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The Most Daring and Creative Celebrity Makeup Looks of 2020

Mar 12 2020

Despite the red carpet looking a little different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, when it came to beauty in 2020, celebrities were willing to take bigger risks than ever, thanks to their incredible team of makeup artists and hairstylists cooking up a creative storm.

Just a few years ago, when it came to red carpet makeup, most celebrities stuck to smoky eyes and maybe a brightly coloured lipstick to spice things up. Now, more and more stars are showing up to events and award shows with Swarovski crystals glued to their faces and floating liner situations that look like pieces of art. And guess what? We're so here for it.

To kick off the year, celebrities tried out really striking, bold, and creative makeup looks. Lucy Boynton — known for daring eye makeup — wore crystal wings to the Golden Globe Awards in January that had us wanting to run to a craft store right away. January Jones took a different approach, wearing a bright wash of yellow eye makeup for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, which had us considering trying the unexpected hue for the first time in, well, ever.

In March, Michelle Keegan had us reaching for more neon makeup with her electric orange eyeshadow look for the Global Awards. And come November, vibrant hues were put away in favour of the shiny crystals when Megan Thee Stallion wore an epic embellished cat eye to the American Music Awards.

We've rounded up the best celebrity makeup looks of 2020. Grab the most colourful eye shadow palette you can find and get yourself some flat-back crystals, because you're going to want to try these looks at home right away.

Image Source: Getty / Daniel Pockett Gareth Cattermole

Katy Perry's Not-So-Mellow Yellow Liner For the Fight On Concert in Australia

On 11 March, Perry hosted Fight On, a free concert for Aussie firefighters and bushfire victims in Bright, Australia, a city located three-and-a-half hours northeast of Melbourne. "Australia has always given me so much love and support," she wrote on Instagram, adding that "FIGHT ON is one way to return that love, and help provide a little bit of joy to a country that's given me so much joy."

For the event, Perry's makeup artist, Michael Anthony, chose to match the singer's makeup to her ensemble, first lining her top lashes with black, then adding a thick stroke of electric yellow that he stacked on top of the black, finishing with a short feline flick at the outer corners of the eyes. To balance out the bold hue, he picked a lipstick in a contrasting shade of rosy pink.

Image Source: Getty / Daniel Pockett

Lucy Boynton's Crystal Wings at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards

Boynton experimented with her makeup and her look for the Golden Globes. Makeup artist Jo Baker created this three-dimensional platinum look using products from Chanel's Spring 2020 makeup collection and flat-back crystals that she adhered to Boynton's lids — all of which was then outlined by thick black eyeliner.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Florence Pugh's Fairy Dust Shadow at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards

For the Critics' Choice Awards, Pugh matched her makeup to her crystal-studded outfit, making for an incredibly pretty and sparkly result. Makeup artist Naoko Scintu used Surratt Beauty Lid Lacquer in Kira Kira as a creamy base, followed by a mix of three different shimmery eye shadows to create that bright, almost-holographic finish. To ensure Pugh's lids twinkled as much as possible, Scintu kept the rest of her makeup bronze-y with a neutral beige lip.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Dua Lipa's Sky Blue Eye Shadow at the 2020 Grammys

Lipa's Grammys beauty look did not disappoint. Every element, from the hair to the makeup and even the nails, were so on point. Makeup artist Samantha Lau dubbed Dua Lipa's vibe for the Grammys "'90s dream girl," using a frosty shade of periwinkle shadow buffed all around the singer's eyes, with a touch of pearlescence at the inner corners. In true '90s style, Lipa wore a warm beige-coloured lipstick to complete the look.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

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Marsai Martin's Sky-Scape Shadow Look at the 2020 Sisters' Awards

Makeup artist Shannon Pezzetta mirrored the pastel tones in Martin's ruffled Marc Jacobs dress when creating this dreamy makeup look for the American actor. On the eyes, Pezzetta applied a very pale, pastel-blue shadow all over the lids and a slightly darker pale blue colour along the brow bones, right above the creases of the eyes. The defined creases — plus the thick black liner and single row of Swarovksi stones placed under each of Marsai's eyes — gave the makeup a '60s/Mary Quant sort of vibe, which was only amplified by the soft pink lip colour Pezzetta used.

Image Source: Getty / Robin L Marshall

Lucy Hale's Mint-Chocolate Shadow at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards

Hale showed off her beautiful green eyes during the Critics' Choice Awards using a combination of mint green and brown eye shadows. Starting from the outside and working in, makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan blended bronze eye shadow all over Hale's lids, buffing it around the outer corners and all along the lower lashes. To finish, she added a shimmery seafoam colour just along the tear ducts, adding both a highlight and a shock of colour at the same time.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Lupita Nyong'o's Stacked White and Black Liner at the 2020 SAG Awards

Nyong'o stepped out for the SAG Awards with black-and-white double winged eyeliner stacked on top of each other. "Using white (or other light shades like rose-gold, platinum, ivory, pearl, or even matte white) and pairing it right next to superrich black eyeliner is another fun way to accessorise the usual cat eyes," said her makeup artist Nick Barose. To achieve the bold look, he used the Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil in French Lace on top of the brand's Artliner in Black Vinyl to create a minimalist-yet-striking effect.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Anne-Marie's Multicoloured Crystal Cat Eyes at the 2020 BRIT Awards

Anne-Marie wore her signature magenta hair to the BRIT Awards with a full-on tiara, so she obviously needed equally as whimsical makeup to match. With a soft coppery shade all over her lids as a base, her makeup artist then glued pink and clear crystals in a winged shape that started at the inner corners of her eyes, skipped her lids, and then continued on her brow bones and out towards her temples. A medium-pink lipstick completed the punky-princess vibes.

Image Source: Getty / Gareth Cattermole

Billy Porter's Teal-and-Silver Celebration at the 2020 Grammys

Porter proved that matching your eye makeup to your entire outfit is never too over the top. His wide-brimmed hat opened up (yes, it literally opened up) to reveal thick, pale blue eye shadow painted into halfmoon-shaped wings over his top lids, outlined in silver to better accentuate the graphic shape. For the final element, makeup artist Christine Nelli mixed Smashbox cosmetics silver eye shadow and lip oil together to create a futuristic silver gloss.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

Dove Cameron's Neon Orange Shadow at the M Missoni Autumn 2020 Presentation

Cameron surprised us with this neon orange eye makeup look in February, and it got us really excited for Summer. LA-based makeup artist Jenna Kristina first used black eyeliner to create the wings at the outer corners of the eyes. Then, she coloured in the inner halves of the eyes using a white eyeliner pencil before layering Neon Orange Eye Dust (£4.50) from UK-based, cruelty-free makeup brand Stargazer London onto the area where she applied the white liner. To get the orange pigment to fade seamlessly into the black liner — and not just be two blocks of colour — Kristina mixed it with Maybelline Master Chrome Rose Gold Highlighter. "I actually shaved some of it off and cut it in to some of the orange pigment," the makeup artist told POPSUGAR.

Image Source: stargazer-products.com

Grace VanderWaal's Star-Studded Lids at the Premiere For Disney+'s "Stargirl" in Hollywood

VanderWaal is an American singer-songwriter who plays the lead role in Stargirl, a new movie set to debut on Disney+ (which launches in the UK on 24 March). We love that the 16-year-old found a way to tie the movie title into her makeup, decorating her lids with silver shadow and a smattering of glitter stars on top.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

Vick Hope's Constellation of Crystals at the 2020 BAFTA Awards

Presenter Vick Hope decided to match her makeup to her dress in the most sophisticated kind of way at the BAFTAs. Aside from her incredibly glowing skin and beautiful crimson lip, Hope glued teeny-tiny crystals around her lids, echoing her twinkly earrings and glittering heels.

Image Source: Getty / Gareth Cattermole

Ella Balinska's Pretty Pink Makeup at the 2020 BAFTA Awards

Balinska showed us that if you do it right, there's no such thing as too much pink in a makeup look. Makeup artist Vincent Oquendo applied a fuchsia-coloured shadow all over her lids, buffing it up towards her brow bones so that the edges were soft and diffused. To define Balinska's eyes and really enhance their feline shape, Oquendo drew sharp black wings along the top lashes, adding lots of mascara and finishing with both rosy and pinky-peach blush.

Image Source: Getty / Lia Toby

Zoë Kravitz's Coral Lipstick at the 2020 BAFTA Awards

Of course Kravitz pulled off the tricky shade that is coral at the BAFTA Awards. With the help of makeup artist Nina Park, Kravitz's skin looked radiant, her brows bold, and her eye makeup left bare so that her lips could stand out in all of their striking glory. We also love how Park managed to find a lipstick shade the exact colour of the actor's earrings.

Image Source: Getty / Gareth Cattermole

January Jones's Sunny Shadow at Jimmy Kimmel Live 2020

If you ever thought yellow eye makeup was a total no-go, Jones might've just proved you and all the rest of us wrong. Makeup artist Michael Anthony kept the rest of Jones's makeup neutral and rosy, applying a wash of the daffodil yellow shadow across the lids. He finished it off with black eyeliner across the lashes to tighten up the look.

Zazie Beetz's Vampy Claret Lips at the 2020 BAFTA Awards

Beetz gave us all of the vampy feels with her 2020 BAFTAs look. Using Lancôme, makeup artist Alex Babsky created khaki eyes and deepe claret lips to match her dress, resulting in this strong and romantic look that "subconsciously channelled the Joker's colours," joked Babsky.

Evan Rachel Wood's Orange and Black Gradient Eyeliner at the 2020 Westworld Premiere

If you can't decide between colourful and classic black eyeliner look, why not try both? That's exactly what Wood did. Makeup artist Toby Fleischman placed an orangey-red hue on the lids, carefully blending it into the black liner he drew at the very outer corners of the eyes and topping it off with a touch of silver shadow right at the tear duct area.

Image Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff

Michelle Keegan's Electric Shadow at the 2020 Global Awards

For the 2020 Global Awards, Keegan stepped out wearing eye makeup to match her neon pink-and-orange two piece. If you recognise this particular orange hue, that's because it's the same pigment Dove Cameron wore in February. Makeup artist Emily Clarkson started by applying shades from the BPerfect Cosmetics Carnival Palette all over Keegan's lids, then dusting the Stargazer Neon Orange Eye Dust (£4.50) on top to create this vibrant neon look.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Marsland

Megan Thee Stallion's Embellished Cat Eye at the 2020 American Music Awards

Megan Thee Stallion served '90s but with a 2020 twist and we adore it. She added dozens of crystals in varying sizes along the top of her black winged eyeliner and along her eyelids, which was topped off with long lashes. Her brown lipstick and darker liner was an obvious nod to the '90s.

Cara Delevingne's Pink and Orange Makeup at the 2020 American Music Awards

Count on Cara Delevingne to make two colours you'd think would totally clash just totally work. Makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan used Dior Makeup to extend a purple smoky eye onto Delevingne's cheeks, which created a beautiful wash of the colour. She added a peach-y orange lip, which honestly has us dreamy of spring/summer months.

Image Source: Getty / Daniel Pockett Gareth Cattermole

Emily Mai's Fierce Neutral Makeup at the 2020 Soul Train Music Awards

Ella Mai's makeup look for 2020 Soul Train Music Awards might've not been the most daring but it was certainly one of the most beautiful of 2020, especially when paired with this slicked-back style by Cece Hudson. Makeup artist Emily Cheng used Shiseido to create this simplistic yet fierce look. Key products included, the Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation (which Cheng says is simply "one of the best"), the Shiseido Lip Liner in Espresso, and the Shiseido Micro Ink Eyeliner. One of our 2021 goals? To get eyeliner even the teeniest bit as perfect as this.

Image Source: Getty / Daniel Pockett Gareth Cattermole

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