It has been a while since the last major award season red carpet event. The beauty looks from the 2018 Oscars are but distant memories and no one likely remembers the hair and makeup at the 2018 Golden Globes, no matter how fabulous the looks. So the 2018 Emmy Awards needed to fill a big void in our beauty-obsessed hearts — and it delivered.
The Emmys may have been on a Monday night, but it brought the Sunday night glamour. It seems makeup artists and hairstylists used the time away to recharge their creative batteries and get experimental. There were a few glam teams that set out to make us rethink our stance on old beauty rules, particularly the idea that matching makeup to outfits is dated. We even saw a few trends carry over from NYFW, such as hair embellishment.
Unfortunately, with everything good there must be some bad and a few unconventional looks weren’t carried off as successfully as we hoped. Click through the gallery above to see the most head-turning beauty looks from the 2018 Emmy Awards.
[ Next: All the Best Red Carpet Looks From the 2018 Emmy Awards ]
The Best (and Worst!) Beauty Looks From the 2018 Emmy Awards
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Best: Tracee Ellis Ross
If there's anyone who can pull off electric orange graphic eyeshadow with a shocking pink lipstick, it's Tracee Ellis Ross. And the Black-ish star did it with a gym bun and wearing the most voluminous, pinkest gown to grace an Emmy red carpet. Major props go to her glam team — makeup artist Lisa Storey and hairstylist Johnnie Sapong — for shattering the idea you can't mix a statement lip and eyes.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Best: Issa Rae
With a smile like that Issa Rae could dazzle with almost any beauty look. This shimmering silver eyeshadow with a stroke of blue on the lower lash lines was fresh without the typical ice queen hard edge. When she turned around, we fell more in love thanks to her hair twist.
Image: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images
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Worst: Tina Fey
Tina Fey had the makings of a pretty, soft, high bun. Alas, the untucked tail was just a few degrees too high. Combined with the bumpy front, it began to look rather haphazard and, dare we say, like a cockscomb.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Best: Letitia Wright
We were captivated by the beauty of Letitia Wright's embellished half updo. If you're looking for a way to reinvigorate a hun, follow her lead with some whimsical embellishment. When you have skin this radiant, you don't want to cover it up with foundation or loud colors. A no-makeup makeup look is the way to go.
Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Best: Evan Rachel Wood
Hair flowers aren't just for prom queens as evidenced by Evan Rachel Wood's romantic red carpet look. Even the lipstick color coordinated with the flowers. It was made all the more stunning by the fact that she wore the blooming hairstyle to contrast a long black jacket and trousers.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Best: Regina King
The Seven Seconds actress didn't need to play into the hair accessories trend of the night. Her ponytail-bun hybrid was showstopping enough on its own. The wispy lashes and neutral lipstick were smart choices against the chartreuse gown.
Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
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Best: Thandie Newton
Matching eyeshadow to an outfit can run the risk of looking dated, especially if the outfit is cotton candy pink. Thandie Newton made the pale eyeshadow (and gown) look retro elegant. The center-parted low bun and whisper of pink on the lips kept it from becoming a throwback cliché. Then there were those megawatt earrings.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Best: Yara Shahidi
As much as we love the drama of bold red carpet beauty looks, we can't get over the dewy gorgeousness of Yara Shahidi's natural makeup and high bun. This is glass skin in the flesh. Makeup artist Emily Cheng prepped the Grown-ish star's face with the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask, then soaked a Beautyblender with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence to apply Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation.
Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Best: Rachel Brosnahan
If you still haven't found your perfect red lipstick, take a look at Rachel Brosnahan for inspiration. This orange-red lippie coordinated with her gown while offsetting her flawless complexion. Her elegant side-parted chignon demonstrates why the French twist is back.
Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
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Best: Constance Wu
Balancing a sequin gown with the right makeup look can be tricky. Too much makeup and it looks garish. Too little and it looks boring. Constance Wu got the balance right with the help of hairstylist Derek Yuen and makeup artist Irina Strukova. The low bun framed the Crazy Rich Asians star's face and showed off her glowing complexion.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Worst: Chrissy Teigen
The supermodel had a rare misstep on the red carpet with hair that looked more wet than wet-look. On the plus side, she still had a radiant glow.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images
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Best: Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson took a risk with glittery yellow eyeshadow but it paid off. The vibrant shadow was balanced with a pale pink lipstick and black winged eyeliner. Her bob had the right amount of windswept tousle.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Worst: Maya Rudolph
We're all for experimenting with new eyeliner shapes. Unfortunately, Maya Rudolph's double wing dragged her eyes down, making them look tired. The OTT blush wasn't helping matters. It distracted from her shiny retro waves.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Best: Mandy Moore
It may be fall, but the This Is Us actress kept the summer spirit alive with her bronzed skin and artfully tousled S waves. The secret to her pinky nude lip? ChapStick. For real.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Best: Gwendoline Christie
Brienne of Tarth, is that you? Gwendoline Christie was a world away from her Game of Thrones character with her bouncy bob and deep red lipstick. The look had a distinct Marilyn Monroe vibe but with a modern twist.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Worst: Elisabeth Moss
Neutral tones are almost always fail-safe. There are times when they fail, though, like Elisabeth Moss' too-orange eyeshadow and lipstick. The unflattering makeup gave the appearance of a sunburn.
Image: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
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Best: Dakota Fanning
Prepare for everyone to start parting their half-updos after they see Dakota Fanning's bohemian hair. She showed that the insouciant hairstyle is the perfect foil for black winged eyeliner, my-lips-but-better lipstick and statement earrings.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
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Best: Madeline Brewer
Combine a bit of whimsy, a dash of goth, a pinch of Victoriana and a good helping of glamour and you get Madeline Brewer's beauty look. Her radiant auburn locks are enough to make anyone book a hair gloss. Add in hair flowers and millennial pink lipstick and you have an all-around winner.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
