Critics’ Choice Awards 2017: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Looks on the Red Carpet

We may not be done with 2016 yet, but with this week's Critics' Choice Awards, the 2017 awards season has officially kicked off! 

That's right—the annual event to honour achievements in film and television was traditionally held every January. But this year, the ceremony has leaped ahead to mid-December, before the Golden Globes, to mark the first event on the awards show calendar.

It's great news for us, because this beauty inspiration is perfect for the holiday party circuit! Here are all the looks from the night:

Janelle Monáe

Janelle's twin buns are everything! She managed to make a risky hairstyle look cool and edgy, not juvenile—probably because of their position, fullness and soft, wavy pieces that frame her face. I also love the colour-blocked makeup. The swipe of blue under each eye makes the red lipstick and black liner so much less predictable. 

Emma Stone

Emma always nails it, but this look is truly one of her best. I love that she's back to being a vibrant redhead again, and the simple, straight, mid-length 'do adds just the right casual element to the black sequinned dress. Most of all, I adore this makeup, from the rich berry-red lipstick to the champagne shimmer shadow and smoked-out cat eyes. 

Emma is wearing: Lipstick in Rouge Vie • Hair serum • Smoothing spray • Hairspray • Shine spray

Lily Collins

Lily did Gothic glam, and I love it. The vampy burgundy lipstick and matching eyeshadow all the way around the eyes would be borderline scary on most people, but she makes them out-of-this-world gorgeous. It helps that the application is flawless—and that she has such naturally good skin and brows. With the high neckline of the dress, I'm glad she wore her hair in a loose, romantic updo. Her skin is perhaps a bit powdery in places, but I don't mind it.

Lily is wearing: Mousse • Texturizer • Volumizing powder • Styling cream • Finishing spray

Michelle Williams

I'm glad Michelle's rocking a short hairstyle again, because she wears them so well. Platinum blonde tends to wash people out, but her makeup is just enough to bring out her features. I like how she worked with her hooded eyes, using smoky charcoal and an emphasis on the lower lash lines. She also has such a pretty lip shape.

Kerry Washington

Kerry looks so fun, fresh and youthful—which matches the vibe of her star-adorned dress. The side-swept braid with face-framing undone waves might just be my favourite hairstyle she's ever worn! I also like the silver and winged eyeshadow and pretty pink lips.

Hailee Steinfeld

Usually, Hailee wears deeper, jewel-toned colours on her lids, so this combo of orangey-red lips and shimmering golden shadow feels warm and fresh. To define her eyes, she did a black liner flicks on the top, and a softer brown in the lower waterlines. Wearing her hair back and off the face, sans jewellery, makes it modern and clean. 

Jessica Biel

I love that Jessica wore her hair in a Boho-inspired style for a red carpet event, rocking bangs and a fuzzy, semi-wavy texture. The warm brunette colour is also gorgeous. Makeup-wise, she went super minimal. All I can detect is a pale pink lip gloss, a little taupe eyeshadow and mascara. 

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee's coral lipstick and visible freckles give her makeup a beachy feel to go with the pastels in her dress. She has excellent brows, and I like the black liner along her upper lashes. The braided details in her updo are also very cool.

Emmy Rossum

I so appreciate makeup like Emmy's, because it proves that you really don't need false lashes! Instead, she emphasized her eyes with smoky grey eyeshadow, black mascara and darkened brows. The sleek high ponytail also gives this a fun, modern twist. 

Amy Adams

Amy emphasized her sparkly eyes with purple shadow, black liner and darkened (but still soft) brows. I also love her sheer, bubblegum pink lip gloss—anyone else ready for a lip gloss comeback? She looks adorably girly in the high, wavy ponytail. 

Amy is wearing: Foundation in Camomile • Powder • Bronzer • Blush in Lovely • Eyeliner in Flirting Game • Eyeshadow in Hematite • Mascara • Highlighter in Luster (at inner corners of the eyes) • Lip gloss in Glamour

Leslie Mann

Leslie's fuchsia lipstick and orange dress are such a fun colour combination! With those two bold shades going on, she wisely skipped heavy shadow and even blush, simply bringing out her eyes with defined lashes. Also notice her brows—they're thin, but she definitely made the most of them. 

Bryce Dallas Howard

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You can't see it here, but Bryce did a fun pom-pom ponytail at the back. (It's aways a delight to spot one of those on the red carpet!) I love her new curtain bangs as well; they frame her face beautifully. The soft copper shadow and nude lips are a good choice with the bright chartreuse dress.

Naomie Harris

Although they're not exactly "on-trend," Naomie's shimmery, smoky eyes in silver, charcoal and black make her look oh-so-glamorous. The off-the-face hairstyle and sheer pink gloss keep the focus on the eyes. 

Mandy Moore

Is Mandy's hairstyle too '70s and "mom"-like? I don't know... I'm into the texture, but I'm not sure about the flicked-out layers. But I do love her peachy nude lips, and her skin looks really smooth and poreless.

Mandy is wearing: Blush in Blushed Coral

Sarah Hyland

Sarah has come a long way from the over-bronzed, over-contoured looks of the past! Her skin looks fresh, and the sheer shadow and long lashes are a lighter touch compared to her usual dark, sparkly smokies. I can live with the false lashes, but I'm not crazy about the bobby pin hairstyle for a fancy red carpet event.

Sarah is wearing: Blush in New Romance • Highlighter in Starlight • Eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe • Eyeliner in Charcoal • Mascara • Lip liner in Iconic Nude • Lipstick in "It" Girl

Michelle Monaghan

I always feel like heavy makeup overpowers Michelle, so I'm glad she kept things low-key with classic red lipstick and black mascara. Her skin and teeth are beautiful, and she has really good brows!

Allison Williams

Allison's aqua smoky shadow matches her eye colour perfectly, and complements her intricate beaded dress. Worn under the lower lashes, the hue has enough depth that she doesn't need eyeliner—or false lashes. I like the strong, straight shape of her brows and the brushed-up texture. But I think a flatter hairstyle might be better (this one emphasizes her long face shape).

Allison is wearing: Serum • Foundation in 20 Beige • Bronzer • Blush in No. 22 • Eyeshadow in Azulejo • Eyeshadow in Tissé Beverly Hills • Mascara in Noir • Lip balm • Lip liner in Nectarine • Lip colour in Amoureux

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan kept it simple with soft lashes, sheer purplish shadow and matte rose lips. I like the short hair on her, but the colour is off—and the same goes for her brows. I think she'd look great in a much warmer dark blonde!

Evan is wearing: Primer • Foundation in PS1 • Concealer in PC1 and PC2 • Powder in PF2 • Highlighter in Moonlight • Eyeshadow in Chrome • Eyeshadow in Light Pewter and Amythest • Mascara • Brow pencil in Slate and Blonde • Lipstick in Duchess

Viola Davis

Viola's wavy long bob hairstyle is fabulous on her! I also like her glossy pink lips and even the purple shadow, all the way up to the brows. Black shadow and liner closer to the lashes makes her eyes pop. The only things I'd change are the false lashes, which should be fluffier, and her brows, which could use more definition. 

Sarah Paulson

Sarah's cool-toned orchid pink lipstick is not an easy shade to wear, but it really works with her skin tone—and brings the white dress to life. I also like her deep side part and wavy short hair. Even the rooty blonde I feel is okay, because it matches her brows and eye colour. 

Kate Beckinsale

Yes, brown smoky eyes are always Kate's go-to, but she made them a little more dramatic this time, applying the colour in an elongated shape and taking it underneath the eyes. I also appreciate the pink lipstick and natural lashes. The hairstyle has a slight "prom" vibe, though, what with the volume at the top and the long tendrils around her face.

Constance Wu

I love bright, in-between shades like this coral-pink lipstick Constance is wearing. But the green in her lower waterlines kinda closes up her eyes and seems harsh, and the false lashes are too much. Also, I think her hairstyle may be falling apart?!

Bella Thorne

I'm into Bella's tight, sleek hair and the cat-like shape of her smoky shadow. I don't even mind the false lashes too much. But her brow pencil and lip liner aren't blended properly at all. And is it just me or are her lip injections getting a bit too obvious now?

Ariel Winter

Ariel's skin is absolutely gorgeous. The pink lipstick and matching blush are super-pretty on her, and I actually like the graphic black eyeliner—at least what we can see of it. But these bangs need to go. With the rounded sides, they just don't work on her face shape. The top knot makes her like a Flintstone, not a sophisticated starlet!

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