All the Products Used in the Best Met Gala Beauty Looks

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The Met Gala is fashion’s biggest red carpet, but for me, my eyes are always on the beauty looks.

“Bridgerton” was on everyone’s lips at the Met Gala – but the the Gilded Age that the “Gilded Glamour” theme refers to is actually quite a short period in history; 1870 to the early 1900s. Makeup during this period was neither accessible nor popular – it still carried associations with the theatre and prostitution (which then were both stigmatised professions), and it wasn’t until department stores opened in the 19th century that makeup became commonplace in ordinary women’s handbags.

When makeup was used, it was usually a workaround designed to look like real skin – a stain on the lips and cheeks or a little bit of shadow embedded in the lash line. Style interpretations at the Met of the Gilded Age era were also… loose. Many celebrities picked up more on the” gilded” aspect, with lots of appliques and some going full Bridgerton. At POPSUGAR Australia, we just want everyone to have a good time.

Of course – this kind of understated beauty has no place at the Met, the most extra event on the A-List calendar, so most beauty looks drew inspiration from all kinds of eras, with the best giving a modern edge to the fashion worn at the time.

Kaia Gerber’s ’70s Gibson-Girl

Kaia Gerber’s Alexander McQueen gown made diaphanous metal wear possible. It combined a classic 1920s silhouette with modern, bare-skin cutouts (in the 1920’s, transparent fabric was generally used to give the illusion of nakedness)

Don’t have voluminous waves? Don’t worry. Assuming you, like Kaia are not blessed with a Lady Godiva mane of lush curls, you can easily create them with the right products.

First, work Virtue Labs’ Create 6-in-1 Styler ($47) through wet hair. Scrunch Virtue Labs, Volumising Styler ($60) through the roots before blowdrying. I love Create 6-in-1 because it provides grip and gloss – rather than crunch. Meanwhile, the Volumising Styler refreshes the scalp and gives the illusion of density, both products feel weightless.

Blow-dry and follow with the GHD, Thin Wand Hair Curler, ($250). The 14mm barrel allows you to create perm-style curls, NOT loose waves. Work your strands into sections and curl every mm to get yourself the Leonine mane you deserve – a centre part and some statement clips are essential.

For beauty, makeup artist Naoko Sofia Patrizia Scintu used all YSL, Including the Touche Eclat Blur Primer, ($75), but with the brand’s new Nu Bare Look Tint (currently only available in the US, you can try Rose Incs, Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum ($73).

Scintu then spot-concealed with YSL All Hours Concealer ($60) and set and “finished” the base with YSL All-Over Glow, polishing with YSL All-Over Glow – also only available in the US. A luminous setting powder like Hourglass, Veil Translucent Setting Powder ($69) – used sparingly – will do the trick.

Individual shadows in Sequin Crush, shade 02 and Satin Crush in 05 were mixed together and patted onto the lid. These shadows are not available in Australia – but, fortunately, I have a dupe that will give you this whole look and more.

The impact shimmer on Gerber’s lids is all Pat McGrath, Mothership IX Huetopian Dream Artistry Eyeshadow Palette ($210)

My adoration for this palette is well established, so I’d skip straight to there for lilac shimmering hues on Gerbera’s lids and the warm tones in her crease. Add a swoosh of black liner, and you’re off.

The peachy shade is even a dupe for YSL Couture Blush in No4 Corail Rive Gauche – currently unavailable in Australia.

In a win for those who have been fending off big brows, these bad boys were thicccc. Use whatever sets your heart on fire. The perfect peach lip? Rouge Volupte Shine in No150, “Nude Lingerie” ($62).

Emma Chamberlain’s Flapper-Core

Makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan used Bare Minerals makeup for Chamberlain’s whimsical look.

Deenihan drew on the 1920s for inspiration with the downturned sleepy eye shape and thin, blocked out arches. She used the MINERALIST Eyeshadow Palette ($48) and Gen Nude Blonzer in “Kiss of Rose” ($37) with super matte skin.

Dewy looks did not become popular until the 1970s when festival-ready bare complexions were popularised. In the earlier part of the century, most complexion products were heavy, used mainly in theatre, so Chamberlain’s full coverage matte look was spot on.

Chamberlain wore custom Louis Vuitton in fabrics that drew on those typically used by the Gibson girls of the era; plain, stiff and starched. Of course, as the newly minted ambassador for Cartier, Chamberlain was bedazzled with a tiara, choker and drop earrings.

The gold foil on her lids tied together with the glistening jewel tones and the lemon meringue colour of her crop top. Don’t have 24k gold foil on hand? No problem. You can usually use a makeup mixer or water with a gold eyeshadow – but another hack I use is mixing a clear oil base like McCo Beauty’s Lip Oil ($12) with a loose shimmer or foil product like Ciate’s Marble Metals gold eyeshadow from their Max May Collection ($90). The Glow-To-Blush in this set is also very similar to the sold-out BareMinerals Gen Nude Blonzer, used in this look to create an eye look with intense shine (beauty writers do work in between cosmetic chemistry).

Laura Harrier’s Golden Age Greige

Laura Harrier went for one of the most historically accurate gilded age gowns. Form-fitting corsets and heavy, jacquard fabrics and full petticoats worn beneath skirts. Harrier made the look her own by opting for darker colours than were typical of the era, sleet grey, silver and black, as opposed to pastels, and chain detailing on the back and front of the gown. Harrier worked with H&M for a very couture look and was a guest of the label.

Hung Van Go maestro-d the makeup using Chanel products. He opted for a lighter weight foundation with long wear concealers, pairing the Chanel, Revitalising Foundation ($110) with the brand’s Longwear Concealers ($65) and Colour Correctors ($65). Using lighter foundations with concealers is a great way to create a bulletproof base. Heavy complexion all over is less likely to wear well while concealers can be applied more sparingly and are designed to stick.

The heavenly blush she wore was Chanel, Blush Lumiere in Brun Roussi ($100) – a gorgeous shade for deeper complexions and Rougle Allure Velvet Extreme, Intense Matte Lip Colour in “Chestnut” ($62).

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in “Modern Glamour” ($105) was used wet on the lids, throwing blue and silver accents on the red carpet.

Using Tresemme products, Lacy Redway created the hair look with a wet look bob. The hairline was the late 1800s, while the kicked bob gave an on-trend 90s edge.

Gigi Hadid’s Monochrome Moment

My personal favourite look. Gigi Hadid’s Versace get-up was Met dressing at its best. The silhouette was totally modern while containing references to the era (rather than a complete costume look). From the corset to her “puffer” quilted cape with its 1800s high neckline, the outfit brought old and new together. Her ruby and black pearl circlet Chopard necklace was pure 1800s bling. Meanwhile, artfully combining oxblood in three different textures – latex, silk, and polyester – and, of course, the lipstick and eyeshadow, was a masterful monochrome moment for 2022.

Beauty tied it all together. The spiky chignon with slicked-back hair is contemporary 90s meets off-duty model. Her ombre lip was lined with oxblood then topped with Maybelline’s Superstay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick in 30 “Unrivaled” – we’ll have to wait for this cheap and cheerful option but until then, MAC Lipglass in “Ruby Woo” ($35) is a great dupe. Blush and eyes were kept next to bare. Gigi showed she is an authentic, modern supermodel, and for me, this look was the winner.

Jodie Tuner-Smith’s Burlesque Glam

If you can distract yourself for ONE second from how adorable Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson are as a couple (Jackson told Vanity Fair “Every time I get to attend an event with my beautiful wife, it’s a chance for me to celebrate her” – damn) you will notice her phenomenal style and killer beauty.

Turner-Smith is the face of Gucci’s High Jewellery collection and wore a leggy Gucci ensemble that played with concepts of Victorian burlesque and the Gatsby era. Her Gucci beauty makeup look was flawless – the blocked out brows with high bejewelled arches nodded to the era’s past. At the same time, the creamy complexion, with Gucci, Natural Finish Fluid Foundation ($100), and the buttery chocolate lip is – I suspect – Gucci Rouge a Levres Satin Lipstick in “Penny Beige” or “Tracey Hazel” ($64)

Blake Lively’s Natural Liberty Look

The most wearable beauty look to hit the red carpet. MUA Kristofer Buckle drew on the warm-toned metals and coppers in her gown – using matte browns followed by metallic rose gold and copper shades.

The MUA used all Charlotte Tilbury, working from the eyes to mesmerise with the chocolate bronze Luxury Palette of Pops in “Pillow Talk” ($80). The star wore Lip Cheat Pillow Talk in Medium ($35) with Matte Revolution Lipstick in “Sexy Sienna” ($49) and Collagen Lip Bath in “Gold” ($50) over the top. Her complexion was the Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil, with Airbrush Flawless Foundation.