Update Consent

Best Met Gala Beauty Looks Over the Years: See Photos

A Look Back at the Best Beauty Looks From Past Met Galas

May 6 2024

In May, there's one thing everyone in the beauty world can look forward to: the Met Gala — and all the best, most out-of-the-box beauty looks born from it. An annual tradition since 1948 (save for 1991, 2000, 2002, and 2020), the celebration always manages to gather the biggest stars in Hollywood. 2023's theme was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" for the late designer, 2022 was "Gilded Glamour," 2021's theme was "American Independence,", and now, for the 2024 Met Gala, the theme is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" with the dress code being "The Garden of Time." With that as guests' guide, it's safe to say there will be many hair and makeup moments to look forward to. That also means there's no better time to reflect on the best beauty moments to 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 multitier updos adorned with precious jewels, stereotype-defying manicures, truly transformative makeup displays, and even body makeup that doubled as clothing. Some moments are purely theatric, while others are full of meaning. With its fashion-centric overarching theme, this event produces some of the most unique beauty moments we've seen.

This is all to say that it's going to be hard to top the wildly creative hair, makeup, and nail looks we've from some of our favorite celebrities in past. Ahead, we're looking back at some of our favorite Met Gala beauty moments from the last decade.

Image Source: Getty / Variety

Lil Nas X's Body Makeup at the 2023 Met Gala

Lil Nas X was nearly unrecognizable on the red carpet of the Met Gala 2023 due to his full-body makeup. The rapper showed up in silver body makeup, glitter, pearls, and rhinestones by renowned celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath.

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz

Anne Hathaway's Hair at the 2023 Met Gala

Anne Hathaway wore a voluminous half-up, half-down bouffant hairstyle to the 2023 Met Gala that turned heads. Celebrity hairstylist Orlando Pita created the dramatic style, which featured a flower made of hair in the back of the head inspired by Chanel.

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

Doja Cat's Makeup Prosthetics at the 2023 Met Gala

Doja Cat relied on special-effects makeup artist Malina Stearns to completely transform her look using facial prosthetics for the 2023 Met Gala. She leaned fully into the cat theme with long, claw-like nails by manicurist Saccia and a dress with built-in ears. Celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas completed the look with an epic cat-eye liner.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

Blake Lively's Hair at the 2022 Met Gala

Blake Lively's tiara was punctuated by the crown braid that sat just below its base.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

Watch This!

Pop Quiz

The Cast of I Know What You Did Last Summer Play a Scary Game of Would You Rather

Kaia Gerber's Hair at the 2022 Met Gala

Kaia Gerber's hair was the star of her 2022 Met Gala look. The model had voluminous, bouncy curls that went well below her back for a dramatic hairstyle that was fitting for the night's opulent theme.

Image Source: Getty / Jamie McCarthy

Quannah Chasinghorse's Makeup at the 2022 Met Gala

Quannah Chasinghorse's eyeshadow was the perfect shade of blue to match her dress and accompanying accessories.

Image Source: Getty / Jamie McCarthy

Alicia Keys's Hair at the 2022 Met Gala

Alicia Keys put her own spin on "Gilded Glamour" hair accessories, wearing crystal-encrusted discs along the length of her ponytail.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur/MG22

Megan Fox's Hair and Makeup 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 Hair 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 Hair and Makeup at the 2021 Met Gala

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

Image Source: Getty / John Shearer

Lupita Nyong'o's Hair and Makeup 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 Hair 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" color and middle-part jewelry.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

Gigi Hadid's Wispy Lashes at the 2019 Met Gala

Makeup artist Erin Parsons applied individual feathers to Gigi Hadid's lashes to create this wispy, otherworldly look.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

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

Priyanka Chopra arrived at the 2019 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

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.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

Harry Styles's Nails at the 2019 Met Gala

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

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

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 eyeliner, giant pink hair bow, or tiny hair bows underneath it.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

Lily Collins's Hair and Makeup at the 2018 Met Gala

Lily Collins's 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 updo, Collins's 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's Hair at the 2018 Met Gala

We can't help but stop and stare at Jasmine Sanders's 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 updo in 2016.

Image Source: Getty / George Pimentel

Amandla Stenberg's Hair at the 2016 Met Gala

Amandla pushed back their Afro with a silver, diamond-studded headband and paired it with minimal makeup.

Image Source: Getty / Larry Busacca

Zendaya Hair at the 2016 Met Gala

Zendaya slayed in a Beatles-esque bowl cut and a bronze smoky eye.

Image Source: Getty / Larry Busacca

Janelle Monáe's Hair at the 2015 Met Gala

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

Image Source: Getty / John Lamparski

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.

— Additional reporting by Jesa Marie Calaor

Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.
Jesa Marie Calaor was a former assistant editor for PS Beauty.
Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang
People are searching for:

Want More?

POPSUGAR Would Like To Send You Push Notifications.