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There's nothing quite like the Oscars to make us wish that adult proms were a thing. There's just so much elegant beauty inspo to gain from watching the Academy Awards that it's a shame we don't all have our own “biggest night in [your town here]” to recreate it.
That being said, there's really no reason not to take the best hair, makeup, and nail looks seen on the red carpet and incorporate them into everyday life. Why wait for a wedding when you can emulate Emma Stone's hair for a Monday all-hands meeting? Or take a photo of Teyana Taylor's nails to the salon for your very next manicure?
We're rounding up the most stunning looks of the Oscars, otherwise known as the most anticipated event of award season and the pinnacle of red carpet glamour. If you can't find your ultimate adult prom dream glam—or just an idea for date night—here, you can't find it anywhere.
Emma Stone
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The only thing more luminous than Emma Stone's sparkling, platinum Louis Vuitton gown is her matching shimmery eye shadow. Topped off with lush lashes, her eyes are arguably the focal point of the seven-time nominee's makeup look, though we have to shout out her peachy-pink lips and cheeks. And it seems Stone's side-parted hair may be on its way out of bob territory and into the lob zone, its flippy ends reaching well past the standard chin-length look. Mara Roszak used the ghd Chronos Curve Grand Iron to add some bends and worked a small amount of her Röz Evergreen Styling Cream through the ends to refine the shape and add soft definition.
Teyana Taylor
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No matter how her night turns out award-wise, Teyana Taylor has definitely won the status of the queen of graphic eyeliner. She has made it her signature look throughout the season, and we'll never get enough of those exaggerated inner corners and winged out outer edges. “To create Teyana’s eye look, I applied Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Noir Black to define the eyes,” says makeup artist Yeika Glow. “Then, I applied Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Spices to add depth, shape, and softness, while keeping her natural look intact.” She went the signature route with her pixie, too. Hairstylist Nikki Nelms used the Dyson Supersonic r Professional Hair Dryer to refine the shape finishing the look with a double shot of hairspray: OGX Flexible Hold Hairspray and Strong Hold Hairspray A fan of nail art, Taylor went a little more subtle for her first Oscar nomination, with an icy white look that picks up elements of her feathery dress. Nail artist Sarah Chue used Aprés Gel Couleur in Baby’s Breath followed by Celestial.
Elle Fanning
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It's not every Oscars that you see an A-list nominee wearing a no-makeup makeup look with a princess gown, but Elle Fanning is fully, joyfully pulling it off. She's wearing the lightest layer of mascara—if any at all—with a hint of shimmer on her lips and a wash of sheer pink on her cheeks. Makeup artist Erin Ayanian Monroe let you actually see her skin, freckles included, which esthetician Louise Deschamps treated with the Pure Daily Care NuDerma High Frequency Wand in preparation for this big career milestone. Her hair was Grace Kelly-elegant, with a low chignon by Jenda Alcorn. “Once the hair was perfectly sleek, I gathered it low at the nape of the neck and sculpted it into a classic chignon, securing it carefully with pins while maintaining a soft, balanced shape,” Alcorn says. “To finish, I misted L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented Hairspray to lock in the style while keeping the hair touchable and natural.”
Rose Byrne
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Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne could not have looked like more of a classic beauty. A simple yet elegant updo by Harry Josh—who secured her low bun with the Kerasilk Texturizing Finishing Spray—was topped off a timeless makeup look: Dior Rouge Dior in #846 Concorde Velvet Finish as the centerpiece, supported by a wash of gray eye shadow from Diorshow 5 Couleurs in #073 Pied-de-Poule, and sweet, rosy cheeks.
Wunmi Mosaku
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Wunmi Mosaku absolutely dazzled in a sparkling teal Louis Vuitton dress, custom-made for the first-time nominee, who topped off her exquisite look with a sculptural hairstyle by hairstylist Araxi Lindsey. Inspired by coral reefs, Lindsey secured each section of Mosaku's hair into braids using SheaMoisture Kalahari Melon Oil Curl Stretch Muti-Tasking Volume Cream before wrapping them with Afro-textured 4C hair. "Once the pieces were sculpted into their final shapes, I finished the look with SheaMoisture Smooth & Shine Lightweight Hair Oil to add definition and a luminous finish,” Lindsey says. Mosaku wore one of the only darker nail looks of the night—a rich mahogany shade by Aprés called Blood Moon applied by nail artist Sarah Chue. undeniable luminosity isn't just that pregnancy glow—it's also the result of esthetician Joanna Czech's pre-event expertise and skin-care lineup.
Nicole Kidman
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Nicole Kidman's hair is the epitome of wearable volume. Her long, loose waves practically hover above her head as if there's no gravity in its atmosphere. Hairstylist Adir Abergel used his Virtue Volumizing Primer on the roots. Once dry, he smoothed out her hair using a Denman Head Hugger Brush for a tousled blowout, followed by adding Bellami 18-inch Silk-Seam Clip-Ins in Dirty Blonde and Golden Hour Blonde, as well as 18-inch Tape-Ins in Golden Amber Blonde. Finally, he used the WavyTalk Cool Curl Pencil to put in natural bends.
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Chase Infiniti
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One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti is a pastel vision in her lilac gown, which is echoed on her eyelids with a shimmery, pale purple shade. The rest of her makeup, which makeup artist Amber Dreadon prepped with Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, feels especially fresh with gleaming, pink lips and matching cheeks. Her super-long hair, made all the more romantic with little braids and loose ends, is such a mermaid moment. Hairstylist Coree Moreno used Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Light Work Sculpting Crème along the braids and hairline to smooth flyaways and sculpt without weighing her hair down, smoothing the Arachne SmoothBoost Brush lightly over the finished style. “I wanted the braids to feel intentional and architectural while the length stayed soft and fluid,” Moreno says. "It’s about creating a balance between control and freedom so the hair moves beautifully while still holding its shape.”
Audrey Nuna
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Photo: Getty Images
Sure, nail art is cool, but how about nail sculptures? Kpop Demon Hunters' Audrey Nuna wore show-stealing golden nails with gold metal balls atop and underneath each one. Her makeup look is one of her softest of the season, with touches of mauve on her lips and cheeks, and wisps of her hairline gently placed on her glowing skin.
Misty Copeland
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Misty Copeland, who came out of retirement for a beautiful ballet moment during a performance celebrating the music of Sinners, came to the red carpet with the freshest of faces. Makeup artist Mali Boykin used Merit Flush Balm in Stockholm for a translucent flush, which she matched with a more matte lip using Merit Signature Lip Blush in Andie, an easy-to-wear baby pink. We got to see every inch of her glowing skin thanks to her sleek ballerina bun—just one of three different hairstyles she wore. (And you can read all about them here.)
Charithra Chandran
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Bridgerton breakout star Charithra Chandran's updo feels simultaneously fully formal and casual thanks to a balance of sleekness and ease. The no-hair-out-of-place center part pulls back into a pretty knot that ends with an everyday vibe thanks to her ends left loose at the nape of her neck. Chandran's skin, prepped by Joanna Czech with the Swiss Perfection collection, served as a flawless canvas for her makeup, composed of gorgeous shades of honey and brown that work with absolutely anything—but especially her gorgeous, green gown.
Barbie Ferreira
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Hi Barbie! Barbie Ferreira brought the Old Hollywood glam with her long, deeply side-parted waves. Clayton Hawkins started by applying Amika Plus Size Perfect Body Mousse to her damp hair. “Once the hair was blown out, I added a couple rows of Donna Bella clip-in extensions in a mix of 5N and 3N for volume and texture memory,” he says. He then curled it with a combination of a 1.25-inch iron and an old-school roller set. Her makeup, on the other hand, is entirely modern with a lightly smoky eye, nude-pink lips, and the wispiest, fluttery lashes imaginable. She also wore one of the biggest nail trends of the last few years: simple, milky beige.
Lea Myren
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The Ugly Stepsister star Lea Myren looked like anything but on her first Oscars red carpet, serving an incredible makeup and hair look we'll be trying to copy countless times. Her makeup artist wasn't shy with the eye shadow, also fully lining her blue eyes in a black pencil. But the standout detail is truly the long lashes on the bottom outer corner. That wispiness is reiterated in her updo's loose ends atop her head, which hosts a knot that comes together with a curtain-like swoop on either side of her middle part.
Danielle Brooks
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Danielle Brooks brought full-blown goddess energy to the red carpet with her '90s supermodel hair, full of volume and oomph-y, loose curls, which framed her matte-yet-glowing skin. The neutral tones of her makeup paired perfectly with her pale, champagne gown, and her oodles of diamonds feel completed by her jewelry-like nail art.
McKenna Grace
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“Pretty in pink” is an understatement when it comes to McKenna Grace's dreamy, princess-like look at the Oscars. “With her stunning gown, my goal for McKenna Grace was to make her look like the most classic, fresh-faced beauty in soft pink and rosy tones,” says makeup artist Allan Avendaño. That includes Stila Convertible Color Nourishing Liqua Tint in Flirty Freesia on her cheeks—and even a little on her nose and chin—as well as Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Mist to help blend and hydrate as he went. But we especially love the use of Stila's iconic Kitten Eyeshadow to highlight the inner corners of her eyes. Her updo is anything but fussy, with ends left poking out of the bottom of a beautiful knot and long curtain bangs framing her face.
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