Oscars 2026: The Ultimate Makeup & Skin Breakdowns

From the iconic red carpet at the Academy Awards to the high-glamour Vanity Fair afterparty, “Quiet Luxury” and “Old Hollywood Elegance” were the beauty themes of the night. We’ve rounded up the exact brand-by-brand breakdowns so you can recreate these star-studded looks at home. —Noa Nichol

MERIT: Enhancing the Natural Canvas

For the 2026 Oscars, MERIT focused on elevated, structural refinement that allowed the stars’ natural beauty to shine through.

Misty Copeland by Mali Boykin “Merit creates such a beautiful collection of enhancing products that allow you to look like yourself, just elevated,” says Boykin.

• Skin: Great Skin Priming Moisturizer
• Complexion: The Uniform (Shade 20), Bronze Balm (Seine), and Flush Balm (Stockholm)
• Eyes: Solo Shadow (Midcentury), Solo Shadow Sheen (Glace), and Clean Lash Mascara
• Lips: Signature Lip Blush (Andie) paired with Signature Lip Sheer Liner (Sportif)

Meg Ryan by Jo Strettell Strettell drew inspiration from Hollywood glamour with a “rock and roll” twist to complement Ryan’s Danielle Frankel gown.

• Complexion: Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, The Minimalist (Ecru), and Flush Balm (Après)
• Eyes: Solo Shadow (Nelson, Social) for a soft smoky grey and mauve effect
• Lips: Signature Lip Blush in Gamay for a deeper, rouged finish

TATCHA: The Afterparty Glow

Tatcha dominated the Vanity Fair afterparty, with MUAs focusing on deep hydration and a “seamless, soft glow”.

• Iris Apatow: Prepped with Luminous Dewy Skin Mist and Dewy Skin Cream to ensure foundation applied evenly. A non-negotiable step was the Kissu Lip Mask to prep for a bold red lip.
• Troye Sivan: Alexandra French utilized The Essence to plump the skin before applying a Luminous Face Mask for 10 minutes. The look was finished with the new Melting Lip Balm (launching April 8).
• Sarah Pidgeon: A deep cleanse with Camellia Cleansing Oil and Rice Wash paved the way for a facial massage using Dewy Milk Moisturizer to lift and sculpt the face.
• Alyssa Liu: Emily Cheng focused on layering, using The Silk Serum to support the skin barrier and The Silk Peony Eye Cream to brighten the under-eye area.

MIMI LUZON: The Foundation of Skin Health

For Suki Waterhouse’s Vanity Fair look, MUA Sarah Tanno prioritized clinical-grade skin prep.

• The Routine: Suki’s skin was refreshed with the Fresh Face Clearing Mask (featuring camphor and menthol) to refine pores.
• The Treatment: Skincore Creme Oil with Bakuchiol improved texture, while the Legendary Glow Rosie Cream used rose extracts to soothe and hydrate.
• The Body: For the final red-carpet touch, Legendary Glow Body Serum was applied to the shoulders and décolleté for a subtle, radiant glow.

KISS: Red Carpet Lashes

Actress and 2025 Oscar winner Mikey Madison opted for a soft, subtle glam that channeled Old Hollywood.

• The Lashes: MUA Melissa Hernandez used KISS The New Natural Lashes in Nude Blazer.
• The Pro Tip: To create a wispy, lifting effect without weight, Hernandez trimmed the outer third of the strip and placed it only at the outer corner.
• The Blend: She ran a black gel liner along the lash band before application to help camouflage it for a seamless, “camera-ready” blend.

La Beauté Louis Vuitton: Red Carpet Radiance

At the 98th Academy Awards, the red carpet served as the official canvas for La Beauté Louis Vuitton. From warm rose tones to bold celestial palettes, House ambassadors and friends of the House showcased the brand’s commitment to sophisticated, high-performance beauty.

• Emma Stone: The Oscar winner paired her look with LV Ombres in Beige Memento, finishing with LV Rouge in Passport to Paris—a warm, sophisticated Bellini rose hue.
• Chase Infiniti: Opted for a captivating eye look using LV Ombres in Cosmic Dreams (a blend of plum and shimmering violet) and Beige Memento. Her lips featured LV Rouge in Kiss the Sky, a delicate cool-toned peony.
• Renate Reinsve: Brought fresh radiance to the carpet with LV Rouge in Vuittamine, a luminous poppy-red lipstick with warm orange and yellow notes.
• Ava DuVernay: Combined the warm quartet of LV Ombres in Waking Dawn with the bold blues of Sky is the Limit. The eyes were balanced by LV Rouge in Beige Machina, a delicate mauve rose.
• Wunmi Mosaku: Her multi-dimensional look featured LV Ombres in Beige Memento and Force of Nature, paired with LV Baume in Tender Bliss. For the lips, she layered LV Rouge in Beige Machina and Rumbling Stone.

Charlotte Tilbury: A Pillow Talk Red Carpet Debut

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty returned to the 98th Academy Awards, bringing the iconic world of Pillow Talk to stars Kate Hudson, Demi Moore, and EJAE. The evening served as the official debut for the NEW! Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tints—a 3-in-1 sheer lipstick, balm, and tint featuring pH Custom Colour Chemistry™ for a personalized, “blushed-from-within” stain.

Kate Hudson by Tonya Brewer

• The Vibe: A fresh, modern glow centered on the new Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer (4.5) and Magic Cream.
• The Palette: Eyes were defined using the Luxury Palette in Pillow Talk Dreams and Rock ‘N’ Kohl in Smokey Bronze.
• The Lip: A personalized finish using Lip Cheat (Iconic Nude, Icon Baby) topped with the new Blush Balm Lip Tint in Pillow Talk Medium.

Demi Moore by Raoul Alejandre

• The Vibe: Timeless Hollywood glamour with a focus on polished skin and a sculpted eye.
• The Skin: Prepped with the Airbrush Flawless Foundation (6 Cool) and the Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Palette in Rosewood to brighten and color-correct.
• The Lip: A layered look featuring Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk, Blush Balm Lip Tint in Pillow Talk Medium, and a finish of Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm.

EJAE by Kevin Cheah

• The Vibe: A brightened, perfected complexion with soft, luminous pink tones.
• The Glow: Cheah used the Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Palette in Flawless Pink and Beauty Light Wand in Spotlight to create a lit-from-within effect.
• The Lip: The look was completed with the new Blush Balm Lip Tint in the original Pillow Talk shade.

The New Arrivals:

• Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tint ($43.50 CAD): A dewy, buildable formula infused with 92% botanical butters and peptides that hydrates for up to 24 hours. It launches on CharlotteTilbury.com on March 23rd.
• Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Face Palette ($70 CAD): A heart-shaped duo featuring color-correcting Airbrush Flawless Finish powder and a coordinating Pillow Talk Powder Blush.