While the gowns, jumpsuits, tuxes, what have you are usually the focal point of every Met Gala look, the beauty is what really pulls it all together. When it comes to Met Gala beauty, literally anything goes. (Which is fine by us.) With themes ranging from punk meets haute couture to camp, over the years the gala’s motto has morphed into “Go big or go home.”
On the makeup front, the eyes have it. Whether you’re looking for a little negative space liner, bold lashes or some bling, there’s something for everyone. A red lip will never go out of style, but gala attendees have loved switching things up, proudly sporting pouts in every other hue, from gothic black to bright coral.
The hairstyles are also pretty extreme. We’re talking super long braids, silver finger waves, voluminous manes and even “hair” bows. Leave it to Lady Gaga to rock OTT locks and makeup while stripping on the red carpet.
We’re sad that this year’s gala has been delayed, but happy that we have all these Met Gala beauty looks to reminisce about while we wait for it to be rescheduled. Look through the slideshow above to see which hair and makeup looks have stood the test of time.
Met Gala Best Beauty Looks of All Time
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January Jones, 2013
The negative space eyeliner and covered brows stole the spotlight.
Theme: PUNK: Chaos to Couture
Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
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Beyoncé, 2014
A flashy veil plus wine-colored lips equals one winning combo.
Theme: Charles James: Beyond Fashion
Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
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Dakota Johnson, 2015
Striking winged liner perfectly paired with a pretty pink pout.
Theme: China: Through the Looking Glass
Image: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images
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Ciara, 2016
Ciara highlighted her cropped silver locks with well-placed bobby pins.
Theme: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
Image: Venturelli/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Katy Perry, 2016
The high hair and dark lip were pretty dramatic, but it was those colorful lashes that made this best beauty look memorable.
Theme: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Zendaya, 2017
We’re not sure which we love more: Zendaya’s voluminous locks or her strong coral lip.
Theme: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
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Cara Delevingne, 2017
The model/actress rocked a painted ‘do boasting rhinestone accents.
Theme: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between
Image: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images/Getty Images
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Lady Gaga, 2019
Gilded lashes, crystal tears, hot pink lips and hair bows added up to camp done right.
Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion
Image: Karwai Tang/Getty Images
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Tessa Thompson, 2019
The star’s latex-wrapped braid was over 12 feet long.
Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion
Image: Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Yara Shahidi, 2019
The actress flaunted the trail of diamantés around one of her eyes.
Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion
Image: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
