It’s Hollywood’s big night celebrating excellence in television.
After being postponed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the Emmys returned on January 15, and the red carpet was back with a vengeance. While TV’s brightest stars laid the glamour on thick on the fashion front, there were countless standout moments on the beauty front.
After all, TV’s biggest night has seen many iconic hair and makeup moments throughout the decades. Think: Barbra Streisand’s winning an award for her first TV special, My Name Is Barbra, with a mod pixie cut and graphic eyeliner in 1965 or Zendaya taking home an Emmy statuette for Euphoria with a swept-back bouffant and rose lip in 2022.
Tonight, the most talked-about beauty moments fell into two camps: Simple elegance and bold statement-maker. In the former, it was no surprise to see Claire Danes looking as timeless as ever with an S-waved bob and soft pink lip. Meanwhile, for Selena Gomez and Simona Tabasco, it was all about taking a bold lip to the extreme, sporting a deep oxblood and ultra-bright fuchsia, respectively. But perhaps the biggest statement of all? Ali Wong’s indigo smoky eyes framed by her signature frames.
Below, scroll through all the best beauty looks from the 2024 Emmys.
Riley Keough
Nodding to her grandmother Priscilla Presley’s iconic beauty, Riley Keough wore a teased, bow-tied half-up and charcoal eyeshadow punctuated by feline flicks. “I wanted to keep her makeup pretty and soft with a smudge along the eyes to pair with her ’60s hair,” says makeup artist Mai Quynh, who used Chanel’s Ombre Première Libre Loose Eyeshadow Intense, Longwear Colour in Mûrier Noir to create the eye look.
Ali Wong
Ali Wong brought the drama! The Beef star wore translucent cat-eye frames with a set of denim-inspired smoky eyes. Her makeup artist, Daniel Martin, used Diorshow 5 Couleurs Couture 5 in #279 Denim for the bold eye moment. Meanwhile, her hairstylist, Clayton Hawkins, gave her a set of side-swept Old Hollywood waves using ghd’s Curve Soft Curl iron.
Padma Lakshmi
Always one for a vivid dose of color, Padma Lakshmi wore neon-bright pink lips painted on by her makeup artist, William Scott. The former Top Chef host also wore matching fuchsia eyeliner along her waterlines. As for her glow, Scott used Delavie Sciences' Aeonia Age Defying Serum for a dose of dewy hydration.
Sophie Nélisse
Yellowjackets star Sophie Nélisse served up a sultry eye statement with her gaze smoked out in a burnt copper shadow by makeup artist Lilly Keys. A sleek updo and muted coral lip finished the look.
Issa Rae
To craft Issa Rae's look for the night, makeup artist Joanna Simkin drew inspiration from the classic glamour of Diana Ross and Diahann Carroll. Full falsies and Chanel's Ombre Première Laque Longwear Liquid Eyeshadow in Rayon were used for her gilded gaze. A plume-embellished updo helped Rae maximize the glamour.
Claire Danes
Channeling Old Hollywood glamour, Claire Danes wore her golden blonde bob in shiny S-waves with a fresh glow and soft pink lip.
Joy Sunday
Lancôme’s new global ambassador, Joy Sunday, glowed with a juicy berry lip, voluminous lashes, and graphic strokes of white eyeliner, courtesy of her makeup artist Sheika Daley. Want to recreate her luminous lip? First, apply Lancôme L'Absolu Intimate Soft Matte Lipstick in cool berry brown 440 Got Me Blushing to the center of the lips and blend outward. Then, add a swipe of Lancôme Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss in 01 Pure for a vinyl finish.
Amber Midthunder
Prey star Amber Midthunder wore a looped plaited updo woven by hairstylist Kat Thompson. It was topped off with a beautiful beaded floral hairpiece secured at the base. Her makeup artist, Melissa Hernandez, finished the look with flicked liner, bronzed lips, and a nude lip.
Simona Tabasco
The White Lotus star Simona Tabasco echoed the high-octane colors of her floral Marni dress with a bright fuchsia lip complemented by rosy lids and cheeks.
Selena Gomez
Playing off the deep crimson stone in her sparkling Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Bird On a Rock necklace, Selena Gomez wore a matte oxblood lip. She framed her pout with a romantic side-swept updo.
Jasmin Savoy Brown
Jasmin Savoy Brown accented her slicked updo with a soft kiss curl for a retro touch. Glittering pink shadow, draped cheeks, and glossed lips furthered the glamour.
Jenna Ortega
Nodding to the '70s, Jenna Ortega wore a layered, collarbone-grazing lob with smoky eyes and a cool nude lip painted on by makeup artist Mélanie Inglessis. Her exact lipstick of choice? Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick in #976 Daisy Plum.
Mychal-Bella Bowman
A set of jet-black cat eyes and an embellished headband punctuated The Underground Railroad star Mychal-Bella Bowman's beauty look.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Leave it to Tracee Ellis Ross to serve up a timeless beauty combination: red lips and a voluminous ponytail.
Ellen Pompeo
Makeup artist Kate Lee gave Ellen Pompeo a rosy glow as if she'd just "just returned from a morning walk." For that "flushed, pink cheek," the pro used a gorgeous combination of Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Winter Glow Blush in Rose Polaire and Mauve Glacé, layering gradually to build up the color.
Rachel Brosnahan
Supplying a lesson in color coordination, Rachel Brosnahan matched a wash of burgundy eyeshadow to her corseted Versace dress. Her makeup artist, Lisa Aharon, prepped her skin with Joanna Vargas' Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer and added a pop of shimmer on the inner corners of the star's eyes with Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in violet-tinged Cloud.
Kathryn Hahn
Tiny Beautiful Things star Kathryn Hahn received a radiant glow from makeup artist Fiona Stiles to complement her raspberry lip. The pro used Yon-Ka Paris Creme 28 Hydratant Douceur moisturizer and a medley of Addiction Tokyo The Glow Sticks blended on the high points of the face for luminosity.
Audrey Plaza
Audrey Plaza was the epitome of chic from her dark berry lip to her wispy, '60s-inspired bouffant half-up crafted by hairstylist Mark Townsend using Olaplex Volumizing Blow Dry Mist.
Niecy Nash-Betts
A bombshell beauty, Niecy Nash-Betts paired soft, brushed-out curls styled by pro Davontae Washington using TPH By Taraji Hot Commodity heat protectant and Keep Shining Dry Oil Hair Mist. A dusty rose lip and razor-sharp cat eyes finished the look.
Taraji P. Henson
A vision in monochrome, Taraji P. Henson played off the rich purple hue of her dress to inspire her sultry eye look. To complement her gaze, makeup artist Saisha Beecham draped her blush using L'Oréal Infallible 24h Fresh Wear Blush in Confident Pink and swiped on a nude lip using Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in the shade Worth It 601.
Jessica Chastain
Serving up a stunning '70s-inspired hair moment, Jessica Chastain wore her signature ginger lengths pin-straight with a deep side part. Hairstylist Renato Campora used the Hair Rituel by Sisley-Paris Blow Dry Brush 2 to smooth her lengths straight while blowdrying and the French brand's Invisible Hold Hairspray to lock it in for the night. As for her mauve pink lip, makeup artist Kristofer Buckle used Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in a yet-to-be-released shade. Stay tuned!