People’s Choice Awards 2016: The Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Looks on the Red Carpet

From Alison Brie to Lucy Hale.

Author:
Michelle Villett
Publish date:
Jan 8, 2016

The People's Choice Awards—the first big event of the 2016 awards season—took place in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, and I've got all the beauty looks to show you!

This is a long one, so grab a snack and let's get to it!

Alison Brie

Alison showed off long lashes and healthy, glossy waves. Normally, I don't love false lashes, but with her eyes, these actually work. I'm also into the pink lipstick, which has yellow undertones. I don't mind the way her brows were filled, to make them look fuller, but the colour should be ashier.

Lucy Hale

Lucy is so darn pretty! I love this ethereal wintery look, with delicate baby hairs framing her face, and the full brows/full lashes combo. (I think the false lashes are okay here, as they're nice and fluffy.) The skinniest bit of liner in her lower waterlines helps define her eyes, and of course, the stained berry lipstick is fabulous.

Lucy is wearing: Foundation in No. 5 • Blush in 72 Rose Initial • Illuminator • Eyeshadow in Maroon • Eyeliner in Jet Set • Brow pencil in Warm Brunette • Mascara in Deep Black • Lip liner in Rouge Noir • Lipstick in Vixen

Nathalie Emmanuel

Last time we saw Nathalie, her hair was in dreads. Now, she's got tight curls in a big rounded shape—and they're equally cool. Her makeup is even softer, with natural lashes, silvery shadow, a hint of liner and tinted pink lip balm. Her beautiful full brows frame it all. She did her own hair and makeup, and now I'm even more impressed!

Claire Danes

YES, Claire! If you ask me, this is the best she has looked in the past five years (at least). Simple is the definitely the way to go on her. I love the straight but voluminous blow-dry, clean makeup and lovely bright red mouth. Finally, she looks comfortable and not overpowered by elaborate hair and makeup.

Claire is wearing: Serum • Foundation • Eyeshadow in Café au Lait • Eyeliner in Black Velvet • Mascara • Blush in Pink • Lip balm • Lipstick in Power Red

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka really pulls off the dramatic smoky eyes (and even lashes), with black kohl through her waterlines and even smudgy grey shadow taken below the lower lashes. The rosy mauve lip colour is very pretty, and I love the updo! Few people would look this good with so much volume at the top.

Kate Hudson

Kate chose black winged liner and extra-thick lashes, and I think it basically works. The effect almost gives her face a lift, as it draws the eye up, and the rest of her look is extremely subtle. I like the shimmery nude eyeshadow, pale pink lipstick and soft, loose updo.

Kate is wearing: Lipstick in Iced Iris

Troian Bellisario

I feel like this tight ponytail isn't doing Troian's beauty justice. That said, her makeup does look nice—I always appreciate seeing natural skin textures and the absence of false lashes. The stained, deep rose lips are also great.

Troian is wearing: Primer • Tinted moisturizer • Illuminator • Concealer • Blush in Cor-De-Rosa • Blush in Gingerly • Eyeshadow in Matte Neutral • Eyeshadow in Moonlight • Lip colour

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Shay Mitchell

The concept was good, but Shay just took it a little too far. She has beautifully illuminated skin and is one of the few who can pull off centre-parted straight hair, worn behind both ears. The plummy brown makeup tones could've been interesting, but are swamped by the false lashes and heavy application overall.

Shay is wearing: Foundation • Eyeshadow in 10 Mirage • Mascara • False lashes in Carmen #9 • Lipstick in Sheer Brown 202 • Lip gloss in Iridescent

Camilla Luddington

Overall, I love Camilla's unique look. The centre-parted updo and tawny makeup shades are amazing on her. Up close, her brows are obviously drawn in, but I could live with that if she'd chosen more natural lashes. To have both, plus the heavy shadow, is maybe a bit much. I like how she skipped earrings, which helps keep things clean.

Ashley Benson

Ashley has such beautiful eyes, and contrary to what you'd think, they seem to stand out more with less makeup. She ditched her usual heaviness for long but defined lashes and soft shadow tones—really nice! Her skin looks good as well, but I'd much prefer her hair down, in a deep side part, versus this severe centre-parted ponytail.

Natalie Dormer

Natalie continues to have the most striking blue eyes in Hollywood. And she knows how to play them up—with a mesmerizing teal highlight underneath each iris. The rest is heavy black liner, with shimmery taupe shadow, and no distracting false lashes. I kinda wish she'd just left it at that instead of adding the opaque peach gloss. The blonde waves are great.

Julianne Hough

Speaking of heavy plum tones, I just can't with Julianne's blush. Way to interfere with a cute updo! She actually looks adorable with the top knot, but her makeup colours make her face look muddy. The lashes are not great, and the eyeshadow is poorly blended.

Sarah Rafferty

I love a red lip on a redhead. This one has orangey undertones, and Sarah let it be the star of her beauty look, wearing it with barely any blush, natural lashes, and soft brown-black liner. The only thing I'd say about this is that her hair looks dry, and obviously straightened. I think her natural curls and a side part would be better.

Vanessa Hudgens

Uh oh, Vanessa's eyes look slightly irritated from wearing all that eye makeup! And yet, she is one of the few who can actually carry so much (although of course I prefer a lighter touch). The iridescent copper lip colour is pretty cool, and I like how she pushed her lob back and off her face. Too bad her foundation looks too light compared to her chest.

Katherine McNamara

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This red hair colour (not to mention the dated length and texture) is completely overpowering Katherine's features. A soft strawberry would be best, around boob-length, and not so piecey. I also don't understand the reason for the false lashes and heavy makeup, which just detract from her natural youthful prettiness.

Kat Graham

Kat, step away from the highlighting and contouring kit. I mean, there is subtle sculpting, and then there is this... way too drastic! But I will applaud her subtle lashes this time, and her short haircut is totally awesome.

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