Lucy Boynton is relatively new on the Hollywood scene. But not only is the British-American actor getting attention for her roles in films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Murder on the Orient Express, but she's also quickly making a name for herself as the most daring celebrity on the red carpet when it comes to her beauty looks.
Boynton's willingness to experiment with her makeup was apparent even in her early red carpet appearances, when she played with draping, negative-space eyeliner, and over-the-top lashes (which have become somewhat of a signature for her). But in the past year, she and makeup artist Jo Baker have really taken things up a notch, breaking out exciting and unexpected makeup looks that we're used to seeing on a runway in Paris, not a red carpet in Los Angeles.
For us beauty editors, Boynton's makeup is the focal point of every outfit. Every time her makeup artist shares a photo of the beauty magic they've created together on Instagram, we freak out — and then wait with bated breath until Baker shares behind-the-scenes photos and the details of their inspiration for the look, something she often does. Case in point: the orange-red eyeliner Boynton wore at the Venice Film Festival was inspired by actual lobsters — and no lie, it's one of her most stylish looks yet. Luckily for us, not only does Baker share her inspiration, but she also shares how-to videos and tips so you can re-create her looks in real life.
As for her hair, Boynton keeps things on the simpler side. Her hairstylists — who include Jenny Cho, Kylee Heath, and Halley Brisker — tend to stick to laid-back styles like beach waves, Old Hollywood-style side-swept bends, or some version of a half-up ponytail with volume at the crown. Regardless, her golden-blond hair always looks beautifully understated, letting the makeup be the main focus of her beauty look.
So if you are stuck in a makeup rut or just want to admire these makeup masterpieces, read on to see Boynton's most exciting beauty looks from every angle — and learn the interesting inspiration behind each.
— Additional reporting by Tori Crowther
According to Boynton's makeup artist Jo Baker, Fall was on the mind when creating her recent look for The Politician's premiere. "We were listening to Tim Burton's The Night Before Christmas as we were getting Lucy ready, and her makeup really embodies those vibes," she said. "She has an almost ghostly, eerie, Halloween vibe. I wanted to create flawless, porcelain skin with bold, hollowed-out eyes and barely any color."
The pair used CoverGirl's TruBlend Undercover Concealer ($12) because she "was able to dot it all over her face and blend it, forgoing foundation, to get a full-coverage, demi-matte finish. It provided a great canvas for her stunning, edgy look."
Baker showed us that anything can serve as makeup inspiration, even a lobster. Yep, that's right, she found beauty inspo in a crustacean. Whilst in Italy for the Venice Film Festival, Boynton wore bright-red eyeliner that ran along her brow bones and draped down towards her temples, as well as tiny lower wings along the outer corner of her bottom lashes. The look was topped off with a diffused lip done in the same fiery hue as the liner.
Of course, Baker turned the best part of Summer into an enviable beauty look. Rainbow gelato served as the inspiration behind this pastel, multicoloured tie-dye eye makeup. To complement the swirl of colours around her eyes, nothing else was needed save for a touch of blush and some lip balm. This tie-dye eye makeup, surprisingly, has quickly turned into one of our favourite celebrity makeup trends of the moment — and Boynton and Baker have a lot to do with that.
Baker took a simple daytime eye makeup look into one ready for a night on the town, giving a not-so-subtle nod to masquerade balls and Venetian face masks for an event Boynton attended in the historic Italian city. She used pewter-toned glitter and silver crystals to create the half-diamond shape underneath the lower lashes.
It was all about those "kitten wings" by Baker at the Charles Finch & Chanel pre-BAFTAs dinner, and it was that Chanel bow that inspired the makeup artist to create the kitten ear playful liner using Chanel makeup.
Baker used antique gold and deep mauve for "hints of '80s drama" for the BAFTAs ceremony in 2019, using Lancome products. Jo calls that eye makeup look a "Snapper tail flare shaped shadow."
Baker named this look "Galactic Kitty Wings," and it's got to be one of our favourite looks for that reason alone. The look included a fierce, double-winged liner surrounding a shimmery silver lid, a shape that was inspired by a swallow's tail feathers and the Nike Swoosh logo. This look was topped off (in true Boynton style) with plenty of mascara and laid-back waves.
For a photo shoot back in May, Boynton wore layers upon layers of lashes — literally. Baker layered three different types of false lashes here, describing the look as "punk'd Alice in Wonderland vibes." Consider us a fan.
Boynton wore colorful liner and a textured bob for the Valentino Haute Couture show in Paris in January.
It was all about the "Medieval Geisha Feelings" for Boynton's look at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The cherry blossom pink haze bled out and was paired with a 3D matte red lip for contrast drama and to bring out the dragon's tongue in the Gucci dress.
Hairstylist Jenny Cho went for a "subtle nod to Edie Sedgwick" for the LAOFCS awards, while Jo Baker paid homage to David Bowie with glitter and silver firework-inspired sparks to create a "Ziggy Stardust mood."
Warning: we can't take our eyes off this bold, graphic, yellow-and-black eye makeup. Baker named this look "Caution Cat Eyes ⚠️⚠️⚠️" with a nod to Kill Bill. The striking combination of the eye makeup and voluminous updo was one of our favourite celebrity beauty looks of the year. Baker's top tip for this look is that "when eyes take centre stage, it's important to keep skin and lips minimal and gorgeous looking!"
Those kitten-ear-inspired winged eyes by Jo Baker were "giving major FELINES" for Lucy's look at the BAFTA Nominees Party.
Jo Baker took inspiration from the '80s again to create "Shimmery Easy Breezy Peach feels" for the Rodarte show in LA, while hairstylist Jenny Cho went with a textured bob.
There wasn't an inch of Boynton that wasn't covered in crystals at the 2019 Met Gala, and that included her eye makeup. Inspired by dramatic crystal chandeliers, Baker added five lines of flat-back crystals on the upper lid and three on the lower lid to create a starburst effect. She even added extra sparkle on the end of each lash. This makeup plus the aqua hair made for a dreamy, ethereal look.
Another day, another graphic eyeliner look for Boynton, but this time it wasn't really eyeliner at all. Rather, Baker used holographic craft paper secured with lash glue. To complete the look, Baker applied a sheer, berry-hued lip gloss and hairstylist Jenny Cho slicked back Boynton's hair into a wet-looking style for a look that was part "gift wrap" and part punk rock.
Hairstylist Jenny Cho used a delicate black ribbon for another half-up, half-down look for Boynton at the 2019 SAG Awards.
The sheer polka-dot veil of Boynton's Erdem dress inspired the "Precision Punk Liner" for a modern, simple, vamp goth vibe. Jo Baker used Victoria's Secret Beauty major lash mascara and Chanel Beauty calligraphy de Chanel cream liner for this look inspired by power lines, wrought-iron gates, and window bars, with powerful negative space.
For a completely different vibe at a pre-Oscars dinner party, Boynton wore a combination of 1950s-style baby-blue shadow and glossy magenta lipstick. If you want to try this one at home, Baker said the key to keeping this look modern is "the simplicity and keeping the two bold colours uncomplicated."
Search "glam rock" in the dictionary, and Boynton's look for an Oscars afterparty will come up first. For Hollywood's biggest night of the year, she wore glittery grey eye shadow (top and bottom!) and her hair styled in Old Hollywood-esque waves for the perfect combination of grunge and glamour.
For the Critics' Choice Awards in LA, Boynton wore her hair in braids, which looked just as beautiful when hairstylist Jenny Cho shared a behind-the-scenes peek.
Boynton's "doll" look was inspired by '80s pink sweets, pink wafers, and blancmange at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January. Hairstylist Bridget Brager put in a hidden braid too.
Hairstylist Halley Brisker extended Boynton's bob to below the shoulders with blunt ends in under three hours for the Bohemian Rhapsody world premiere in London in October 2018. Makeup artist Alexis Day went with smoky gray layered eyes, loaded lashes, and lightly kissed lips and cheeks.
Lucy's wavy hair matched the ruffles of her outfit during London Fashion Week in February 2017. She made sure her brows and lashes were well-defined, with dewy cheeks.
Alexis Day created Boynton's delicate, luminous, dusky pink makeup for the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week in March 2018, with a textured bob courtesy of Halley Brisker.
Lucy's dramatic eyes were created by Alexis Day, using Chanel products plus Urban Decay's heavy metal glitter liner, for the Murder on the Orient Express world premiere in London in November 2017.
Lucy wore her hair in a side parting with braids by hairstylist Halley Brisker and "glam" makeup by Alexis Day for the Valentino Haute Couture Show in Paris in July 2018.
Lucy wore her hair straight and in a side parting with pink cheeks and lips and lined eyes for The Blackcoat's Daughter's screening in New York in March 2017.
Bold eyes and tousled hair were the order of the day for Lucy at a Markus Lupfer presentation during London Fashion Week in February 2017.
Lucy let loose tendrils frame her face as she wore her hair up with a bold red lip and lashings of mascara during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2016.
Those shoulder-length waves and red lip screamed '50s glamour at the Deauville US Film Festival in France in September 2016.
The intricate plaits made this updo at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lucy wore her hair as a crown with face-framing wisps for the In Dubious Battle premiere during the Deauville US Film Festival in France in September 2016.