Oscars 2022: The Best (And Worst) Celebrity Hair and Makeup Looks on the Red Carpet

While I wasn’t crazy about her dress (Christmas tree tinsel, anyone?!), Lupita never gets it wrong in the beauty department. The first thing you notice is her gleaming skin, and then her twisted, braided updo, which is a work of art itself. But it doesn’t stop there, because she also did two-toned eyes (with purple and gold leaf!) to subtly tie everything together.

Lupita is wearing: Liquid liner • Lipstick in Mademoiselle Lupita

What I like about Jessica’s look is how her hair, makeup and dress (at least the top portion of it) are all in the same colour family, so the tones harmonize together in a really flattering way. I love the dusting of glitter on her lids, and how she kept things fresh with a bouncy ponytail. I just wish the false lashes weren’t so heavy.

Jessica is wearing: Foundation in 3N • Highlighter in 2.5 • Concealer in 3 • Blush in Ecstacy • Eyeshadow in Champagne • Eyeshadow in Charlotte Darling • Mascara • Brow pencil in Soft Brown • Lip liner in Pillow Talk • Lipstick in Super Cindy

Nicole hasn’t looked this good in ages! Back in the day, I always used to love it when celebs wore this type of loose side bun, and so I’m happy to see it resurface. I think the red lipstick was a nice choice to keep the pastel blue dress from looking too “sweet.” The lashes are a bit much, but probably necessary to open up the eyes since she doesn’t have a lot of lid space.

Nicole is wearing: Primer • Foundation in Light 2, Light 3 and Light 5 • Concealer in L1 and L2 • Powder in Light 1 • Highlighter • Blush in Nymphette • Eyeshadow in Divine Rose • Eyeliner in Blitz Blue • Eyeliner • Lipstick in Elson 3 • Lip liner in Blood Lust

What do you wear with a cropped button-down shirt and sequinned skirt? You keep it simple with an updo and neutral makeup. I’m glad Zendaya went this route, because anything too showy would’ve been all wrong. Her skin looks so glowy, and everything is really well-blended.

Kristen wore the same flipped-over hair she had at the Critics’ Choice Awards, except it is (inexplicably) more casual, with a crimped texture and a lighter blonde. (Don’t even get me started on the shorts!) Along with the sooty eyeliner, it’s all in her wheelhouse, but I just don’t think this was the right event for it.

Kristen is wearing: Moisturizer • Eye cream • Blush in Ombre • Eyeshadow in Blurry Grey and Candeur et Provocation • Eyeliner in Ébène • Mascara in Noir Black • Brow pencil in Brun Clair • Lipstick in 812 • Lip liner in Nude Brun

Remember how I mentioned that Kirsten needs bold colours? This punchy red is so much better with her skin than the blah blue she wore to Critics’ Choice. I love the sheer red tones in the makeup, too. It’s the blush that is making the biggest statement, and then the same shade is echoed on her lips.

Kirsten is wearing: Foundation in B20 • Concealer in Medium Light • Highlighter • Powder in 20 • Blush in Corail Étoilé • Eyeshadow in Imaginaire • Eyeshadow in Contour Clair • Tinted lip balm in Deep • Lip liner in Clear • Lipstick in 814

Like Kristen Stewart, I’m not sure that H.E.R.’s styling really says “Oscars,” but wow! She looks so good regardless. It’s the mix of vibrant colours that does it for me—the yellow dress, the green necklace and the blue eyeliner—with her gorgeous, glowing skin. However, what’s up with the random sprinkling of glitter on her neck?!

H.E.R. is wearing: Foundation in 7-8 Tan-Deep • Concealer in Medium W5-6 and Dark C7-8 • Powder in Caramel Beige, Nut Brown and Cocoa • Powder • Blush in Everlasting Coral • Blush in Marigold (on cheeks and eyes) • Highlighter in Sunkissed • Eyeshadow in Paradise Enchanted (on eyes and brows) • Eyeshadow in Grand Bleu • Eyeliner in Cobalt Blue • Brow pencil in Dark Brunette • Brow gel in Dark Brunette and Black • Mascara in Black • Lip liner in Nude Pink and Dark Chocolate • Lipstick in I Radiate • Lipstick in Peach Fuzz and Spice

People are calling Jada’s look “boiled spinach,” and I can’t un-see it! But all jokes aside, I do like the juxtaposition of such a statement-making dress with her shaved head to bring the edge. Her skin is absolutely flawless, and the matching green liner along her lower lash lines is the perfect finishing touch.

Vanessa may not have taken any risks here, but this entire look is stunning. My favourite part is the tight, high bun, which is one of the toughest styles to pull off. It shows off her flawless skin and pretty features, which are enhanced with neutral tones and long lashes. 

Vanessa is wearing: Primer • Foundation in Light Medium 13 • Concealer in L7 • Powder in Light Medium 2 (face) • Powder in Medium (under eyes) • Blush in Fleurtatious • Highlighter in Nude • Eyeliner • Mascara • Tinted lip balm in Nude Temptation • Lip liner in Contour • Lipstick in 1995

Jennifer has such a natural, “girl next door” vibe, and I’m glad that she stuck with that here. (When she is styled to look super-glam, it doesn’t work, in my opinion.) Red is a great colour on her, but instead of going match-matchy, she did a fresh face and the prettiest sheer pink lip gloss.

Something about Lily’s look seems dated to me. Don’t get me wrong, she’s gorgeous—but I’m not loving this piecey hair with the lace nightgown-esque dress. What I do like is the mauvey eyeshadow all the way up to her brows, with brown tightlined liner and a ‘90s nude lip. 

Lily is wearing: Essence • Serum • Moisturizer • Eye cream • Foundation in 335W • Concealer in 12 • Powder in Vanilla • Bronzer in Amber • Bronzer in Rosewood • Blush in Pink Dahlia • Highlighter • Eye primer • Eyeshadow in Wild Child, Love and Volatile • Mascara • Brow pencil in Soft Brown • Brow pen in Soft Brown • Brow wax • Lip balm • Lip liner in Dusty Rose • Lipstick in Praline

Tracee looks so great in red; it’s too bad that her dress was a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen! I generally prefer when she gets creative on the red carpet, like at the 2019 Grammys or the 2018 AMAs. So the classic hair and red lipstick, while Oscars-appropriate, are a little off-brand.

Tracee is wearing: Contour/blush in La Scène • Blush in Sick Pink • Mascara • Brow pencil in Sepia and Dusk • Lipstick in Red Armchair

At the 2020 Oscars, Billie had fluorescent green hair and insanely long, squared-off nails... so I guess some might say this is an improvement?! She has such a pretty face, and we can see more of it here, for once (although she still has that requisite bored stare). Her hair kind of reminds me of the ‘90s Jennifer Aniston cut, but in Goth black!

Billie is wearing: Moisturizer • Eye serum • Foundation in 1N • Concealer in 1 Fair • Powder in 1 Fair • Blush in Love is the Drug • Highlighter • Eyeshadow in The Sophisticate • Eyeliner in Classic Brown • Mascara in Glossy Black • Brow pencil in Black Brown • Lip oil

Mila was one of the handful of stars who did old Hollywood glamour this year. It’s perhaps not the most current, but I think she looks really good. I especially like her full brows and long lashes, which replace the need for dark shadow or liner. The pink on her eyelids, with a matching lipstick, is fresh and pretty.

We unfortunately can’t see much of Penélope here, other than her newly highlighted, tousled hair, which I love. (At the 2020 Oscars, it was longer, darker and straighter.) Makeup-wise, it looks like she stayed with her go-to rosy tones.

Uma paid homage to her famous white shirt from Pulp Fiction, and the effect is incredibly chic. (So much better than the matronly gowns that we often see on mature ladies!) Wisely, she wore her hair in a soft, off-the-face updo. And I really love the glossy lips and black liner, no mascara.

Just when I was praising Maggie’s hair at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Independent Spirit Awards, she went and chopped it all off again! I consider the bob to be her “Life Cut,” so this piecey pixie is not doing it for me. I’m also not a fan of the dark lipstick, like I keep saying. With the stiff black dress, it’s just so harsh.