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Best Met Gala Beauty Looks Over the Years

A Look Back at the Most Over-the-Top Beauty Looks From Past Met Galas

With today being the first Monday in May, we would traditionally be celebrating the Met Gala and all of the best, most out-of-the-box beauty moments born from it. Even though this year's event was canceled due to a pandemic, we can still look back at the most daring hair and makeup looks that hit the red carpet over the past few years.

Past Met Galas have provided us with more than enough beauty inspiration to reminisce on. There have been multi-tier up-dos adorned with precious jewels, dramatic tributes to the beauty trends of iconic musical eras (like punk-rock), and even a makeup look inspired by the dark arts. With its fashion-centric overarching theme, this event produces some of the most out-of-the-box beauty looks in history.

With this last year's theme being "Camp: Notes on Fashion," it's hard to top the wildly creative looks we were privy to from some of our favourite celebrities. See just a few of the best ones, ahead.

Image Source: Getty / Theo Wargo

Lady Gaga's Hair and Makeup at the 2019 Met Gala

We can't decide which part we like better from Lady Gaga's 2019 Met Gala look — her over-the-top eyelashes, graphic eye liner, giant pink hair bow, or the tiny hair bows underneath it.

Gigi Hadid's Makeup at the 2019 Met Gala

Erin Parsons applied individual feathers to Gigi Hadid's lashes to create this feathered look.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

Harry Styles' Nails at the 2019 Met Gala

Defying gender stereotypes yet again, Harry Styles wore mismatched blue nail polish on the red carpet.

Elle Fanning's Nails at the 2019 Met Gala

Tiny charms dangled from Elle Fanning's neon nails, serving up major I Dream of Jeannie vibes.

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Priyanka Chopra's Hair and Makeup at the 2019 Met Gala

Priyanka Chopra arrived at last year's Met Gala looking like a sexy version of the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland with a silver crown and creative eye makeup.

Image Source: Getty / Theo Wargo

Lily Collins' Hair and Makeup at the 2018 Met Gala

Lily Collins' gothic makeup at the Met Gala was a tribute to the "dark arts," according to her makeup artist, Fiona Stiles. Paired with a sculptural, braided up-do, Collins' look for the evening was unforgettable.

Image Source: Getty / Gilbert Carrasquillo

Tessa Thompson's Hair at the 2018 Met Gala

A line of eye-catching pearls started at the nape of Tessa Thompson's neck and trailed up her three-tier, beehive-like hairstyle.

Image Source: Getty / Gilbert Carrasquillo

Jasmine Sanders' Hair at the 2018 Met Gala

We can't help but stop and stare at Jasmine Sanders' romantic, rose-adorned braids at the 2018 Met Gala.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

Rihanna's Makeup at the 2017 Met Gala

Rihanna's magenta blush was swept from her cheekbones to just below her eyebrows.

Image Source: Getty / James Devaney

Lupita Nyong'o's Hair at the 2016 Met Gala

Lupita Nyong'o took her hair to new heights with her architectural up-do in 2016.

Image Source: Getty / George Pimentel

Janelle Monae's Hair at the 2015 Met Gala

Let's never forget Janelle Monae's iconic, multilayer braid at the 2015 Met Gala.

Image Source: Getty / John Lamparski

Cara Delevingne's Tattoos at the 2015 Met Gala

Cara Delevingne's tattoos at the 2015 Met Gala extended across her chest and down her arms.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

Miley Cyrus's Hair and Makeup at the 2013 Met Gala

Miley Cyrus's interpretation of 2013's theme — "Punk: Chaos to Couture" — was spot on with her spiked-up hair and bold red lip.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

January Jones's Hair and Makeup at the 2013 Met Gala

January Jones paired graphic liner made from rhinestones with an elaborate up-do.

Megan Fox's Blunt Bangs at the 2021 Met Gala

Baby bangs were the name of Megan Fox's Met Gala game: she walked the red carpet with (presumably) clip-in retro pinup bangs.

Image Source: Getty / John Shearer

Amanda Gorman's Laurel Hair Accessory at the 2021 Met Gala

Amanda Gorman's crystal laurel headpiece had a very special meaning to her. It was inspired by the spirit of the Statue of Liberty, which bears a significant meaning to poets because it's the headpiece worn by the god Apollo, who's the patron of lyrical poetry.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

Hailee Steinfeld's Blond Bob Haircut at the 2021 Met Gala

Hailee Steinfeld was nearly unrecognisable with her bluntly cut blond bob.

Image Source: Getty / John Shearer

Lupita Nyong'o's Structural Hair at the 2021 Met Gala

Drawing inspiration from the '90s with a mix of Old Hollywood Western films, Lupita Nyong'o's sculptural Met Gala hairstyle featured gravity-defying volume with looped pieces of hair at her forehead.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

Barbie Ferreira's Honey Hair Colour at the 2021 Met Gala

Barbie Ferreira pulled out a completely different look at the 2021 Met Gala, trading in her signature black hair for a "bronde" colour and middle-part jewellery.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

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