The Critics Choice Awards never fail to usher in the new year in style. As the unofficial curtain-raiser to awards season, the illustrious ceremony welcomes Hollywood’s inner circle dressed impeccably, setting the tone for the months of red carpets to come.
While much of the attention inevitably gravitates towards the fashion moments drip-fed throughout the night, beauty insiders are equally transfixed by the makeup looks commanding the red carpet. After all, this is the event that signals what we can expect from the rest of 2026’s awards-season extravaganzas.
So, what’s on the agenda this year? As eagle-eyed readers will know, pared-back aesthetics are firmly off the table for 2026 - and that sentiment extends emphatically to red carpet glam.
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Case in point: Pinterest has crowned XL glamour as the beauty mood to watch in the new year. Think smudged eyeliner, vibrant colour palettes, zesty, unmissable eyeshadows and two-toned lipstick blends that happily bid farewell to symmetry. Searches for “eccentric makeup” have surged by 100 per cent, while “weird makeup looks” are up by 115 per cent. Leading the charge, however, is “avant-garde makeup editorial,” with searches soaring by a striking 270 per cent.
But did the stars take note? It’s time to find out. Scroll on for the best celebrity beauty moments from the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026.
Best beauty looks from The Critics Choice Awards 2026:
Ariana Grande channelled girlish Glinda glamour, sporting a fiery auburn updo with a curled ponytail and flicky frontal bangs. The Wicked star tapped into her signature feminine aesthetic, opting for a plumped, blossom pink lip and her hallmark wingled eyeliner.
Never one to miss an opportunity to nail a red carpet look, Elle Fanning took to the floor in a golden gown, which was elevated by a blushed palette with gently-dotted freckles and a matte, cherry red lip.
Mia Goth paid homage to the enduring elegance of the high bun as she glided across the red carpet with a honied complexion and a glossy lip, coolly framed by two flicky curtain bangs.
Amanda Seyfried attended the celebrity-studded shindig debuting an ultra feminine blend - a deep rose pink lip, a porcelain complexion, a gently brushed brow and a softly blended winged eyeliner.
One-to-watch Chase Infiniti nailed her luminous look which featured a sleek braided hair paired with dewy, minimalist skin, soft bronze eyeshadow, and a glossy nude lip for an effortless red-carpet glow.
Mckenna Grace leaned into soft, classic glamour with a modern polish: luminous skin, fluttery lashes, softly defined brows, a satin red lip and a half-up, half-down 'do with a side-swept fringe.
Warm tones were on the agenda for Hamnet actress Jessie Buckley, who stepped out in LA with a side-slicked pixie cut in a rich caramel hue, a dusting of golden bronzer and a fig-hued, matte lip.
I Love LA breakout star Odessa A'zion platformed her signature bouncing ringlets as she graced the red carpet in a silver sequinned gown featuring dramatic batwing sleeves.
Meghann Fahy was joined on the red carpet by her beau Leo Woodall, yet all eyes remained on her iridescent aesthetic. The actress also opted for a tousled updo with softly curled bangs, elevated by a gentle glam look topped off with a glossy, grapefruit pink lip.
Looking lavish in layers of lace, Kristen Bell took her place on the red carpet with a natural beauty look, framed by two 'bronde' curatain bangs - a prevailing trend of the night.
To complement her lavender gown, Leighton Meester stepped out debuting a clean-girl makeup blend, punctuated by a sharp, cerise lip. Her golden highlights were styled in a feminine side-swept style, softly curling just above her collarbones.
I Know What You Did Last Summer star Chase Sui Wonders married contemporary dress codes with flapper girl glam - styling out a side-parted coiff with a curled, voluminous bob.
Jessica Williams, American actress and comedian, channelled soft glam Sixties style with a voluminous bouffant, elegant black hair bow, winged eyeliner, and a subtle nude-pink lip.
Making a case for the timeless smoky eye, Aussie actress Rose Byrne delivered a lesson in gothic minimalism, styling out a caramel-tinted updo, a lined rose pink lip and a matte complexion.
A red lip and a pixie cut - a bold but brilliant choice for US actress Janelle James, who paid homage to the likes of Halle Berry and the iconic 90s crop that remains a red carpet favourite.
Michelle Randolph channelled Disney princess beauty with a natural yet luminescent blend, complete with a thick brow, a classic middle parting and silky, straightened blonde tresses.
American actress Ji-young Yoo dazzled with a bold red lip, a sleek winged eyeliner flick and cheekbone-defining blush that complemented the hot pink hue of her gown.
South Korean singer and rapper Rei Ami leaned into doll-like glamour, hitting the red carpet with a flawless complexion and a playful braided updo complete with a silky fringe and face-framing curtain bangs.
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