Thanks to trend arbiters like the NYFW runways and the latest Fenty Beauty makeup collection, our editors already had a hunch that this summer would be all about neon makeup.
Whether it’s electric blue liner or Barbie pink gloss, neon is always vibrant and surprising, so it’s only fitting that for 2019’s Met Gala themed Camp: Notes on Fashion, celebrities opted for the best and brightest neon makeup we’ve seen on the red carpets this season. Makeup artists rose to the occasion with hot-pink lipstick, strategically placed eyeliner, and eyebrow colors that in no way exist in nature — and bring new meaning to the phrase “bold brows.”
These colorful looks are a reminder that beauty is meant to be fun, and pretty much everyone on the Met Gala’s red pink carpet was clearly having a blast. The best part? Neon makeup is deceptively simple to recreate at home. Not everyone has to wear a line of neon across your face a la Cara Delevingne — even a colorful mascara or turquoise waterline is enough to take an outfit up to 11. We recommend taking inspiration from one (or three, in the camp-y spirit of excess) of these makeup looks this weekend.
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves, aka Country-Singer Barbie, dressed in monochromatic pink complete with sunglasses and a campy faux fur shawl. The head-to-toe hot pink called for simple makeup, but she tied the look together beautifully with a lipstick in bright fuchsia that matched her leather jacket.
Lilly Singh
If the mark of camp is excess, Lilly Singh nailed it with her overdrawn eye shadow and blush. Her pink cheeks give the look a doll-like quality, while her lids are a party in shades of pink and purple. The shadow comes in just under her perfectly-arched brows, giving Singh an expression that says, “I know, I killed it.”
Madelaine Petsch
Madelaine Petsch served us 2019 Tinkerbell in an ethereally structured gown, fairy wings, and matching romantic, pink eye shadow. With her aqua gown, fair skin, red hair, and neon pink accents, Petsch just proved once and for all that the rules of color are made to be broken.
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart took the outdated notion of matching your hair to your eyebrows and ran a marathon with it. She outfitted her brown and platinum hair with orange-red streaks then matched the new style with painted-on brows in white and neon orange.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne redefined the concept of coloring inside the lines with a rainbow outfit that continued all the way up to her nose. The horizontal neon-orange stripe across her face turns Delevingne herself into a work of art. To aid in the effect, she camouflaged her lips with a light pink that perfectly matched her skin tone.
Camila Coelho
Hot pink eye makeup was on display all night, and Camila Coelho‘s standout shadow is no exception. Patrick Ta used body oil and lip gloss from his new Major Shine collection to keep Coelho’s look fresh and dewy with just a hint of shimmer.
Ava Duvernay
Ava Duvernay won the “I’m trying this look immediately” award with a bright spot of neon green in the inner corners of her eyes. The spiritual opposite of a cat-eye, this simple liner look is just fun enough to keep Duvernay’s beauty look interesting and innovative. Plus, she matched the green liner to her gown and the beads in her hair.
