Met Gala 2019: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Moments (as Seen on Instagram)

“Camp" was the theme of the 2019 Met Gala, and it inspired some of the most colourful, crazy beauty looks we've seen yet!

Unlike previous years, there was much room for interpretation. Flamboyant lashes, beehives, crystal headgear and tinted eyebrows were all served up on this red carpet to (mostly) glorious effect. 

The only requirement? Celebs had to look "extra"... playing it safe was NOT an option! 

Here are the hair and makeup highlights of the night.

Elle Fanning

With her long blonde hair, it's fitting that Elle had a Malibu Barbie moment (well, if Malibu Barbie was also a rapper!). Like Hailee, she did faux freckles, but paired them with aqua cat eyes and cool-toned pink lipstick. The real action, however, was on her nails. OMG!

Lupita Nyong’o

According to Lupita's makeup artist, her look was inspired by the iconic drag queen Divine, complete with pencil-thin arched eyebrows, blackened purple lipstick and layers of silver and copper glitter. (And yet, it still looks pretty on her! How?) Another cool touch is her afro beehive adorned with gold picks—which are actually raised fists!

Lupita is wearing: Serum • Moisturizer • Primer • Foundation in 550 Suede C • Concealer in 510 • Blush • Eye primer • Powder in Translucent (on eyes) • Eyeshadow in Onyx, Bronze and Monogold • Eyeliner in Noir Intense and French Lace • Liquid liner in Noir • Mascara in Black • False lashes • Brow gel in Noir • Lip gloss in Not Afraid

Lady Gaga

The theme was challenging for some celebs, but it was a BREEZE for Lady Gaga. Spiky foil lashes, dramatic eyeliner and miniature bows made of hair are all in her wheelhouse. I actually love this platinum blonde bob with bangs on her. And her skin looks fab—she's not even wearing foundation!

Lady Gaga is wearing: Moisturizer • Concealer • Powder • Eyeliner in Pink of Me • Eyeliner in Blacquer • Liquid liner in Blacquer • Mascara in Noir • Lipstick in Flaming-Oh! • Lip gloss in Sweet Escape

Lily Collins

Lily is channelling a young Priscilla Presley in this enormous beehive hairstyle adorned with tiny flowers and a white headband. The makeup is equally '60s-inspired. Bright lilac eyeshadow, bold black liner and lashes, and pale pink lips suit her to a T!

Lily is wearing: Moisturizer • Foundation in 140 Ivoire N • Powder in Translucent • Blush in Shimmer Pink Fling • Contour in 360 Bisque N • Eyeshadow in Lavender Grace • Liquid liner in Matte Noir (as eyeliner and to create beauty marks) • Mascara in Black • Brow gel in Noir • Lipstick in Nuit et Jour • Eyeliner in French Lace (on lips, mixed with lipstick)

Hailee Steinfeld

I love me some faux freckles, and Hailee's are no exception. There's a lot of other stuff happening here—yellow eyeshadow to match her dress, big curls and a giant bow—but I think it's actually working! And I definitely want to copy that soft pink lip colour.

Hailee is wearing: Serum • Foundation in 113 Warm • Concealer in 03 Medium • Powder • Contour in Medium • Highlighter in Transcendence • Blush in Dollface • Brow pencil in Brunette (for freckles) • Eyeshadow in Candles • False lashes • Brow colour in Medium • Brow gel • Lipstick in Marrakesh

Jennifer Lopez

Of course Jennifer wore a Cher-style crystal headpiece! And you know what? Her skin looks all kinds of amazing here. Unfortunately, she didn't veer from her favourite gooey lip gloss and rounded eyeshadow application, this time in purple. 

Kendall Jenner

Like Ciara, Kendall went with "Vegas showgirl"... but without the OTT hairstyle. It's no different to her usual red carpet looks, except for that one gelled curl and the flared out top and bottom lashes. (By the way, see how her brows are so unnaturally arched at the ends? Botox!)

Priyanka Chopra

I have to say, I don't really get this one. Is Priyanka supposed to be a Tim Burton character? Her makeup artist described this as "the spirit of Louis XIV meets Dior runway with a twist of Bowie attitude," but I'm still confused. Anyway, I like the vampy berry lips, flawless matte skin and brushed-out halo of curls. But the white brows, lashes and liner aren't doing it for me. You?

Priyanka is wearing: Eyeshadow in Scandalust • Eyeliner in Fine(wine) and (Big)Eyes! • Lash primer (on lashes and brows) • Concealer in 10 Fair (on eyebrows) • Lipstick in Boy Gorgeous

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Lucy Boynton

Even with new blue hair, Lucy didn't depart from the ethereal aesthetic we saw all through awards season. I was hoping to see some crazier eye makeup than just these faux crystal "lashes!" That said, I would definitely copy the brows and glossy lip stain.

Lucy is wearing: Foundation • Bronzer and highlighter in Clair • Eyeshadow in Lunaire • Eyeliner in Nude • Brow pencil in BR302 • Tinted lip balm in Light • Lip gloss in Fraicheur

Gigi Hadid

What is happening here? I feel like even Gigi can't pull off this weirdness! We have another set of spiky lashes (Gaga wore them better) with a sequinned bodysuit covering most of her hair, except for one blunt piece on her cheek. Why? Also, it seems like her top lip is becoming a little trout pout-ish.

Gigi is wearing: Foundation in Warm Nude • Bronzer in Light • Lipstick in Driver

Emily Ratajkowski

Emily was another celeb whose outfit (or lack thereof!) took inspiration from Cher. And like Ciara, she went with big hair and low-key makeup. I love the texture of her brows and lashes, and the bright highlight at the inner corners of her eyes. But it's never a good idea to get a fresh top-up of your lip injections just before a big event!

Kristen Stewart

With a conservative outfit, Kristen relied on her hair and makeup to bring the camp element. But did she succeed? I'm going to say no! Her hair just looks like a dye job gone wrong, with tones of red, platinum and brown. And the yellow brows underlined with white stripes were truly a BAD idea. 

Emma Stone

Emma did tousled hair and colourful makeup to go with her '80s jumpsuit. But I feel like she could wear this whole thing on any other red carpet and not look out of place! I always love her in a blue eyeliner, this time in the lower waterlines with glitter cat eyes up top.

Emma is wearing: Moisturizer • Foundation in Vanilla • Powder • Primer (as highlighter) • Blush in Passion • Eyeliner in Lagoon • Mascara in Deep Blue • Lip balm • Tinted lip balm in Love • Lipstick in Rouge Capri

Yara Shahidi

Who needs a headpiece when your own curls can be sculpted into a sky-high half beehive? Yara's makeup, on the other hand, is far more understated. The one adornment is a single strand of crystals circling one eye in the shape of her astrological sign (Aquarius). 

Yara is wearing: Foundation in Golden Honey • Powder • Bronzer in Deep • Mascara in Black • Lipstick in Haute Cocoa

Sophie Turner

When in doubt, add glitter. Lots of glitter! Sophie wore it through her (wet, scraped back) hair, on her graphic blue cat eyes, and even dusted over her body. Yet, even with all the glitz and glam, we still get to see her lovely natural skin and brows.

Alexa Chung

Alexa went for a Parisian chic vibe, interpreting the theme to mean "bad taste" (hence the too-short dress and sequins). It looks pretty stylish to me, but what do I know? Makeup-wise, she did her signature cat eyes as usual, but with a matte brick-red mouth. Love her brows!

Alexa is wearing: Blush in Setsuko and Momoko • Highlighter in Inner Light (on cheeks) • Bronzer in Cocoa Dusk • Highlighter in Cosmic (on eyes) • Eyeshadow in Jizoh Street Reds • Eyeliner in Plum • Mascara in Black Pulse • Brow pencil in Deep Brown • Lipstick in Scarlet Rush

Salma Hayek

Like Dakota, Salma is wearing a crown that wouldn't have looked out of place at last year's Gala. But I do like her makeup, especially the bright orangey red lipstick. Her eye makeup is mesmerizing with a thick swipe of liner, gold glitter and shading in the crease.

Salma is wearing: Primer in Sun-Kissed • Foundation in Almond and Buff • Blush in Camellia • Highlighter in Incandescence • Eyeshadow in Anything Goes and Cash Out • Eyeshadow in Rose Gold Retro • Liquid liner in Intense Black • Mascara • Lip liner in Pinot Noir • Lipstick in Beso • Lip gloss in Empowering

Kim Kardashian

For once, Kim's aesthetic actually fits the Met Gala theme! This was all about looking dripping wet, from her hair to the little crystal "water droplets" on her dress. 

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