Oscars 2021: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Moments (as Seen on Instagram)

With last night's Oscars ceremony, the 2021 awards season finally drew to a close, offering a welcome glimpse of normalcy. Unlike most events this year, it took place in-person instead of virtually—complete with a real-life red carpet that has been sorely missed!

Not surprisingly, celebs dialled up the glamour for their first major appearances in more than a year. On display: brand new haircuts, radiant skin, and (after months of mask-wearing) a return to lipstick.

Here are all the must-see looks, plus the products used to create them. 

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda made one of the most dramatic statements of the night in a voluminous red gown, with classic old Hollywood hair and makeup to match. Her vampy lips are courtesy of a soon-to-be-launched purple liquid lipstick, and similar tones are echoed in her eyeshadow (rather than the usual browns or greys). The low bun with controlled waves brings it all together.

Amanda is wearing: Essence • Serum • Primer • Foundation • Foundation in 90 Ivoire N • Highlighter in Luminous Gold • Blush in Blushing Tresor • Eyeshadow in Rose Fusion • Eyeliner in Black Coffee • Volumizing mascara • Lengthening mascara • Lip liner in Rose Lancôme • Lipstick in Nuit Pourpre

Halle Berry

Halle's pixie cut will always be iconic, but I love that she switched things up with this short bob and baby bangs. With her strapless dress, it sure does show off her amazing, glowing skin. (And did I mention youthful? How is she 54?!) As usual, she kept to barely-there neutral tones with her makeup. 

Halle is wearing: Moisturizer • Eye cream • Foundation in WN 98 Cream Caramel • Concealer in CN78 Nutty • Highlighter in Lunar Pop • Bronzer in Solar Pop • Blush in Melon Pop • Eyeshadow in Day Into Date and Strawberry Fudge • Liquid liner in Brown • Mascara in Black • Brow pencil in Soft Brown • Lipstick in Eyelet • Tinted lip balm in Heaping Hazelnut

Margot Robbie

Margot was another celeb who debuted new bangs, along with a darker blonde hair colour and longer length. (It's in a low ponytail—here's what it looked like at the back.) After the platinum blonde she had last year, I love this more natural look for her, especially with the subtle, warm-toned shades on her lids, lips and cheeks. 

Margot is wearing: Serum • Moisturizer • Foundation in BD51 • Foundation in Deep • Bronzer in Sunset • Bronzer, contour and eyeshadow in Caramel • Highlighter in Golden Light • Liquid liner in Noir • Mascara in Noir • Mascara in Noir • Brow pencil in Light Brown • Lip liner in Nude Brun • Lipstick in Warm Beige • Lipstick in Chicness

Zendaya

What do you wear with an eye-popping neon yellow gown? If you're Zendaya, you do your hair in loose, waist-length waves that make you look like a mermaid coming out of the sea. Needless to say, not much makeup was required—just bold brows, some bronzey eyeshadow and sheer, glossy lips.

Zendaya is wearing: Essence • Serum • Foundation in 425 Bisque Warm • Foundation in 420 Bisque N • Highlighter • Blush in Blushing Tresor • Eyeshadow in Terre De Sienne and French Nude • Eyeliner in Black Coffee • Lash serum • Mascara • Brow pencil in Chocolate and Light Brown • Brow gel in Transparent • Lip liner in Nude • Lip gloss in 13 Raspberry Cool

Reese Witherspoon

When you've been walking red carpets for as long as Reese has, then this is how relaxed you look beforehand. Now that last year's bob has grown out, there's a real ease to her look, with this simple middle part and understated makeup. I don't know what it is, but she is definitely defying the aging process!

Reese is wearing: Serum • Moisturizer • Foundation • Highlighter (mixed with foundation) • Eyeshadow in Festival

H.E.R.

If you know me, then you know that this makeup is basically the opposite of my taste—and yet, H.E.R. makes me kind of love it. For one thing, her skin looks incredible, and her brows (while "done") are still feathery. I also like that juicy, plummy lip colour and even the the little curl on her forehead. Yes, the lashes and shadow are over-the-top, but with her signature tinted glasses, she makes it work!

Vanessa Kirby

Just like she's been doing all season long, Vanessa played up her model-esque features with a tight (some would say severe) updo and her trademark full brows. The makeup is similar to what we saw at the SAG Awards, with a scarlet-red lipstick popping against her pale skin and pale pink dress. I just found her contoured cheeks (which you can also see here) perhaps a bit heavy.

Vanessa is wearing: Moisturizer (as highlighter) • Eye gloss • Mascara in Eve Black • Lip liner in Bordeaux • Lipstick in Eadie Scarlet

Regina King

Regina traded in her butt-grazing double ponytail for this sassy straight bob, and I love it so much. Since she has a penchant for exaggerated details like the collar on this dress, the hair adds some needed freshness, so the look isn't so serious. I think the eyeliner (not a lip) was the perfect choice to go with it.

Regina is wearing: Moisturizer • Foundation • Concealer • Blush in Robust Rhubarb • Bronzer in Solar Pop • Highlighter in Lunar Pop • Powder in Invisible Matte • Eyeshadow in Neutral Grey • Liquid liner in Black • Eyeliner in Intense Ivy • Mascara • Brow pencil in Deep Brown • Lipstick in Subtle

Andra Day

While I'm not sure that her disco-inspired dress was really Oscars material, Andra's hair and makeup were on point. Okay, maybe not the ring of lip liner, but I'm into the rose gold and yellow gold eyeshadows, as well as her cascading updo of curls. I do, however, think her Golden Globes look was more impactful overall. She peaked too early! 

Andra is wearing: Foundation in BD31 and BD41 • Concealer in 30 and 40 • Bronzer in Soleil Tan Bronze • Illuminator • Highlighter in Golden Light • Eyeshadow in Rayon • Eyeshadow in Code Élégants and Warm Memories • Mascara in Noir • Brow pencil in Brun Naturel • Brow gel in Transparent • Lip liner in Nude Brun • Lipstick in Dream • Lip gloss in Excitation

Maria Bakalova

Maria chose a sparkling, ultra-feminine princess gown, but then she paired it with dark, sultry makeup in the form of smoky eyes and a deep red lipstick. This juxtaposition isn't really working for me. I think she looks best with a lighter touch and lots of radiance—like her glowy skin, lavender eyeshadow and coral lips at the BAFTAs.

Maria is wearing: Essence • Serum • Moisturizer • Foundation in 1 Ivory and 2 Soft Beige • Concealer in 1 • Highlighter in 1 Pearly Rose • Powder in 2 Natural, 3 Sandy and 4 Bronze • Blush in 1 Petal • Blush in 3 Coral • Eyeshadow in 11 Matte Nude, 20 Silky Chestnut, 21 Matte Cocoa and 32 Silky Coral • Eyeliner in 3 Sparkling Brown • Mascara • Brow pencil in Cappuccino • Brow gel in Transparent • Lip liner in 7 Ruby • Lipstick in 18 Tango

Carey Mulligan

Carey is the last celeb I expected to see in a gold sequinned crop-top dress, but here we are. I applaud her for going out of her comfort zone, but her hair and makeup didn't go the extra mile that was needed. Instead of a boring updo and matte makeup, I would have loved to see a slick, low bun with dewy skin and maybe some glossy or metallic finishes on her lips or lids! 

Carey is wearing: Face mask • Foundation in B20 • Bronzer in Soleil Tan Bronze • Powder in No. 20 • Blush in Rose Écrin • Highlighter in Transparent • Eyeshadow in Elemental and Clair-Obscur • Eyeshadow in Electric Brown • Eyeshadow in Desert Wind • Mascara in Noir • Brow pencil in Brun Naturel • Brow gel in Transparent • Lip balm • Lip liner in Pivoine • Lipstick in Ultimate 

Who had your favourite (and least favourite) beauty look?