You May Want to Sit—These Oscars Beauty Looks Actually Stirred Our Soul

Following the beauty-centric pandemonium provoked by last weekend's Super Bowl halftime performance (thank you for that, J.Lo and Shakira!) comes an equivalent, fiery ball of beauty fervor courtesy of the 92nd Academy Awards. In celebration of the year's absolute best in film, all of our favorite stars have spilled onto the L.A. red carpet in their absolute finest designer gowns, jewels, and—our personal favorite—head-turning hair and makeup looks that are so good we've created a designated folder on our iPhones for safekeeping. 

Thus far, the 2020 award show beauty ambiance hasn't disappointed—the Grammys red carpet was studded with too many crystalized eyelids to count, the SAG Awards felt like a unanimous ode to classic Old Hollywood glamour, and the Golden Globes served up a decidedly minimalist aesthetic on a sizzling, gilded platter.

Obviously, the bar was set high for the Oscars—aka the most anticipated award show of the entire season. Curious to see how your favorite A-list arrival wore their strands and skin? Ahead, there's enough head-turning beauty inspiration to keep your vibe afloat for the rest of 2020. Keep scrolling for all the best beauty looks from this year's Oscars red carpet. 

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Maya Rudolph
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Poised with that pin-straight bob and purple eye shadow, Maya Rudolph has never looked chicer. 

The must-have beauty products: Armani Beauty Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow in 27 Sunset ($30) and Armani Beauty Eye Quattro Eyeshadow Palette in 2 Avant Premiere ($62)

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Renée Zellweger
(Image credit: Getty Images)

And just like that, Zellweger's gleaming skin, lush eyelashes, and plush, pink pout won the Oscars red carpet. (Seriously though, we'll have what she's having for that luminous complexion!)

The must-have beauty products: Lashify "Curl" Gossamer Lashes ($20) and Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Highlighter + Balm Duo in Golden ($48) 

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Rooney Mara
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rooney Mara always breaks our hearts whilst walking the red carpet. (That's a compliment.) Also, can we point out that she went against the grain and rocked a stunning darker shade of red lipstick? Into it.

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Lea Seydoux
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Please excuse us—we need to track down our jaw and attempt to scrape it from the floor right now.

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Sandra Oh
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Oh's gorgeously dewy skin (and maybe her amazing curls as well) are all we want in life.

The must-have beauty products: Suave Professionals Curl Defining Cream ($6), Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer ($42) and Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation ($64)

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Lucy Boynton
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Taking a nod from Charlize Theron's epic bejeweled hair part at the SAG Awards, Boynton decorated hers with glorious pearls. The actress's lashes, per usual, are also to die for. 

The must-have beauty products: Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris Volumizing Spray ($90) and Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris Precious Hair Care Oil ($100)

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Gal Gadot
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Gadot shows off her stunning bone structure with a classic French twist and bold red lip. (One of the resounding makeup themes of the night, might we add!)

The must-have beauty products: Dove Extra-Hold Hairspray ($5) and Revlon Super Lustrous The Luscious Mattes Lipstick in So Lit ($8) 

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Kristen Wiig
(Image credit: Getty Images)

All of a sudden we want to chop our hair off and style it à la Wiig's deep, edgy side part. Her megawatt lashes are also on deck for our next Friday night look. Who's with us?

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Rebel Wilson
(Image credit: Getty Images)

To be honest, we haven't seen volume like this on the red carpet in a beat. We're loving Wilson's take, especially with her glamorous gold chain pin from Kitsch. (We'll be shopping the heck out of it.)

The must-have beauty products: Kitsch Kitsch x Justine Marjan XL Rhinestone Chain Bobby Pin Set in Gold ($49), Surratt Beauty Automatique Lip Crayon in Alluring ($34), and Leonor Greyl Voluforme ($36)

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Natalie Portman
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Is it just us, or has Natalie Portman literally never looked better? Her wavy chin-length bob is everything. 

The must-have beauty product: Dove Volume & Fullness Mousse ($5)

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Scarlett Johansson
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A well-executed demonstration on how to a tendril in 2020—as seen on Scarlett Johansson.

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Florence Pugh
(Image credit: Getty Images)

What's better? The Little Women actress's slightly offset braid or that flawless mauve lip? We're stumped. 

The must-have beauty products: GHD Deep Scarlet Platinum + Styler Set ($249), Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Bare Rose ($28), and Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick in Femme Bot ($40)

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Cynthia Erivo
(Image credit: Getty Images)

We appreciate Erivo's consistent bold makeup looks and artistically styled finger waves, but we love her always-present smile more than anything. 

The must-have beauty products: Dove Amplified Textures Shine & Moisture Finishing Gel ($7) and Armani Beauty Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow in 39 Brown Volcano ($30)

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Brie Larson
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brie Larson walked onto the Oscars red carpet with a blindingly stunning dress and practically bare face. Our hearts (truly) almost stopped. 

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Margot Robbie
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Robbie has been working the minimalistic beauty vibe for the majority of the award season, so we're pleasantly surprised with this poppy-toned, matte red-lip moment. 

The must-have beauty products: Moroccanoil Treatment Light ($34) and Chanel Rouge Allure Camelia Limited Edition Lip Colour ($40)

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Charlize Theron
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Charlize Theron nails the no-makeup makeup aesthetic. 

The must-have beauty product: Virtue Healing Oil ($40)

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Margaret Qualley
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress proves the milkmaid braid should officially be back in our hair repertoire. 

The must-have beauty products: Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris Volumizing Spray ($90) and Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris Precious Hair Care Oil ($100)

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Saoirse Ronan
(Image credit: Getty Images)

All of a sudden we really, really want bangs. Ronan's short and feathery iteration, in particular. 

The must-have beauty product: Virtue Healing Oil ($40)

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Salma Hayek
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Hayek has had some of the most memorable, momentously sized hair moments in red carpet history. This time, we're wowed by her diamond-studded accompaniment.

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Penelope Cruz
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It feels like it's been a hot second since we've seen Cruz on the red carpet. Her pin-straight strands and bronzed, glittering lids didn't disappoint.

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Greta Gerwig
(Image credit: Getty Images)

How pretty is Gerwig's two-toned gold-and-emerald eye shadow moment? It's especially stunning with her buttery blonde hair color and baby pink cheeks and lips. 

The must-have beauty products: TRESemmé Pro Pure Volume Invisible Styler ($6) and Armani Beauty Eye Quattro Eyeshadow Palette in 6 Incognito ($62)

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Chrissy Metz
(Image credit: Getty Images)

From her old school, Lana Turner–like waves to her red lip to her gold and glittery eyes, Chrissy Metz scored a 10 in every dang category. 

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Lily Aldridge
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Glossy waves? Check. Crimson-painted pout? Double check. Radiant skin? Triple check. Shimmery eyelids? Quadruple check. 

The must-have beauty products: T3 Cura Luxe Hair Dryer ($285) and Armani Beauty Lip Maestro Lip Stain in 400 The Red ($38)

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Janelle Monáe
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Considering it was raining in L.A. during the Oscars red carpet, we'd say Monáe's hood was a stunning (and perhaps strategic?!) success. But we also need to applaud that hot red lip, her flawless skin, and those fluttery lashes.

The must-have beauty products: Lashify "Drama" Gossamer Lashes ($25) and Dermaflash Luxe Anti-Aging Dermaplaning Exfoliation Device ($199)

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Billie Eilish
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Eilish was scheduled to perform during this year's Oscars because we already had post-Grammys withdrawal from the singer's signature edginess.

The must-have beauty products: IGK Next Level Nordic Cotton Volume Mist ($28) and Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($399)

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Kaitlyn Dever
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The combination of Dever's visibly dewy cheeks and perfect cat eye has us speechless.

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Zazie Beetz
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Beetz's chocolate-hued smoky eyes are the perfect antithesis to the rest of her makeup featuring glowing skin and subtle, glossy nude lips. 

The must-have beauty product: Nexxus Comb Thru Volume Finishing Mist ($14)

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Mindy Kaling
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Sporting flowing, Old Hollywood–esque waves, Kaling keeps her red carpet look classic with rosy cheeks and polished black liner.

The must-have beauty products: Kevin Murphy Shimmer Shine Spray ($30), No7 Stay Perfect Liquid Eyeliner ($10), and Nars Blush in Seduction ($30)

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Laura Dern
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Dern is always a vision on the red carpet. We're especially on board with this pretty half-up hairstyle and her fresh, less-is-more makeup aesthetic.

The must-have beauty products: Armani Beauty Neo Nude A-Blush in 51 Magenta ($38) and NuFACE FIX Line Smoothing Device & Serum ($149)

Editor's note: Celebrity makeup artist used the NuFACE device on Dern's lips!

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Regina King
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The actress always keeps us on our toes with her bold beauty choices (which we love, by the way). Pink glimmery eyes? Yes. We see you, Regina King.

The must-have beauty products: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Lip Gloss in Pillow Talk ($22) and Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eyeshadow Palette in Pillow Talk ($75)

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America Ferrera
(Image credit: Getty Images)

In case you hadn't already boarded the hair-accessories train that's been gaining major traction, Ferrera just made a case for it that you absolutely can't say no to.

The must-have beauty products: Suave Professionals Sleek Anti-Frizz Smooth and Shine Cream ($7) and Lorac Color Source Buildable Blush in Technicolor ($23)

Next: All the Oscars Red Carpet Looks That Left Us Speechless

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.