Golden Globes beauty: Will romantic make-up dominate the 2023 awards season?

By Julia Wray | Published: 11-Jan-2023

Romantic, feminine make-up, hair tendrils and a sharper take on men's facial hair were all on show at last night's event

Neutral, glossy lips, subtle smokey eyes, ingenué blush and a sharp-looking return to facial hair were among the trends on display at last night’s Golden Globes ceremony. 

The 80th annual ceremony kicked off the Hollywood awards season, following a muted 2022 ceremony with no red carpet or television broadcast amid diversity and ethics scandals. 

This year’s event could not have presented a greater contrast, with the great and good of the acting world gracing the red carpet – and shed some light on the make-up and hair looks we can expect more of as the awards season ramps up to the Oscars on 12 March. 

1. Romantic, feminine make-up

One might expect attendees to have jumped on the first event of the season and the first Golden Globes ceremony in two years as an excuse for archetypal Hollywood glamour. 

However, an umbrella theme of this year’s Golden Globes was subtlety, with many stars shelving siren red lips and nails in favour of skin hues and feminine pinks, paired with a dab of gloss.

Following the vogue for balletcore and the coquette aesthetic, attendees including Margot Robbie, Jessica Chastain and Michelle Williams, all known for having adopted a bold lip in the past, let their lashes be the centre of attention instead, paired with a touch of blush.

Big, fluttery ingenué lashes and a nude lip were also sported by Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega, who’d previously leant towards a goth-inspired aesthetic while promoting Tim Burton’s Netflix series.

2. Smoke gets in your eyes

While the nude lip ruled supreme, those who did not opt for a romantic look, erred towards a smokey eye, or a cat-eye flick. 

Quinta Brunson, who scooped the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for her role in Abbott Elementary; The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge, also a winner on the night; and Jamie Lee Curtis all opted for dramatic eye make-up. 

Angela Bassett, who won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, opted for feline-inspired eyeliner, as did Ana de Armas, Salma Hayek and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. 

The most unique look of the night belonged to Emma D’Arcy who marked their Golden Globes debut channelling TikTok’s ‘crying girl’ make-up trend, with a rivulet of blue make-up under their left eye. 

3. Hair wisps and down-dos

Much like their make-up, last night’s hair gave the appearance of effortlessness, however long stars might actually have sat in their hairdressers’ chairs. 

Up-dos were given a casual, carefree twist with the addition of curtain bangs, hair tendrils or a casually falling curl – a look seen on Daisy Edgar Jones, Jenny Slate, Michelle Williams and Kaley Cuoco.

But a lot of attendees chose to wear their hair down.

Michelle Yeoh, who walked away with the trophy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Everything Everywhere All at Once, wore her long hair swept over one shoulder, while Anya Taylor-Joy’s was left loose and sleek with a single curl pinned back behind her left ear to reveal statement jewellery. 

Margot Robbie and Lily James added texture to their hair with loose waves, while Jennifer Coolidge and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez opted for a more Hollywood bombshell take on the wavy down-do. 

4. Facial hair is back and sharper than ever

Among the men, facial fuzz was out in force. But gone were the bushy, hipster beards of yesteryear. 

Donald Glover led the pack with a soul patch and moustache, as Barry Keoghan accessorised his powder-blue suit with goateé – a style likewise sported by Henry Golding.

Even those sporting stubble – such as Severance’s Adam Scott and Austin Butler, aka Elivs – ensured that it was shaped and shaved to a tee.

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