Our Oscars
Ashleigh Cometti makes her picks in the unofficial Best Of Beauty Awards
‘WELL-BALANCED” was how the Viva fashion team described this year’s approach to red-carpet fashion, and I tend to agree.
As far as beauty looks go, this year’s Grammy’s provided an opportunity to get experimental, while the 96th Academy Awards heaped on the ethereal glamour — from sleek side-parts and chin-skimming bobs to smoked-out eyeshadow and ultraprecise winged liner.
There’s beauty in simplicity, and just because these red-carpet beauty looks felt more timeless than trend-setting, it didn’t make A-lister’s entrances any less luminous.
Here, we issue our unofficial awards to the most swoon-worthy beauty looks (and beauty professionals who created them) who deserve their own golden statuette.
The best cropped cut
Awarded to: Zendaya and America Ferrera (first equal)
With a deep side part and perfectly flipped ends, Zendaya’s bob was a masterclass in red-carpet beauty. The maestro behind the look was hairstylist Tai Simon, who worked with Joico products including the Flip Turn Volumizing Finishing Spray to ensure no strand was out of place. Paired with peachyhue lipstick and a glowing skin, Zendaya appeared fresh-faced and radiant when stepping out in Armani Prive´.
Sharing the podium is America Ferrera, whose chin-length bob was styled by Aviva Perea for Ghd. The Academy Award nominee appeared done, not overdone, with a soft bend in her hair using the new Ghd Chronos styler and a spritz of Briogeo Superfoods Banana + Coconut Hydrating Texture Spray and Don’t Despair, Repair for extra body and movement through the ends.
As the most popular haircut seen on the night, we’re anticipating hairstylists to be inundated with requests for blunt bobs.
❏ Runners up: Florence Pugh, for her textural, beachy waves, and Sydney Sweeney for having her stylist cut her lob into a bob in between the Oscars and the Vanity Fair after-party (yes, really).
The best top knot
Awarded to: Issa Rae
While low-slung buns will always be a perennial red-carpet favourite, nothing says “snatched” quite like a top knot. Sleek and sculptural, Issa Rae’s hair reached new heights on this year’s red carpet, as created by Felicia Leatherwood, and practically broke the internet with the excitement it generated online. Working with Sienna Naturals’ products, Felicia worked with Dream Curl Cream, Plant Power and Curl Elixir to style Issa’s hair to perfection.
❏ Runners up: Gabrielle Union’s ultra-slick high bun, Emily Blunt’s braided bun, and Laverne Cox for her slightly messy, slightly twisty top knot.
The best low-maintenance
Awarded to: Margot Robbie
A far cry from the polished, perfected beauty looks she sported during the Barbie campaign trail, Margot Robbie appear every bit the girl-next-door with barely-there base makeup and effortless waves. Makeup artist Pati Dubroff worked a handful of cult favourites from Chanel, including its Les Beiges foundation, Les 4 Ombres eyeshadow palette and Rouge Allure for lips, while hairstylist Bryce Scarlett left strands long and loose, adding subtle waves through the ends and allowing flyaways to fly free.
❏ Runner up: While Rita Moreno’s makeup look oozed glam, we love her slightly scruffy pixie cut which heaps on the drama with plenty of volume and lift.
The best smokey eye
Awarded to: Anya Taylor-joy
Few people can carry a smokey eye quite like Anya Taylor-joy. Opting for full glam, makeup artist Georgie Eisdell used pewter and black shades contained with the Diorshow 5 Couleurs palette to enhance Anya’s natural eye shape, sweeping the darkest hue out towards her temple. Her after-dark beauty look ramped up even further for the Vanity Fair after-party, which saw a slick of black liner added to her upper and lower lash line for maximum impact.
❏ Runner up: Eva Longoria’s thick winged eyeliner with voluminous false lashes to boot.
The best peach-toned makeup
Awarded to: Emma Stone
Despite suffering a wardrobe malfunction,
Photos / Getty Images / Variety via Getty Images (2) / Wireimage (3) / AP
two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone shone in Charlotte Tilbury, with Rachel Goodwin working with not one but three of the brand’s best-selling lip products to create her peachy lips. Combining Lip Cheat in the shade 90s Pink, Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipstick K.I.S.S.I.N.G in 90s Pink and Pillow Talk Plumpgasm for extra sheen, the lip look was complemented by a radiant base and fluttery lashes.
❏ Runner up: Hailee Steinfeld’s monochromatic take with matching peach eyeshadow, cheeks and lips.
The best sparkle
Awarded to: Lupita Nyong’o
It’s been a decade since Lupita won her first Oscar, and to mark the occasion makeup artist Nick Barose revealed he wanted Lupita’s beauty look to feel as celebratory as the day she won. From the silver eyeshadow adorning her eyelids, through to the flecks of glitter dusted through her hair and along her collarbone, Nick worked with Chanel Beauty products to dial up Lupita’s look, including the Chanel Ombre Premiere Laque Longwear Liquid Eyeshadow and the Ashunta Sheriff Unicorn Multichrome Glitter Shadow on her collarbones.
❏ Runner up: Danielle Brooks for her crystaladorned French manicure.