The most incredible Met Gala beauty looks of 2022

Met Gala beauty looks are iconic for a reason. Unlike awards season (which celebrates the best in film and music), when it comes to the Met ball red carpet, the looks are the main event. And guests are actively encouraged to be as ostentatious, fabulous and OTT as humanly possible.

The annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute is a celebration of fashion and – by extension – beauty. It’s held every year to mark the opening of a new fashion exhibition, which sets the theme for the night. This year’s theme, In America: An Anthology of Fashion, centred on tenets of American style and its unsung heroes. The dress code was Gilded Glamour and White Tie, so guests nodded back to the gilded age of the late 19th century with ball gowns, tiaras and extravagant updos.

Technically speaking, during the 1880’s, obvious makeup was considered vulgar and reserved only for stage actors and prostitutes, but unsurprisngly, many of the modern interpretations on the red carpet would have ruffled some feathers and subverted those rules big time.

Just take Vanessa Hudgens’ ensemble for example. The actress was one of the first to arrive for her hosting job interviewing stars on the red carpet this year. She accessorised an intricate updo with a dainty silver chain and lavish silver jewellery alongside a prim high-neck gown that was scandalously sheer, showing off black lacy knickers.

Janelle Monae gave us her rendition of what gilded glamour would look like in the future with an embellished headpiece, other-wordly fresh skin and a red lip. Naomi Campbell took gilded glamour very literally, decorating her complexion with lavish gemstones (is there any other way to do it?).  Billie Eilish recreated an elegant 1880’s ball gown with upcycled fabric… then paired it with a faux mohawk. And Blake Lively served up waist-length waves and a slim braid around her crown to prop up her copper and blue tiara, matched to her dress (which changed colour half-way up the red carpet). 

For a night that’s all about celebrating beauty at it’s best and most experimental, 2022’s met ball red carpet didn’t disappoint.

See the best Met Gala beauty looks below…