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After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Met Gala 2021 is finally back and fashion’s most anticipated annual event made up for lost time with a star-studded guest list, who arrived in their most glamorous gowns and suits. This year, the Met Gala celebrated American fashion, but we all know that a look is never complete without a red-carpet-ready glam.
Fashion may be the main talking point during the Met Ball but we simply can’t overlook the beauty either. A paparazzi shot from the Met Gala lasts on the internet forever and no one wants to be caught un-powdered or without just the right amount of a blinding glow or blended shadow — so every pose, smize, and smirk matters. Since makeup is the crown jewel of every look, it’s only right that we round up the best beauty looks from the Met Gala 2021.
Billie Eilish
Could Billie Eilish get any more dreamy? Apparently, she can. With hair pin-curled to perfection and soft natural makeup, Billie's Met Gala glam was a modern ode to both Marilyn Monroe and the Holiday Barbie. Billie's makeup was done by Robert Rumsey using Charlotte Tilbury makeup. Some of the products used were Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury The Super Nudes Nudegasm Face Palette, and Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude.
Megan Thee Stallion
Also paying homage to Old Hollywood was Megan Thee Stallion. The Houston rapper donned a soft-winged liner, ombré lips (achieved using products from her latest Revlon x Megan Thee Stallion Big Bad Beauty Looks Collection), and a side-swept hairdo curled to perfection.
Naomi Osaka
Tennis player Naomi Osaka stunned the red carpet in a look that pays homage to her Haitian and Japanese background. Naomi's sculpted ponytail by Dyson hairstylist Marty Harper was a show stopper while her cherry-red cheeks and lips were a beautiful take on traditional makeup. Her glam was done by Jessica Smalls-Langston using Glossier (who else will be using the Gen G lipstick as an eyeshadow from now on?), Charlotte Tilbury, and Kiss Products.
Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain looked like a doll in her ‘60s mod-inspired glam. Her bronzed face and matte pink lip gave her graphic eye look plenty of room to shine. Emma rocked a pop of green shadow on the lid and a spiky set of lower lash falsies that perfectly framed her natural doe eyes. When it comes to hair, her slicked middle parting and flipped ends make for a super on-trend style for fall courtesy of Laura Polko. Emma’s makeup was done by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher using BYREDO Colour Stick in La Scène across the lid and BYREDO Colour Stick in Dravite in the inner and outer lid. To finish the look off, Fisher used BYREDO Eyeshadow 5 Colour Palette in Syren.
Keke Palmer
Keke channeled her inner '70s disco star with a cat-eye to tule them all. Paying homage to Diana Ross, the Met Gala 2021 red carpet host kept her cheek highlight blinding and her eye look matte and cool to match her metallic dress. Keke’s stand-out black smokey eye was blown out to the temples and paired with a silver inner corner for maximum drama and highlight for days. Dina Drevenak did her makeup, while Miles Jeffries did her hair.
Barbie Ferreira
Euphoria actor Barbie Ferreira showed up to the Met Gala in burlesque-inspired makeup that looked straight out of the 1920s. Barbie stayed true to the classic era with stencil thin brows and heavily blushed cheeks and eyes done by Kali Kennedy using BYREDO's Purple Stinger Colour Stick and “Electric Love” from the BYREDO Sciomancer Palette. Her hair was done by Malcolm Marquez using amika. Some key products used were the amika The Wizard Detangling Primer, amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum, and the amika Headstrong Intense Hold Hairspray.
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi looked like a vision in her natural makeup look inspired by 1920s performer Josephine Baker. The flapper look was all about the soft wave and stage-ready cheek blush. It’s safe to say that Yara pulled it off effortlessly. Yara's makeup, featuring Dior products, was done by Emily Cheng, who said “rounded eyes and cheeks, slightly thinner brows" were the highlight in a press release. Some of the products used to achieve her glam were the Dior Forever Skin Glow, Dior Rouge Blush in #999 and #962, Rouge Dior #000 Diornatural, and Rouge Dior #910 Ardente.
Maisie Williams
Game of Thrones actor Maisie Williams gave '90s grunge realness at this year’s Met Gala. Her gelled hair was a sculptural work of art in itself, while her retro brown lip and soft eyeliner make this look an easy one to replicate at home – just don’t forget the dot of eyeliner on the undereye.
Amanda Gorman
Festival season may be over, but poet Amanda Gorman made a plea for wearing face art all year round in glam inspired by the Statue of Liberty. Her waist-length braid was fit for a princess and her face jewels are the ultimate beauty accessory when highlighter is just not enough. LaRae, Joanna Simkin, and Yoko Sakakura were in charge of her glam, which was courtesy of Estée Lauder and Essie.
Saweetie
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Saweetie was a vision of Hollywood glam at the Met Gala and we wouldn't expect any less. She wore a fiery pink eye to match her dress and kept her hair short and slicked back with some cute flipped ends. Saweetie did icy girls everywhere proud with her immaculate glam thanks to Stephanie Nimoh and Jasonhaiir. Some of the makeup products used to achieve her look were the MAC Dazzleglass Lip Gloss in Sugarimmed, MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in Over the Taupe, MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit.
Nia Dennis
American gymnast Nia Dennis was camera-ready with a monochrome electric blue smokey eye to coordinate with her outfit. If you needed a sign to play with bright colors, this is it.
Kaia Gerber
Kaia Gerber paid homage to Bianca Jagger with her take on classic Hollywood glam. Nina Park was in charge of her makeup and Guido Palau took care of her immaculate hair.
Whitney Peak
Whitney Peak also went for a standout neon green eyeliner moment, courtesy of Tyron Machhausen, who used Chanel Beauty. Her hair was done by Naeemah Lafond using amika and Heat Free hair extensions.
Sha'Carri Richardson
Athlete Sha'Carri Richardson put on her slickest wig for the event and stole the limelight.
Paloma Elsesser
Who said you can't match your lips and eyes to your dress? Paloma looked more than stunning during the night in this timeless look, both fashion- and beauty-wise. Her makeup was done by Fara Homidi and JAWARA took care of her hair.
Kehlani
Kehlani's '70s-inspired two-tone hair was the perfect complement to her suit. Troye Antonio did her makeup while Kahh Spence did her hair using OGXBeauty.
Natalia Bryant
Teen Vogue's September 2021 cover star also channeled the '60s with her glam. Jose Corella did her soft-pinched pink makeup using products from Knesko Skin, La Mer, Tatcha, Shiseido, Patrick Ta, and Sweed. Her classy updo was courtesy of Ro Morgan.
Normani
Normani was also one of the guests that matched her makeup to her gowns but instead of the classic red, she opted for a striking copper yellow. Her makeup was done by Rokael using Haus Laboratories by Lady Gaga. Her hair was done by Yusef using Dark and Lovely, K18 Hair, Dyson, and The Y by Yusef.
Hailee Steinfeld
For her tenth Met Gala, Hailee looked almost unrecognizable with her blonde bob and bleached brows.
Gigi Hadid
Jessica Rabbit's got nothing on Gigi Hadid's auburn pony and sky blue eye look. Her makeup was done by Erin Parsons using mainly Maybelline products (including the new Instant Perfector 4-in-1 Matte Makeup that will be launching in 2022) while Esther Langham did her hair.
Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita made sure to catch everyone's attention with her sculptural hairdo and her eye makeup, which matched her denim. Vernon François did her hair using Dyson and Redken, while Nick Barose used Lancôme and Armani Beauty for her makeup.
Megan Fox
Megan's blunt bangs and classic cherry makeup were courtesy of Andrew Fitzsimons and Ash K Holm, respectively.
Kim Petras
From her nails to her makeup and her ponytail, everything about Kim's glam was on point for the Met Gala 2021. Iggy Rosales, using got2b, was the master behind the hair; Gilbert Soliz was behind the makeup, and Juan Alvear, using Christian Louboutin beauty, knocked it out of the park with her gobsmacking equestrian nail set.
Storm Reid
After rocking a 13-foot long braid last in August, Storm Reid debuted the big chop at the Met Gala 2021 – and she looked stunning doing so. Storm's new blonde pixie cut, styled for the night giving Old Hollywood vibes, was courtesy of Greg Gilmore. Pauly Blanch did her pearl-filled makeup, also using Maybelline.
Rihanna
Last but definitely not least: Rihanna. The Met Gala superstar arrived fashionably late and she did so wearing flawless makeup. Her rosy cheeks and crimson lip, by Hector Espina, popped against her all-black outfit and, of course, it was all thanks to Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin products. Some of the products used were the Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 300, Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in “Trophy Wife,” “Ginger Binge,” and “Lightning Dust”, and Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss’r Lip-Loving Scrubstick.
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