Sunday night's Critics' Choice Awards red carpet was all about jewels, sparkle and a generous sprinkle of ivory gowns and suits. The looks that graced this (actually) blue carpet were mostly understated, yet still memorable.
READ MORE: All the best looks from the 2019 Critics' Choice Awards red carpet
And speaking of understated get-ups, the makeup spotted on A-listers was pleasantly different from what we're used to.
While last week's Golden Globes gave us all the drama in terms of makeup, the Critics' Choice Awards presented decorated visages that alerted viewers to where we might really be taking makeup this year. It seems we might be going back to basics with a touch of goth influence.
READ MORE: Sleek bobs, blue eye-shadow and hairstroke brows will takeover some of 2019's top beauty trends
The throwback pictures from 2008 making the rounds on social media may have us in stitches, but upon closer inspection you might notice that the makeup in them is what slowly gravitating towards this year. Of course, with better technique and exponentially improved camera quality.
Weird and wonderful hairstyles aside, notice the gloss, brows and heavy liner in these #2008vs2018 posts:
Second year at varsity vs the year I turned 30 #2008vs2018 pic.twitter.com/sSDL0TskJH
— Sibongile Mafu (@sboshmafu) January 14, 2019
#2008vs2018 #howHardDidAgehityou ?? pic.twitter.com/XB5CpnCgPQ
— Terry Pheto (@TerryPheto) January 13, 2019
2008 vs 2018 #HowHardDidAgeHitYou pic.twitter.com/DsBWQDEe3A
— Rami Chuene (@ramichuene) January 13, 2019
Ok, let’s do this. #Face #2008vs2018 pic.twitter.com/5vDaQeiTEH
— Nolwazi Shange (@NolwaziNgubeni) January 13, 2019
???? There are worse pics but what the heck! The thicker the berry.... ?? #2008vs2018. pic.twitter.com/hpM20tKMDA
— #WuzDat Music Video Out (@Boity) January 13, 2019
Now spot the common threads we picked up in these makeup looks from the red carpet:
Dark eyes slightly reminiscent of emo Tumblr aesthetics circa 2008/2009
Highly acclaimed celebrity makeup artist Sir John, who is most celebrated for doing Beyoncé's makeup, has never advised against smokey eyes. If anything, he encourages it, using the look as a statement in magazine editorials and for Bey's performances.
And it looks like these stars have taken a page out his makeup lookbook.
Issa Rae
Debra Messing
Jameela Jamil
Indya Moore
Nude lips
There were hardly any bright lips seen on the past two red carpets, further confirming that the 2000s minimalistic approach to makeup is here to stay. The argument for barely there makeup is, therefore, made even stronger by the lip gloss boom of 2018 that plebs and celebs alike now can't get enough of (as already seen above).
Amandla Stenberg
Sandra Oh
Kirby Howell-Baptiste
READ MORE: How gloss made the best beauty comeback of 2018 and dominated
Very berry lips
The darker the berry, the fuller the pout.
This must be why burgundy and plum lips are back in a huge way after a very brief hiatus. In addition to overlining your cupid's bow with dark liner to create the illusion of fuller lips, dark lipstick hues also create a similar illusion. Strange, considering dark clothes are slimming, but it works.
The likes of Chrissy Teigen, Emmy Rossum and Indya Moore (above) are proof.
Chrissy Teigen
Kiki Layne
Emmy Rossum
Granted, the correlation between 2008's throwbacks and this year's red carpet looks is not as direct as that of eating chocolate and breaking out. What we are saying, though, is that the late 2000s may have been onto something.
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