As you may expect, awards-show red carpets are must-see TV for us. While we admit we're overjoyed the Mani Cam is a thing of the past, and we fully support #AskMeMore — encouraging more thought-provoking questions for women on the carpet — the beauty looks are still the main event for us. This past season is no exception. After all, as Chris Rock alluded to in his Oscars opening, anytime we see something beautiful, we want to talk about it — and get the full scoop, of course.
We reported on each show during this last awards season, and along the way, tracked something exciting: the best use of drugstore makeup. We already know you love a beauty bargain, so even though the season has come to an end, the inspiration lives on, which is why we've rounded up our favorite red carpet looks that used affordable products. And, dare we say, they're good! (Think Zendaya rocking a soft smoky eye, Kerry Washington in a sooty liner look, and everything in-between.)
Ahead, you'll find some of our favorite looks from all of this year's awards shows, with the exact drugstore products used. Plus, of course, we included tips to get the looks yourself, since you’ll probably be running out and buying these from your local drugstore on your way home from work tonight, just like we already did.
Zendaya made headlines when she announced she was doing her own makeup for the Grammy awards, and she stunned, like usual. “For the eyes, I wanted to keep the look soft, but with major lashes!” she said.
Using CoverGirl’s TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette in Nudes, Zendaya created her bronze smoky eye, noting that she also used the lighter shades in the palette to highlight her skin. Then, to really define her eyes, she lined the upper lid with Intensify Me! Liquid Liner in Intense Black and finished with a few coats of Plumpify Mascara.
To finish the look, Zendaya used a combination of lip products. First, she applied Colorlicious Oh Sugar! in Caramel for a light wash of color, and then added a swipe of Jumbo Gloss Balm Creams in Caramel Cream. Finally, she topped it all off with a dab of Queen Collection Colorlicious Gloss in Premier Pink.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/ Getty Images.
Kerry Washington tends to be a bold lip lady, so when we spotted her on the Oscars red carpet with a graphic eye, we loved her decision to shake things up.
Makeup artist Carola Gonzalez for Neutrogena told us that she chose the look to go with the leather corset in Washington’s dress. “I wanted the makeup to be edgy, modern, and graphic. That’s why I decided on the bold shape of the liner around the eyes. I wanted to keep it simple, but strong.”
Gonzalez used liquid liner to line the top and bottom lashlines, connecting them at the end and the inner corner of the eyes. “To finish the eyeliner, I layered it with Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner in Cosmic Black and lined and filled the inside of the lashline.” To finish the eyes, she applied a few coats of Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon Black.
And for the lips? Gonzalez used Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Almond Nude, which she noted was one of Washington’s favorite new shades.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/ Getty Images.
To complete Selena Gomez’s '70s glam look at the Grammys, makeup artist Linda Hay used a combination of Burt’s Bees products on her skin to get that ultra-dewy look. Considering Gomez was on camera all night long, Hay made sure to moisturize well, with Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion before applying the BB Cream in Medium, which helped the cream to melt into the skin and brighten it up at the same time. After she completed the sultry, rocker eye, she topped off the look with Burt’s Bees lipstick in Nile Nude, to contrast.
Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage/ Getty Images.
For the SAG Awards, makeup artist Tyron Machhausen for L’Oréal told us that he was inspired to create a clean, modern look due to the deep, blue dress that Naomi Watts was wearing. “We wanted to play on the deep blue shade and create a pop of berry color on her lips — we actually built her look around the lip color!”
Machhausen made sure to keep Watts’ skin dewy and fresh, and topped off the cheeks with a mix of Visible Lift Blur Blush in Soft Pink and True Match Liquid Illuminator in Ice, which literally made her skin glow. For the eyes, Machhausen created a clean cat-eye with Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner in Black, but as we mentioned above, the look was truly about the lips.
He created a custom, berry lip color using both Infallible Pro-Matte Glosses in Rouge Envy and Forbidden Kiss to get the perfect shade.
Photo: Jeff Vespa/ WireImage/ Getty Images.
For the Golden Globes, Jenna Dewan Tatum opted to match her eyes to her dress, and the decision was a good one. The trio of blue shades made her hazel eyes pop on the carpet, and we couldn’t look away.
To get the look, makeup artist Patrick Ta used Honest Beauty’s Eyeshadow Trio in Truly Vibrant Ocean Blue ($25), applying the base shade “1” across the lid. Then, he used the dark shade “2” to contour the crease and shape the outer edge of each lid. Finally, he completed the smoky eye by topping off the centers of each lid with the highlight shade “3.”
Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images.
Olivia Wilde never shies away from a bold makeup look, and as a Revlon global brand ambassador, you can bet the products used are affordable. Our favorite red carpet look Wilde donned this season was at the Globes, when makeup artist Jo Baker matched Wilde's burgundy smoky eye to her shimmering burgundy dress.
Wilde wore Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Decadent, with Baker first blending the top two shades in the quad across the lid for a gold undertone. Then, for the burgundy finish, she used the bottom right color along the bottom lashline and into the crease, blending out towards the browbone.
Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage/ Getty Images.
Abigail Spencer opted for a modern twist on a soft pink eyeshadow look at the Critics’ Choice Awards, and we loved the pared-down look. Makeup artist Lauren Andersen created a soft “pink cream wash” on Spencer’s eyes using Avon Extra Lasting Eye Shadow Ink in Always Merlot. (Okay, we admit Avon can't be found in a drug or mass store, but at this price, it's worth mentioning — just order online!)
Andersen then lined Spencer's eyes with Avon SuperShock Gel Eye Liner Pencil in Intense Brown and applied Avon Big & False Lash Volume Mascara in Brown Black. To finish the look, Andersen chose a matte nude lipstick — Avon True Color Matte in Perfectly Nude.
Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage/ Getty Images.
For Julianne Moore’s Oscars makeup look, makeup artist Elaine Offers knew it would be all about that stunning Chanel dress. Offers chose to play with eyeshadow textures to simulate the shine in Moore’s gown.
First, she used L’Oréal Colour Riche Eye Shadow in Paris Beach to highlight the browbone. Then, she blended a combination of Quartz Fume and Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Eternal Black, pressing both with a damp shadow brush into the lid, which resulted in the perfect shine to match the dress. Offers then used Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner in Highlighter on the waterline to sharpen Moore’s natural eye shape.
She finished the eyes with a few coats of Voluminous Superstar Mascara, and Moore's lips were sculpted with a lip stain for shape, and then topped off with Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in Jennifer’s Nude.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
At the SAG Awards, actress Jessica Pare wowed us with her statement lip, (possibly) paying homage to her character on Mad Men (RIP). Makeup artist Kirin Bhatty told us exactly how she got that bold lip, first prepping with Maybelline's Baby Lips to make sure there would be no flaking. Then, Bhatty applied two layers of Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid in Rebel Red with a lip brush. To make a really defined edge, she went back and framed the lip with concealer, dabbing it around the lip line with the hard tip of the Dream Blender.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/ WireImage/ Getty Images.
Fact: No one slays like Jennifer Lopez. Her mustard yellow Giambattista Valli (cape!) dress at the Globes, paired with a deep-wine lip screamed Old Hollywood glamour. Makeup artist Mary Phillips echoed that sentiment, telling us that her skin and the lip color were the hallmarks of the look.
To get that standout red carpet lip, Phillips mixed three lip colors. But, she chose to build up colors in different areas and apply darker colors to the outside of the mouth, and then work her way in. She wanted the lips to be dark but not vampy, and still have dimension. Phillips used L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Gloss in Rouge Envy, Nude Allude, and Forbidden Kiss to create the look.
Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage/ Getty Images.
For the Critics’ Choice Awards, Emmy Rossum wore a deep-navy blue Dior gown and a sleek hairstyle, so makeup artist Jo Baker created a modern, statement smoky eye.
Baker used Rimmel London ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Trespassing Taupe all over the base of the eyelid, which was both a great mushroom-tone shade and would help hold the look in place. She then used Exaggerate Smoke n' Shine Eyeliner in Little Black Smokey along Rossum’s lashline and smudged it a bit with a small brush to soften the line.
Then, using Rimmel London ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bad Bronze, Baker smudged the hue along the inside of Emmy’s waterline and at the inner corner of the eye, noting that this “adds warmth around Emmy’s eye, which works great with her brown eyes.” And, of course, she finished the look with a generous coating of mascara.
Photo: Todd Williamson/ Getty Images.
Taraji P. Henson — who won a well-deserved Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Drama — chose to go for a sultry makeup look, which was also a winner. Makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff for L’Oréal told us, “This look is not only chic, but sexy and effortless; perfect for anyone who wants to play as a goddess for the night.”
To get her eye look, Sheriff applied Colour Riche Eyeshadow in Sunset Seine all over the lid and followed it with Colour Riche Eyeshadow in Cafe Au Lait just in the crease. Then, to create a dramatic lash, she applied three coats of Voluminous Superstar Red Carpet Mascara. To finish the look, Sheriff lined the upper and lower lashlines using Infallible Black Velvet Liner.
Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage/ Getty Images
Makeup artist Genevieve Herr said this about Jennifer Garner’s Oscars look: The final goal was simply for her to look gorgeous and confident. The focus of the look was on the eyes, and Herr used Neutrogena products to get a sultry, smoky look.
“I lined and defined Jennifer’s eyes by using two black eyeliners and eyeshadows. The top of the eyes were lined with Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner in Cosmic Black and the bottom of the eyes were lined with Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner in Brushed Pewter.”
For the shadow colors, Herr created depth with soft grey and black shades from the Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow with Built in Primer in Soft Taupe. To finish the look and still keep it modern, she used a soft nude shade — Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Classic Nude.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/ Getty Images.
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