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Every year, the most revered names in cinema gather in the south of France for Cannes Film Festival, an illustrious near fortnight of premieres, galas and more lavish outfits that you can shake a stick at. 

La Croisette is set to welcome another stylish crop of film stars very shortly, but in the meantime, we've taken a closer look at some of the most striking hair and makeup moments from the festival's red carpet history, including Margot Robbie's baby braids and Brigitte Bardot's tousled updo to Princess Diana's blue eyeliner and Coco Rocha's elaborate updo. 

Brigitte Bardot wearing a ball gown and fur stole at the Cannes Film Festival 1953© Getty Images
Brigitte Bardot wearing a ball gown and fur stole at the Cannes Film Festival 1953

Last year saw standout looks from Simone Ashley, who wowed with her sculpted bun and luminous skin, and Demi Moore, whose sleek, centre-parted hair and flawless complexion turned heads. As 2025’s festival unfolds, we’re rounding up the most striking beauty moments to ever make waves on the Riviera.

H! Fashion shares the best Cannes Film Festival beauty looks of all time: 

1/23

Dua Lipa with a sweepy fringe © Getty

Dua Lipa, 2023

Dua Lipa looked every inch the modern Hollywood movie star at the Omar la Fraise premiere with soft, sweepy bangs and sultry eyes, complimented by her dazzling diamond drop earrings.

2/23

simone ahsley black dress at cannes © FilmMagic

Simone Ashley, 2024

Simone Ashley opted for an elegant beauty look featuring a sleek, sculpted bun with a sharp side part that stole the show .Her makeup is glowing, with bronzed skin, a soft smoky eye, and a matte mauve lip.

3/23

Elsa Hosk with a sleek side-parted bun © Getty

Elsa Hosk, 2023

Last year,  Elsa Hosk oozed glamour at the annual amfAR Gala with a bronzy smokey eye, glossy lips and a sleek, side-parted bun.

4/23

Princess Diana with blue eyeliner and a pale blue dress© Getty

Princess Diana, 1987

Princess Diana looked resplendent in 1987 in a pale blue Catherine Walker gown which she paired with her trademark blue waterlines. As with all of her beauty choices, this is a timeless look that is still replicated today. 

5/23

Bella Hadid with tight winged eyeliner © Getty

Bella Hadid, 2022

Supermodel Bella Hadid took TikTok's much-adored Siren Eyes trend out for a spin in 2022 at Cannes, and we're still thinking about it.

6/23

Iris Law with gold hoops and crimson red lipstick© Getty

Iris Law, 2023

Jude Law's daughter Iris made a vampy, crimson lip the focal point of her mesmerising look. She also made the case for the return of the slit brow.

7/23

Kate Moss during 51st Cannes Film Festival © Getty

Kate Moss, 1998

Kate perfected natural glamour in 1998, wearing her hair pulled back with a subtle pop of blush on her cheeks.

8/23

Jodie Turner-Smith with a dark smoky eye and a high bun © Getty

Jodie Turner-Smith, 2021

Jodie Turner-Smith rocked oil-slick eyeshadow and a seriously high-drama bun in 2021.

9/23

Anne Hathaway with her hair loose wearing a large sapphire necklace © Getty

Anne Hathaway, 2022

Anne Hathaway went super understated in 2022, and yet still made a major impact with her glossy locks, champagne-coloured shadow and neutral lip.

10/23

Madonna wearing crimson lipstick and drop down earrings © Getty

Madonna, 1991

Pre-big reveal (Google immediately if you're unfamiliar), Madonna oozed vintage glamour with creamy skin, black eyeliner and a crimson lip.She slicked back her chestnut locks and allowed her bold lip to make a statement. 

11/23

Coco Rocha with red smoky eyeshadow and elaborate braided hair © Getty

Coco Rocha, 2021

Model Coco Rocha blew us away in 2021 with rich, burnt red smoky eyes and an avant-garde braided updo. This look was out-of-the-box and really made a statement. 

12/23

Gemma Chan with a red lip and gem studs under her eyes © Getty

Gemma Chan, 2021

Gemma Chan went for maximum drama in 2021 with long, fluttery lashes and gems carefully positioned under her lower lash lines. As we head to festival season, consider mirroring Gemma and adding gems for some sparkle. 

13/23

Jane Birkin holding a basket with Serge Gainsbourg at a Cannes Film Festival party © Getty

Jane Birkin, 1974

Jane Birkin embodied French girl chic in 1974 with soft bangs and a slick of eyeliner. Side note: her trademark wicker basket will go down in accessory history.

14/23

Deepika Padukone with dramatic black eyeliner © Getty

Deepika Padukone, 2019

Actress Deepika Padukone brought major drama to the Cannes red carpet in 2019, rocking a heavily defined lower lash line, straight brows and a high pony. Black Swan gals Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman would very much approve.

15/23

Margot Robbie with baby braids and understated makeup© Getty

Margot Robbie, 2019

Margot Robbie debuted a super low-key version of baby braids in 2019 alongside a dash of mascara and a rose pink lip. This was an unexpected hair choice for Margot at the time but since then, braided moments have become her signature. 

16/23

American actress Elizabeth Taylor with her husband, producer Mike Todd at the Cannes Film Festival© Getty

Elizabeth Taylor, 1957

Elizabeth Taylor exuded regality in 1957 with strong dark arches, radiant skin and her unique double row eyelashes. She wore her hair up with curls adorning her forehead, styled alongside her beloved antique diamond tiara, a gift from her husband Mike Todd.

17/23

Léa Seydoux with a red lip and a blonde bob © Getty

Léa Seydoux, 2018

Léa Seydoux looked achingly chic in 2018 with a crisp red lip and a sharp bombshell bob. There is so much power in a statement red lip, and the french actresses proved it with this beauty look. 

18/23

Lily-Rose Depp with tight eyeliner, a pale pink lip and loose curls © Getty

Lily Rose-Depp, 2017

Lily-Rose Depp radiated Cannes-level glam in 2017 with soft bouncy curls, richly defined eyes and a pale pink lip. She also sported tousled, wavy, locks which is the perfect effortless spring time hair style.

19/23

Sophia Loren wearing a strapless corset dress with a decadent necklace © Getty

Sophia Loren, 1955

Sophia Loren epitomised screen star glamour in 1955 with her trademark angular arches, defined eyes and a bold lip. This is a timeless look that will never go out of style. 

20/23

Demi Moore big bow and sleek jet black hair © Getty Images

Demi Moore, 2024

Demi Moore proved with this look that sometimes less is more. She opted for a natural glam moment featuring glowing skin, rosy cheeks and a nude liostick. As for her signature XL jet-black locks she kept the uber straight - sleek and sophisticated. 

21/23

Grace Kelly in a fluffy stole at a party during the Cannes Film Festival © Getty

Grace Kelly, 1955

Grace Kelly looked characteristically elegant in 1955 with her blonde locks slicked back away from her face and a pared-back makeup look that allowed her natural beauty to take centre stage.

22/23

Joey king short bob and yellow dress© Getty Images

Joey King, 2024

in 2024, Joey King debuted a chic Italian bob that just grazed her neck. Her golden locks looked elegant tucked behind her ears and was perfect for the red carpet. The Kissing Booth actress paired this look with a bold cat-eye flick and a pinky-nude matte lip. 

23/23

Brigitte Bardot, french model, singer and actress, at Cannnes Movie Festival, wearing a nude-back shirt and big round earrings, Cannes, 1955. (Photo by Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images)© Getty

Brigitte Bardot, 1955

Donning the razor fringe before it was even a thing, Brigitte Bardot wore a tousled updo with her choppy bangs and a minimalistic cat eye, finished with giant hoop earrings.


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