Met Gala Beauty Trends: Bleached Brows, Dramatic Winged Liner, and Metallics

The Met Gala 2026 beauty looks were just as iconic as the fashion—maybe even more. This was a year where glam didn’t just complement the outfit; it was the statement. From razor-sharp winged liners to dramatic, almost theatrical eyes and bleached brows that instantly changed the face, the beauty direction felt bold, experimental, and impossible to ignore.

If you’re wondering what that actually looked like on the red carpet, think sculpted, glass-like skin paired with short, striking haircuts, brows that disappeared (on purpose), and flashes of gold that caught the light at every turn. There were bold, graphic eyes, high-shine glossy finishes, and hairstyles that felt less like styling and more like wearable art.

What really stood out, though, was the contrast. On one side, you had warm, glowing gold tones; on the other, icy, almost ethereal finishes. Together, they created a visual contrast that felt incredibly current. It ties right into the gothic and mermaid-core beauty trends we’ve been seeing all year—only this time, they showed up bigger, bolder, and completely took over the Met red carpet.

This year proved beauty isn’t just the finishing touch—it is the look.

The Winged Eyeliner

Met Gala 2026 is all about being extreme, and that begins with the humble winged eyeliner. The Winged liner, in general, is used to dramatise and accentuate the eyes, stretched from the inner corner of the upper lid and the middle of the lower lid to the socket, filled to opacity. The winged eyeliner was the definition of drama until the Met Gala 2026 made us question that.

Hudson Williams

With Hudson Williams claiming his love for the classic "Black Swan" and owning it on the red carpet with a bold, dramatic look featuring winged eyeliner and metallic eyeshadow, stretched to his eyebrows in hues of blue and red. The actor wore a custom vintage Balenciaga look inspired by Cristóbal Balenciaga. The eyelooks only get bolder.

Audrey Nuna

K-pop Demon Hunters‘ Audrey Nuna’s makeup was an abstract masterpiece. She swore by her iconic rhinestone black lips and opted for a mismatched eyeliner with no eyeshadow.

Doja Cat

Unlike her earlier appearances at the Galas before, Doja Cat wore a comparatively subtle look on the red carpet. She channelled the sand colour palette for her Met Gala 2026 beauty look with nude lips and an elevated winged eyeliner that accentuated her siren-like eyes, and topped it with liner in the inner crevice of the lids for a sharper look.

Smokey Eyeshadow?

Smokey eyeshadow is having a moment, especially at this year's Met. What we thought would submerge as a yearly trend re-emerges from the depths on the carpet directly. The theme this year called for something daring and dramatic, and for most, it directly translates to we need more smokey eyes.

Keke Palmer

Not only did Keke Palmer switch to a pixie cut and red hair, but she also returned with a fun take on the classic black smoky eye. Given that the actress wore a red dress that beautifully matched her hair, the makeup artist created a cloudy, dusty red eyeshadow paired with the smoky eye. The overall look made her resemble a blazing fire and added an exciting twist to a favourite trend.

 Ejae

The leading lady of K-Pop Demon Hunters, Ejae, steps out of her golden era into a more culturally rooted, closer-to-home fashion for the Met. Her makeup look was nothing short of iced and muted; the singer-songwriter aimed for a light blush, with a smudged smokey eye and nude lips. Her skin had a glistening glow, and we loved the wig-like, floral hair accessories on her braided updo.

Bleached Brows

The answer is a resounding yes. Bleached brows are back on the runways. The once daring act of makeup and a makeover regimen returns to the biggest fashion gathering like an old friend.

Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain went for a classic smoky eye, pixie cut and a bleached brow. Matching the dress, the creator opted for a metallic purple and golden yellow eyeshadow under the eye, and muted lips.

Kylie Jenner

No one stops Kylie; she knows what she's doing. At this year's Met, Kylie Jenner wore a sculpture mimicking a Schiaparelli dress that appears to be slipping. The illusion created by the sand-toned bodice and the trail has to be balanced with a makeup look that draws attention to the dress itself. Nothing could do that better than a bleached eyebrow, which gives a look of no-brow, essentially making the wearer look like a sculpture.

Metallic

Anything close to sculpture is close to a metallic sheen. And that is how this year's Met has approached Costume Art as a theme. Metallic eyeshadow or a metallic look exudes an icy demeanour.

Anok Yai

Anok Yai opts for metallic gold makeup and gives off "Black Madonna." With textured teardrops and her gold-painted nails, Yai borrowed inspiration from life and health struggles to curate her Met look for this year.

Rihanna

No one does it like Rihanna. Riri picked spiral-shaped hair jewellery and golden locks, gemstones on her metallic and frosted eyelids. The rest of the look was a flawless bronzed look — and we are lusting over it.

Mermaidcore Takes The Spotlight.

The siren's younger sister has entered the chatroom. Drawing from similar frosted and aquatic accents makes it softer and not grim.

Eileen Gu

The Olympian Skier and Model, Eileen Gu, stood out in her bubble dress, which was complemented by her even mermaid-like makeup. A subtle blue eyeshadow and wavy hair paired with a soft pink blush atop a dewy skin, Eileen's debut is one to be remembered.

 Lisa

BLACKPINK's Lisa does something similar but aims at a more frosted and ice-princess depiction. With pear accents around her eyes and frosted eyeshadow atop a glistening skin, Lisa embodies royalty. The star’s glam was complete with rhinestone clusters that complemented her shimmering eyeshadow.