The Grammys never fail to deliver unforgettable hair, makeup and red carpet moments and Sunday evening’s awards show was no exception. At the 2018 Grammys, stars made many an unexpected choice on the hair and makeup front (sunglasses! corset braids! cheetah-print hair!). Sadly, the powers that be made rather predictable choices when it came to voting — that Kendrick Lamar snub and total Jay Z, SZA and Despacito shut-out was hard to watch. But we digress.
Alongside the innovative and wacky looks, several mainstream beauty trends made multiple appearances. Beyoncé sported Pantone-approved lips and declared skin (and Glossier) firmly in; Alicia Keys and Janelle Monáe co-signed the Queen’s glowy-faced statement. Monáe, Rita Ora and Rapsody did the grown-out-roots thing (Monáe with more success than the other two); Keys and Lana Del Rey showed off hair accessories with serious personality. Meanwhile, Hailee Steinfeld and Bebe Rexha captivated us with their beyond bright-eyed makeup.
Click through the slideshow above to see the best and some of the worst — or rather, strangest — looks of the night.
[ Next: All the Best Red Carpet Looks From the 2018 Grammy Awards ]
Grammys Beauty 2018
-
Best: Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld rocked a strong peacock blue eye that accented her confident gaze. Makeup artist Mary Phillips complemented the singer/movie star's mermaid-esque lids with a touch of white shimmer in the inner corners of her eyes, seriously feathery lashes, lightly bronzed skin and a neutral peach lip. Like her makeup, the 21-year-old's classic side-swept waves were eye-catchingly elegant (if not groundbreaking).
Image: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS
-
Best: Beyoncé
At the 60th annual Grammy awards, millennial whisperer Glossier got the Beyoncé nod of approval. (It's official: skin is in.) Makeup artist Sir John created Bey's sunglasses-at-night Grand High Creole Witch look using a mixture of affordable and not-so-affordable products, including Glossier's Perfecting Skin Tint, Cloud Paint and Boy Brow, L'Oréal Paris' Infallible Total Cover Concealing and Contour Kit and True Match Lumi Glotion and YSL's Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain in Fuchsia Intime and Carmine Encounter. So perhaps last night's big winner was not Bruno Mars, but Emily Weiss.
Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARAS
-
Zaniest: Katie Holmes
If you ask us, Katie Holmes' costumey 20s finger waves — "finessed" by hairstylist DJ Quintero — read a little too Tim Burton. (Is she graying gracefully or is that hair gel dust?) Still, we can't knock the actress' shimmery mauve/gold/silver eye shadow, the work of makeup artist Genevieve Herr.
Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS
-
Best: Alicia Keys
As we said, skin is in. Keys' naturally glowy face — made possible by genetics, ice therapy, jade rolling, grated cucumber, various facial oils and makeup artist Dotti — came framed by Fenty-reminiscent, zip-tie-fastened, twisted braids. We're obsessed.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
-
Best: Cardi B
Cardi B's simple, elegant, classic nude makeup was a refreshing change of pace for the ascendant rapper, who teamed her princessy Ashi Studio gown with a wispy, face-framing, prom-inspired updo. The result? A look that was anything but "regular-degular."
Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS
-
Zaniest: Cyndi Lauper
Pop legend Cyndi Lauper arrived to the awards with a new take on her signature choppy, bleach blonde 'do. Ever the unicorn, she added streaks of pastel purple and blue for a fun, unexpected element. Was the end result cute and confetti-like or more Lisa-Frank-gone-wrong? You decide.
Image: Mike Coppola/FilmMagic
-
Best: Eve
Another welcome blast from the past, Eve blew our collective mind with her deep side-parted waves, subtly smoky eyes and perfect fluttery lashes.
Image: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
-
Best: Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe may not be known for changing up her look but at the 2018 Grammys, the veritable Queen of Underliner did not disappoint. Last night, Monáe opted for bold turquoise (Buxom's Hold The Line Waterproof Eyeliner in Ring My Bell and Eyeshadow Bar Single Eyeshadow in Twilight Tryst), which she paired with impossibly long lashes, glossy lips and an (in keeping with the theme of the evening, slightly grown-out) peroxide chop. The overall effect was very Twiggy, which is exactly what makeup artist Jessica Smalls was going for. (And if you noticed Monáe's skin looking extra radiant, that's because Smalls slathered her face in basically every Kiehl's moisturizing product known to man the night before.)
Image: Dimitirios Kambouris for Getty Images
-
Best: Lady Gaga
Where to begin? Sarah Tanno, celebrity makeup artist for Marc Jacobs Beauty, gave Lady Gaga the most luminous, striking beauty look of the evening using a raft of MJ products. That's Shameless Youthful-Look 24H Longwear Foundation on the Joanne singer's skin, Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in Kink & Kisses on her cheeks, Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Blacquer, Magic Marc’er Precision Pen Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner and Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Glambition and Edgitorial on those peachy, glimmery, dewy AF eyes, as well as Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil in Prim(rose) and Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick in Cream & Sugar on her lips. And don't even get us started on Gaga's laced-together fishtail braids (below) — Frederic Aspiras, we do not deserve thee.
Image: @sarahtannomakeup
-
Zaniest: Tyler, the Creator
Points for creativity, but please see your colorist soon, Tyler.
Image: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
-
Worst: Rapsody
Same goes for you, Rapsody. The grown-out roots look has its limits. (Namely, over one inch past the hairline — even less when Manic Panic colors are involved.)
Image: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
-
Best: Rita Ora
Rita Ora tiptoed dangerously close to the aforementioned grown-out-roots limit, but we're willing to give her a pass on the grounds that her barely-there eye makeup and crimson lips brought us an immediate sense of delight — and was arguably one of her best makeup looks to date.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
-
Best: Lana Del Rey
Angel-voiced Lana Del Rey eschewed boring red-carpet waves, donning a creative constellation headpiece that recalled Hollywood legend/inventor of Nazi-fighting telecommunications technology Hedy Lamarr's Ziegfeld Girl look. For her makeup, Del Rey stuck with her signature swoopy cat-eye. If it ain't broke...
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
-
Best: Bebe Rexha
Bebe Rexha (and Kim Kardashian West BFF Mario Dedivanovic) made a strong case for red carpet pink eye. The singer's look combined a red-pink winged statement eye with nude lipstick, contoured cheeks and lush lashes. Oh, and she scored another winning point for team lob.
Image: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS
-
Worst: Jenny McCarthy
Oscar the Grouch, we presume?
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage
