to cover, so my commentary will be more succinct than usual!

Kristen Stewart

Kristen showed off smoky, shimmery eyeshadow—which would be quite heavy on most people, but she can pull off a super-strong eye. I'd just prefer a sleeker updo (not feeling this curly pompadour thing at the top). 

Kristen is wearing: Eyeshadow in Éclat Énigmatique • Eyeshadow in Noir Pétrole • Liquid liner in Noir • Mascara in Noir

Bella Hadid

As always, Bella enhanced her chiseled features with warm neutral makeup, keeping a light touch around her eyes. I love her chestnut brown hair worn in a straight and blunt style.

Hailey Baldwin

Hailey's newly pastel-pink hair couldn't be prettier in this messy top knot. The makeup is a  mix of pinks (on the lips and cheeks) and burnished gold (all over her lids). 

Emilia Clarke

Emilia paired her bleached-blonde updo with peach lipstick (I NEED this shade!) and matching blush. It looks like there's a hint of purple in her eyeshadow. I don't think the volume on top of her updo is really working.

Emilia is wearing: Face mist • Moisturizer • Tinted moisturizer • Lip balm • Lipstick in Carezza • Body oil • Tinted body lotion in Light

Penélope Cruz

Penélope stayed in her comfort zone with pretty hair, brown shadow and black liner. I love the contrast of the baby pink lipstick with her warm colouring. 

Salma Hayek

Salma gave her glossy red lipstick a modern update by wearing it with shimmery gold eyeshadow. I also like the long lashes, inner-corner highlighter and soft waves.

Cate Blanchett

Cate gave us a fun way to update a long bob—by pinning it to one side and adding some bend for texture. Her shimmering pink shadow, all the way up to the brows, is also very cool.

Cate is wearing: Serum • Moisturizer • Primer • Foundation in 3 • Concealer in 1 • Concealer in 2 • Powder in 2 • Powder in 1 (as highlighter) • Powder in 8 (as contour) • Blush in 502 • Eyeshadow in 11 Rose Ashes (under brows) • Eyeshadow in 29 Armani Cruise (all over lids) • Eyeshadow in 1 (at roots of lashes) • Eyeshadow in 5 (under eyes) • Mascara in Black • Brow pencil in Sand Blond • Lipstick in 303 Dragee • Lip liner in 6

Marion Cotillard

Marion kept it classic with creamy red lipstick and black cat eyes. But I'd prefer to see her bob in a nice blowout... I'm not crazy about the gelled roots!

Amber Heard

Amber paired her dewy skin with her favourite red lipstick and black winged liner. The high ponytail with volume at the top keeps this from looking too safe.

Julianne Moore

Julianne almost always does purple tones on her eyes, like the soft greyish plum eyeshadow she's wearing here. A lighter shade above the crease, plus baby pink lip gloss, completes the look. 

Lais Ribeiro

Lais showed off her flawless skin and features in scraped-back hair, sculpted brown eyeshadow and long lashes. What wouldn't look good on this woman?!

Léa Seydoux

Léa's rich berry-red lipstick pops against her perfect complexion and straight, feathery brows. Gelled-back hair keeps the focus on her beautiful face.

Jennifer Connelly

Jennifer's eyes are mesmerizing in shimmery eyeshadow, defined lashes and black liner hugging her waterlines. All are set off, as usual, by strong brows, fresh skin and an ultra-tight updo. 

Sara Sampaio

I love Sara's blackberry lipstick shade with her icy blue eyes! Notice how she skipped eyeliner and instead is wearing natural lashes and a dusting of silver shimmer. 

Diane Kruger

I much prefer Diane's smooth, vintagey bob and subtle smoky eyes to the edgy vibes she's been serving up lately. More of this, please! (And if she did this makeup herself, as she has in the past, I'm impressed!)

Doutzen Kroes

Doutzen kept it simple with loose hair, black liner, defined lashes and peachy lipstick. Yes, she's capable of more interesting looks, but I can't fault this one.

Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra went romantic with voluminous waves, creamy rose lipstick and of course, her signature cat eyes. natural brows. The overlining of her lips is very aggressive... do you think she got lip injections as well?

Elsa Hosk

Elsa went all out with the old Hollywood look, doing vintage waves, pink lipstick and a light eyeshadow to make her eyes pop. I swear she looks like one of my old Barbie dolls (in a good way!).

Thandie Newton

Half-back curls have always been one of my favourite styles for curly hair—and Thandie's are no exception. I also love the hot pink lips; it's nice to see her doing colour there for a change. 

Ming Xi

Ming did winged liner with a twist. If you look closely, the wings are not black but navy blue. That adds a touch of fun to her sheer coral lip gloss and side-parted waves with gelled roots (noticing a theme here?).

Izabel Goulart

Izabel brightened things up with a pop of coral-red lipstick against her tan skin and slicked-back hair. The contour is a bit heavy, but it doesn't bother me.

Carey Mulligan

Carey's bouncy blonde lob is very chic, and I always think she suits a minimal look with her makeup. So this sheer, hot pink lip gloss is all she needs.

Daphne Groeneveld

Daphne couldn't be prettier in these long cascading curls, rosy lips and lids, plus her super-natural brows. Notice how it's the darkened lashes and liner that bring this to life.

Barbara Palvin

Barbara wore a matte rose lipstick with subtly shaded eyes and natural brows. But I'm not sure what's going on with this messy half-up hairstyle. The top looks like it's been teased too much!

Who had your favourite (and least favourite) beauty look on this red carpet?