This year, we’ve been clinging to major colour when it comes to makeup — starting love-affairs with prismatic metallic lipsticks, sunshine-inspired eye looks, and unicorn makeup like it’s nobody’s business. So we expected much of the same with one of awards season’s most wild red carpets and a take-every-trend-to-the-max host like Katy Perry... but instead, we got the exact opposite.
Gone were the robotic highlights, the glittery lips, the electric nail art. And in their place, we saw a major case for makeunder beauty. Nails were painted in various shades of beige. Dark roots were grown out to DGAF lengths. And forget about purple or green lip shades — red lipstick barely made an appearance, thanks to music’s penchant for barely-there nudes. Hardcore contour was also amiss, with demi-matte complexions and a hint of blush at most.
Makeunders were all over the place. See some of our favourites — worn by goth aficionados (Lorde), glitter queens (Kesha) and more — ahead.
Kesha
The woman known years ago for rainbow hair, unicorn lipstick, and non-stop glitter bombs opted for a subtler beauty look tonight. The only show-stopping aspect of her look? Mega, manga lashes. (This is Kesha we’re talking about, after all.)
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
Yara Shahidi
Old Hollywood styles, like fingerwaves, are traditionally paired with vampy lipstick in homage to the sirens of yore. But with glowing skin, muted smoky eyes, and fingerwaves that flow into natural curls, the Grown-ish actress gives us a fresh take on the classic look.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Demi Lovato
Lovato’s smoky eye may seem a little more dramatic in comparison to other minimal makeup looks of the evening. But for the makeup lover and champion of the more-is-more stage aesthetic, this look — complemented by matte nude lips, nude shadow on the crease, and no bronzer in sight — is wonderfully relaxed.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Ally Brooke
Grown-out roots? Check. Nude lips? Check. Non-toured cheeks? Check. The Fifth Harmony singer slides into the VMAs having hit every aspect of the make-under trend.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Christina Milian
Milian’s glowy skin looks as if it comes courtesy of the same shade of bronzer — used as lip colour, eyeshadow and highlight — for a lighter take on golden goddess.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Lorde
So what if Lorde had the flu the night of the VMAs? (“You can't tell in these pictures but i have the flu so bad i needed an IV #showgoeson #cutelilproppedupcorpse ” she tweeted before the show). With dreamy lilac eyes, bare lips, and an easy half updo, we are digging this lighter look on the oft-goth pop queen more than ever.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
P!nk
Miley Cyrus isn’t the only chick channeling rockabilly love: Pink went with a similar Elvis-inspired hair look, paired with no-makeup makeup.
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images.
Jasmine Sanders
Ahead of Sanders’ red carpet debut, makeup artist Patrick Ta shared an Insta story in which he panned across glitzy rose, yellow, and white gold metallics in the model’s chainmail Moschino dress. But when it came to her makeup look, barely-there nudes ruled. With an ever-so-light dusting of bronzer, a touch of subtle highlighter, and flesh-toned lipstick, she looked like a beacon of beachy light permaset to: easy-going glow.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Julia Michaels
The Issues singer went for a madeunder beauty look with both her makeup and hair. Grown out to there roots signal a certain DGAF vibe while being totally on-trend (more than half a dozen stars wore the same look on the VMAs carpet). Meanwhile hard-to-trace makeup on lips, cheeks and lids gave way to darker lashes and brows.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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