2023 Critics Choice Awards: Best Beauty Looks

Originally published on people.com

While the draw of glamorous events like the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards is to celebrate critically-acclaimed cinema from last year, for us beauty editors it's the red carpet looks that steal the show.

This year we were treated to a visual feast of elegant makeup and attention-grabbing hair styles as nominees, presenters and guests gathered outside of the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel. Here are our favorite best beauty moments at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards.

Julia Roberts

We love a Julia Roberts hair moment all day, every day, and tonight's look was our Ticket to Paradise. The Gaslit nominee wowed with elegant but relaxed waves that cascaded over her beaded gown. Roberts, who recently learned she isn't exactly a Roberts after all, sported a soft dewy makeup look with Lancôme favorites, including a rosy pink lip duo that perfectly accentuated the actress's iconic smile. Makeup artist Genevieve Herr lined and filled in her lips with Le Lip liner in "Sheer Raspberry" ($28; nordstrom.com) before swiping on L'Absolu Rouge Cream Lipstick in "Blush Classique" ($35; sephora.com).

Julia Garner

Julia Garner's captivating performances (and accents) in Inventing Anna and Ozark earned her two nominations at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. For the Best Actress and Supporting Actress nominee's appearance, Garner wore head-to-toe red, from a fiery eye shadow and striking lip to a Ferragamo dress and Stuart Weitzman shoes.

"My inspiration for tonight's makeup are the dress and jewelry," makeup artist Hung Vanngo said in a press release. Vanngo used Chanel Les 4 Ombres Tweed Limited-Edition Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in "Tweed Fauve" ($88; chanel.com) to create the pink and gold blend. For the dramatic lip, the pro used Chanel Le Crayon Lèvres Longwear Lip Pencil in "Rouge Tendre" ($32; chanel.com) and then Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in "Ardente" ($45; chanel.com) on top, blotting in between.

Working with celebrity hairstylist Bobby Eliot, Garner sported a slicked-back hairstyle that put the focus on her face and fashion. Eliot wanted the hair to feel "chic, clean, and minimal" per a press release. The pro used a series of products like the René Furterer Absolue Keratine Ultimate Repair Serum ($35; renefurtererusa.com), several T3 Tools ($40; amazon.com), the René Furterer Style Modeling Paste ($28; dermstore.com), Air Dry Cream ($30; dermstore.com) to get the final sleek look.

Danielle Deadwyler

Nominated for Best Actress for her role in Till, Danielle Deadwyler wore an eye-catching silver sequin Louis Vuitton gown and matching metallic eyeshadow. Her skin glowed with accents of a smokey eye and light mauve pink lipstick. The actress' updo — a sophisticated low twisted knot — mimicked the rope design on the neckline. Hairstylist Araxi Lindsey used R+Co Mannequin Styling Paste ($31; amazon.com) to create the ponytail, and the Dart Pomade Stick ($23; amazon.com) to smooth the hair along the scalp. The pro twisted the hair to create the braided effect, and finished the look with R+Co Bleu Reflective Shine Hairspray ($39; dermstore.com).

Madelyn Cline

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery star Madelyn Cline stepped out in a stunning black feathered Givenchy dress with swept curls and pale pink eyeshadow and lips that was a nod to old Hollywood glamor. Her entire makeup look comes courtesy of e.l.f. Skin and e.l.f. Cosmetics (hello, affordable products!).

"We didn't want to overpower the gown with overly bold glam, so we focused on bronzed, glowy skin with her signature liner and pouty lips," says celebrity makeup artist Jen Tioseco. "It was the perfect balance, to let both the dress and her glam have their own moments while complimenting each other perfectly," Tioseco says in a press release.

To create this glowy look, the pro prepped Cline's skin with several products including the new Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide ($10; ulta.com). Tioseco applied the TikTok viral Halo Glow Liquid Filter ($14; ulta.com) to boost Cline's complexion. Bitesize Eyeshadow in Rose Water ($3; ulta.com) and the new O-Face Satin Lipstick in shade "Dirty Talk" ($9; ulta.com) create the subtle pops of pink on her eyes and lips.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett's skin glowed as she walked the red carpet tonight. The winner for Best Supporting Actress in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wore a black Christian Siriano dress and stacked gold choker. As for her beauty look: all eyes were on her shimmery pink blush and slicked-back low ponytail.

Makeup artist D'Andre Michael used Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Divine Blush in 'Divine Rose' ($39; sephora.com) to add the rosiness to Bassett's cheeks, as well as LiquiLUST Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in 'Nude Cabaret' ($32; sephora.com) for her chic lip color.

Hairstylist Randy Stodghill created her sleek look with the Phytovolume Volumizing Blow Dry Spray ($30; amazon.com), Phytospecific Baobab Oil ($40; amazon.com), and the Phytodefrisant Anti-Frizz Touch Up Care spray ($29; amazon.com). "Angela is a sophisticated woman who has style and class," said Stodghill in a press release. "She doesn't follow trends or try to be something she's not – and this is what we wanted to capture in her look tonight."

Janelle Monáe

If there's one look we'll be copying for months to come, it's Janelle Monáe's fierce cat eye, which was diffused at the tip for a bit of a twist on a classic graphic eye look. Makeup artist Keita Moore, said in a press release that the inspiration for the look was "retro-glam of the 1950s." The pro created this look with a smokey eye using Chanel's Les 4 Ombres Limited-Edition Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in "Ombres de Lune" ($65; chanel.com) and Le Liner de Chanel ($35; chanel.com). Monáe's bottom lash line was also carried all the way into the inner corners of their eyes for even more definition using the Noir Allure Mascara in Noir ($42; chanel.com), and perhaps also to complement their seductive cut-out sheer black gown. The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery star received the SeeHer Award tonight, an honor that recognizes leaders in gender equality and those who defy stereotypes in media.

Jenny Slate

Actress and comedian Jenny Slate dazzled on the red carpet wearing a high-neck shimmery gown with pops of pink and gold.

She celebrated the nomination of her screenplay Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, up for Best Animated Feature with equally playful makeup.

Makeup artist Kirin Bhatty used the Violette_FR Yeux Paint in shade "Rose d'aurore" ($31; modaoperandi.com) to add some whimsy and pink sparkles to the actress' eyes.

Slate also wore soft waves that framed her face.

Lily James

Pam & Tommy nominee Lily James graced the red carpet with a vintage updo. "The inspiration for this style was a slight nod to Audrey Hepburn with a classic paired back feel to compliment the outfit and its silhouette," celebrity hairstylist Halley Brisker exclusively told PEOPLE. Brisker prepped James' hair with the Nexxus Root Lift Thickening Spray ($15.62; amazon.com) and Nexxus Prep & Protect Leave In Spray ($13.89; target.com) to prep the blowout and create rounded bangs. Once the updo was pulled back into a low ponytail and styled with a series of bobby pins to create the "deconstructed rolls," Brisker lightly sprayed the hair with the Nexxus Maxximum Finishing Mist ($26.99; amazon.com), which the pro says is key: "[I'm] always looking to max out the shine and polish for these types of carpet looks." The style perfectly framed James' face, which featured a soft palette of neutral and pink hues for the eyes, cheeks, and lips.

Elle Fanning

Dressed in an Alexander McQueen gown with strategic tears and a bodice reflective of her 18th-century The Great character, Elle Fanning was a vision on the red carpet. In contrast to the period-style dress, Fanning's makeup and hair embodies more contemporary trends.

Celebrity makeup artist Erin Ayanian Monroe said in a press release that Fanning's dress "felt like spring and new beginnings, so we wanted to keep her makeup very light and fresh." The monochromatic look was created with L'Oréal Paris standouts like Colour Riche Lipstick in "Classic Wine" ($9.49; ulta.com); a blend of True Match Super-Blendable Blushes in "Subtle Sable" and "Barely Blushing" ($11.99; ulta.com) and the Colour Riche Mono Eyeshadow ($5.99; amazon.com) in shades "Pris Beach" and "Café au Lait" with a topping of shimmery Infallible 24HR Waterproof Eyeshadow in "Liquid Diamond" ($7.59; amazon.com). For a soft, glowing base, Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation ($15.99; ulta.com) was applied.

Hairstylist Jenda Alcorn prepped Fanning's hair with the Elvive Hyaluron Plump Shampoo + Conditioner ($5.49; amazon.com) as well as the Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum ($7.99; ulta.com). Then, the pro added the EverPure Weightless Blow Dry Primer ($12.99; ulta.com) throughout her strands, blow-drying it to create the effortless natural waves Fanning wore on the red carpet, and spritzing it with Elnett Hairspray ($14.99; ulta.com) to keep the look intact.

Quinta Brunson

Whether a star's hair or makeup grabs the most attention is always up for debate, but in the case of Quinta Brunson, all signs point to her fierce top knot. The Abbot Elementary actress and nominee wore a black and gray fanned out tulle dress that played with contrasting shapes, and her hair style complemented this effect. "I wanted to play off her dress and mimic the fabric of it with her bun by creating height and flair," Celebrity stylist Alexander Armand said in a press release.

Armand prepped and cleansed the hair before blowing it out with Olivia Garden Ceramic tools ($23.95; amazon.com). Then, the pro used the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Ultra-Hold Gel ($4.97; ulta.com) to create some hold and styled it into a ponytail before twisting it into the "sculptural bun" creation. Armand left a few pieces out to shape the face with the Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion 5/8" Professional Travel Flat Iron ($45.95; amazon.com) "to create a wispy, fanned out shape that mimicked her dress and gave the final look an edgier feel." To finish the look off with shine, the stylist sprayed some Maui Moisture Nourish & Moisture + Coconut Milk Weightless Oil ($13.75; walmart.com).

Brunson's makeup look featured glowing and dewy skin, with perfectly-placed highlighter, shimmery eyeshadow to match her dress, and a rose-pink lip.

Jennifer Coolidge

Another win for Jennifer Coolidge! Tonight, the actress took home the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her meme-worthy portrayal of Tanya in The White Lotus. Celebrity makeup artist Lilly Keys utilized Lashify DIY extensions ($125; lashify.com) to create as much drama as Coolidge did across Sicily in the second season of the show. Keys said in a press release that the goal was to "really open the eyes yet still have a natural fluffy effect [with] as much volume as possible." The pro used several Gossamer lashes for Coolidge's look — SB14, SB12, and B10 — from the outside to the inner corner of the eyelids. Charlotte Tilbury products were also present in the look, with popular favorites like Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk ($34; sephora.com) and Beautiful Skin Foundation ($46; sephora.com) taking center stage.

Amanda Seyfried

Dressed head to toe in a gold archival Dior Haute Couture gown, Amanda Seyfried joked to red carpet interviewers, "if I don't get a statue, at least I look like one." As it turned out, she won the award for Best Actress in a Limited Series for Hulu's The Dropout (though her dress didn't quite make it through the night in one piece).

Celebrity makeup artist Genevieve Herr was going for an "old Hollywood glamour" look for Seyfried and decided on a timeless, elegant eye and a warm red lip that accentuate her best features." Herr used Lancôme Hypnôse 5-Color Eyeshadow Palette in "Nude Sculptural" ($60; bloomingdales.com) to create a soft smokiness, and applied two coats of Idôle Lash-Lifting Mascara ($30; sephora.com) for voluminous lashes. The pro finished off the look with L'Absolu Rouge Intimatte Lipstick in "French Touch" ($35; nordstrom.com) for a warm red lip.

Kelsey Asbille

A far cry from the denim and plaid flannel that her character, Monica, often sports on Yellowstone — which was nominated for Best Drama Series — tonight, actress Kelsey Asbille wore what appeared to be a gothic-inspired look in a black Saint Laurent column gown and deep merlot lip.

Makeup artist Emily Cheng crafted this look with YSL Beauty Rouge Pure Couture The Bold High Pigment Lipstick in shade 09 ($39; sephora.com) and Rouge Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick in shade 06 ($35; sephora.com).

Her short bob was styled in a wet-look fashion by hairstylist Tim Muir.

Sadie Sink

Though her Stranger Things character, Max, dons minimal makeup and pensive expressions, Sadie Sink was all smiles on the red carpet as a first-time Critics Choice Award nominee in the category for Best Young Actor/Actress — leaning into light pinks in her makeup, soft flowing hair, and a black Chanel dress with a geometric bodice. Celebrity hairstylist Ryan Richman used Olivia Garden tools to style the The Whale actress' long locks.

"It's always important to me to keep young people age appropriate on the red carpet. As a team we discussed a lot of fun and edgy hairstyles. In the end shiny and polished hair was the youthfulness we were looking for," Richman said in a press release. The pro used the Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Hair Dryer ($109.95; amazon.com) and Speed XL Hairbrush ($26.95; ulta.com) to create the initial blowout. Then Richman went in with the new Olivia Garden Titanium + Ion 1.25" Curling Iron ($79.99; amazon.com) to create Sink's beautiful soft waves, and finished with a light coating of the Aveda Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray ($32; nordstrom.com).

Michelle Yeoh

Awarded with a Golden Globe last week for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Michelle Yeoh made an entrance on the red carpet with a soft glam look and gorgeous twisted updo.

Celebrity hairstylist Jenny Cho took cues from Yeoh's Carolina Herrera dress with voluminous hot pink statement sleeves: "I decided on a hair look that was pulled back into a modern updo that felt fresh, elegant and sophisticated," she said in a press release.

To shape the hair and construct the top knot, Cho used René Furterer Style Texture Spray ($34; dermstore.com). "This helped to add a little more grit to achieve the undone knot," Cho explained.