Met Gala Beauty: Slicked Back and Brilliantly Natural

At this year’s Met Gala, the biggest costume event of the year, attendees kept it simple.  To accompany gorgeous gowns inspired by Charles James, stars opted for understated makeup that let their natural beauty shine through.

Of course, there was plenty of timeless elegance at this “white tie” event, sometimes complemented with a dark blueish purple pout.  Reese Witherspoon accessorized her strapless pink Stella McCartney gown with a matching pink lip and vintage Old Hollywood waves. Blake Lively and Dita Von Teese also added a dose of old school glamour with similar bombshell style waves.  However, the star of the evening was the sleek pulled back hair paired with over-the-top gowns.

Karolina Kurkova kept her hair out of her face placing all the attention on that jaw-dropping Marchesa gown.  Stella McCartney also posed for photos on the red carpet with her hair smoothed back away from her face in a ponytail.  Another fan of the simple style was Kate Bosworth, who added a side part to this sleek style.

Emma Stone, Gisele Bundchen, Karlie Kloss, Stella McCartney, and Zoe Saldana proved that “glamorous yet relaxed makeup” seemed to rule the Met Gala red carpet this season.  To get an understated look that’s polished enough to wear to a gala at home, start with your skin.  A perfect, even complexion is the canvas to build the rest of your look.  Next, figure out what areas of your face you want to highlight, you can focus on rosy cheeks and perfect brows like Karlie did or keep your look super clean and natural like Gisele, and focus on your eyes.

For a radiant yet simple look like Emma Stone’s CHANEL Celebrity Makeup Artist, Rachel Goodwin, shares her secrets for Emma Stone.  Goodwin “focused on a light, sun-kissed look to let Emma’s beauty shine.”  To create the look she used CHANEL Le Jour de Chanel and CHANEL Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup SPF 15 in Beige 30 on her face as well as REVLON PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Peach Light to really get that glow.  Goodwin applied CHANEL Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Illusoire and New Moon to add a little dimension.  REVLON ColorBurst Balm Stain in Cherish and CHANEL Aqua Crayon Lip Color Stick in Rosewood completed the look giving Emma a lovely pink pout to complement her pink two-toned ensemble.

At times red carpet looks can seem daunting, but these elegant yet simple styles are both elegant and wearable.   Plus, a sleek elegant ponytail is the perfect solution for those humid summer nights!

—Janine Silver