There are so many reasons to love the Met Gala and to be excited about this year’s event, in particular. (Specified dress codes such as “gilded glamour” and “white tie;” hosts such as Blake and Ryan; a return to the traditional first-Monday-of-May timing.) That said, what I find most intoxicating about the annual, star-studded gathering is that the hair and makeup play just as important of a part in a celebrity’s chosen ensemble as the fashion does—and really, the more ethereal and outlandish, the better.
After a couple of years of cancellations and postponements, we’re excited to be back to some normalcy, and this year’s theme, In America: An Anthology of Fashion, has us champing at the bit. Click here for a deep dive into the theme’s meaning and other important-to-know details, but with the aforementioned dress code specifications and the highlighted time period of the Gilded Age of New York—aka the period between 1870 to 1890—it’s sure to be a feast for fashion and beauty lovers alike. Keep scrolling, and hang on to your hats—the best can’t-miss hair, makeup, and beauty moments from the 2022 Met Gala are just below.
ICYMI, bleached brows are one of spring’s biggest hair color trends, and the 2022 Met Gala red carpet (including Kendall Jenner) proves it. Must-have beauty product: Kylie Cosmetics Kyliner Liquid Eyeliner Pen ($18)
There’s so much to unpack here. Baby tendrils! Dominatrix meets 1800s New York! It’s a vibe, and we’re rolling with it. Plus, Hadid’s no-makeup makeup and glowy blush are very copyable for summer.
The model’s flaxen curls are the perfect face frame for her silver-and-gold sparkle-studded cat eye.
While her sister Kendall embodied the bleached-hair trend via her brows, Kim opted for the look via a sleek chignon and what seems an obvious nod to one of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic fashion moments (aka, the Happy Birthday, Mr. President dress.) Must-have beauty product: Augustinus Bader The Cream ($280)
“Quannah wanted her hair to be modern—something that was true to her personal style, as well as her culture, so her look features a sleek style with some intricate braiding,” notes hairstylist and Amika global artistic director Naeemah LaFond. (We also love the monochromatic turquoise moment happening between her shadow and gown.) Must-have beauty product: Amika Glass Action Hydrating Hair Oil ($29)
The singer looks like she’s about to take flight, and we’re so, SO into it. Take a closer look, and you’ll see that her face (and structural hairstyle) are embellished with sparkling dew drops. Must-have beauty product: KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner ($23)
Bieber stayed true to her trademark red carpet beauty aesthetic: glowing, sunkissed skin; defined brows; practically naked lashes; and the perfect nude lip—all framed by a pulled-back updo.
We barely recognized Dynever on this year’s Met Gala red carpet thanks to her ultra-long crimped waves and negative-space winged liner. Must-have beauty product: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Liquid Foundation ($44)
There’s just something about Hadid’s red lip and platinum, abstract hairstyle that hits different, no?
The supermodel took her 2022 Met Gala look to new heights by adorning her face with diamonds? Crystals? We’re not entirely sure just yet, but we do know it’s fabulous.
The rapper is a vision in gold, epitomizing the theme of “gilded glamour” from lid to toe. Must-have beauty product: Revlon So Fierce! Prismatic Shadow Palette in That’s a Dub ($12)
Layne’s hot-pink floral gown makes its way all the way to her gaze thanks to individual pink petals placed as a delicate overlay atop her lids.
How to make an 1800s-era hat feel more 2022? Electric-green eye shadow and crimson blush of course.
Thompson’s berry-stained blush draping is the prettiest accessory to her baby-pink gown and slicked-back strands.
Carpenter’s signature champagne strands (those curtain bangs!) couldn’t look cooler paired with her metallic Met Gala ensemble. Must-have beauty product: 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Face Mask ($35)
Up to her neck in pearls, the model completes her retro nod with a ’20s-era bob and baby bangs to boot.
If you can tear your gaze from Park’s sky-high ponytail, you’ll see the surreptitious flicks of neon green graphic liner—so good. Must-have beauty product: Goody Clear Ouchless Polyband Hair Elastics ($7)
Teyana Taylor has us seeing violet, and we’re obsessed.
The antithesis of her 2021 Marilyn Monroe–inspired Met Gala appearance, Eilish brings the drama with a raven-black updo and barely there makeup aside from a precise application of feline liner.
To keep her look extra ethereal, Harlow stuck to ultra-bold falsies and a dusting of shimmering white shadow on the inner corners of her eyes.
Harrier looks every bit the belle of the ball.
Fashion and beauty lovers everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief, as one of the Met Gala’s most iconic attendees of all time—SJP—has entered the chat. And with hot-pink and black makeup accents, no less! Must-have beauty product: Pat McGrath Labs Lust: Lip Gloss in Future Femme ($29)
Moore’s copper-toned makeup and matching signature-hued strands make her Met Gala red carpet entrance all the more arresting. Must-have beauty product: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème ($40)
Taking cues from the star’s Louis Vuitton ensemble, hairstylist Gregory Russell was inspired to create “a strong yet natural” low ponytail. We love the way it frames her glowing skin and matte, terra-cotta lip. Must-have beauty product: Pureology Style + Protect Weightless Volume Mousse ($29)
Plot twist: Should Sophie Turner have been cast as the Red Woman in Game of Thrones?Her scarlet pout and maroon-swept eyes and mane say yes.
Lilac has been one of the most influential color trends within the beauty sphere recently, and clearly, Kaling got the memo.
As a cast member of The Gilded Age, we knew Benton would understand the assignment.
“Gilded Glamour” but make it futuristic. Must-have beauty product: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Ultra-Hold Gel ($7)
Apatow is an early 1900s screen siren reincarnate—complete with glossy finger waves, kiss curls, and burgundy-stained lips. Must-have beauty product: Armani Beauty Lip Maestro Liquid Matte Lipstick in 201 – Dark Velvet ($39)
Mendes makes a serious case for eye-catching gold highlighter. Apply it across your entire temple—from the cheekbone to the brown bone—to re-create her gilded look. Must-have beauty product: Amika Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Volume Spray ($28)
And just like that, the model has us ordering waist-length clip-in extensions and pearl-encrusted barrettes—expedited shipping only.
Lively is channeling Rapunzel circa late 1800s New York, and we’re here for it. Must-have beauty product: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Sexy Sienna ($34)
Note to self: Drape next slicked-back updo with strings of diamonds à la Vanessa Hudgens. Must-have beauty product: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush in Fleurtatious ($39)
We can always count on Chamberlain to bring her A game when it comes to a red carpet–worthy eye makeup look. We love the way the gold glitter placed on the center of her lids complements her bleach-blonde strands. Must-have beauty product: BareMinerals Mineralist Eyeshadow Palette in Rosewood ($32)
Up next, Every Breathtaking Red Carpet Look From the 2022 Met Gala
