Independent Spirit Awards 2020: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Looks on the Red Carpet

Just before we get to the Big Deal beauty event (the Oscars!), there's one more red carpet to squeeze in this season—the Independent Spirit Awards, which took place on Saturday night.

Given that many of the attendees would be packing in two awards shows within just 24 hours, most chose to play this one more casual (and fun!). Think: colourful eyes, stained lips and textured, tousled hair. 

Here are the best looks of the night:

Amber Heard

Amber gave her usual red mouth a rest in favour of pink lip stain, long lashes and a brown smoky eye, to go with her jacket. But what I like most here is her hair, which is styled in a messy, textured braid (along with an extra skinny braid for decoration!).

Olivia Wilde

Olivia's beige dress gave her a blank canvas to play with colourful makeup, and with these "candy eyes" (as her makeup artist described them), she did just that. She's wearing an electric blue mascara on her top lashes, and a purple on the bottom ones. Rosy shadow, stained lips and loose waves (with pieces of fountain grass!) complete the look.

Olivia is wearing: Mascara in Cobalt Blue • Mascara in Purple

Zazie Beetz

After her vampy lips and long braids at the BAFTAs, Zazie is giving us a whole different mood here. I love (LOVE!) her heart-adorned dress, so of course she needed a bright red lip and a high, curly updo to go with the playful vibe. If you look closely, there's also some glitter along her lash lines.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett's been wearing her hair up all awards season, so it's nice to see it down for a change (especially after those years of short hair!). This shade of blonde makes her skin glow, so she needs barely any makeup—just black liner, long lashes and a slick of lip gloss.

Aubrey Plaza

It's been a while since we've seen Aubrey, and I just love how she's wearing this classic red lip and black liner. The soft lashes, warm shadow and long, loose hair keep it from looking too "done." (And stars are just like us—they get lipstick on their teeth as well!)

Joey King

Joey paired her all-pink outfit with soft, beautifully blended makeup. I love the dusting of glitter on her eyes, the pink lip stain, and how her skin looks sculpted but not heavily contoured. Tucking her bob behind both ears gives this a cool, effortless feel.

Lydia Hearst

Lydia's look was all about the lashes—as long and as spidery as possible! (Is anyone else feeling inspired to pile on the mascara now?) I like that everything else is low-key: nudey-pink lips, barely-there lush and eyeshadow, and groomed brows. The smooth waves add to the doll-like effect.

Lydia is wearing: Mascara in Noir • Lipstick in Bamboo

Kaitlyn Dever

Kaitlyn looks youthful and feminine in a messy high bun and fresh, minimal makeup. The teal liner is a nod to the leaves in her dress, paired with candy-pink lips, peachy blush and (my favourite!) feathery brows. I love how her foundation is sheer enough to show off her freckles.

Kaitlyn is wearing: Primer • Primer (mixed with foundation) • Foundation in 0.3 • Contour • Eyeshadow in Rich Craft • Eyeliner in Baller • Mascara in Black • Lipstick in Besos • Lip gloss

Mindy Kaling

Mindy's dress has a lot going on, so I think this simple, side-parted updo with face-framing pieces was a good choice. Makeup-wise, a bright red lip would've been too much, so the darker berry basically works, along with soft charcoal shadow. 

Elisabeth Moss

Elisabeth isn't really selling me on this oversized suit, and her beauty look isn't helping matters, either. With any other outfit, the loose hair and minimal makeup would be fine (aside from needing more brow definition). But here, I think the overall styling needed to be a lot sharper and more intentional.  

America Ferrera

America carried a pastel theme from her clothes right through to her makeup. I love the lip colour especially, which matches her blazer, as well as the soft pink shadow. The sleek updo and deep side part keep her hair from competing with the oversized bow.

America is wearing: Foundation in Honey • Concealer in Medium 1 • Bronzer in Dune • Highlighter in Halo • Blush in Guava • Eyeshadow in Sahara, Burnished and Cinnamon • Eyeliner in Brown and Black • Mascara • Brow pencil in Dark • Lipstick in Lily • Lip gloss in Dahlia

Naomi Watts

I'm still loving Naomi's cute little bob, which she paired not with her usual red but a lovely rose shade of lipstick. The eye makeup is just a shimmery neutral shadow with lashings of jet-black mascara. 

Naomi is wearing: Lipstick in Eau de Rose

Jennifer Lopez

JLo looks more chic and comfortable in this straight bob and purple eyeshadow than she has all awards season! I mean, there's still her usual contouring, false lashes and ring around the lips... but overall, it has an edgy vibe that really suits her.

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