Zendaya’s Met Gala Beauty Look Consisted of Red Eyeshadow and Skinny Brows

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 6 May 2024

I’m all for experimenting with my makeup. But there remain a few looks I’ve sworn off—or so I thought. I’ve promised to A) never wear red eyeshadow, and B) do not, by any means, embrace a skinny eyebrow—no matter how trendy. That’s why I am so deeply surprised that Zendaya’s 2024 Met Gala beauty look has me re-evaluating everything.

The Challengers star, who was tapped as a co-host for this year’s event, arrived on the shrubbery-embellished Met Gala carpet with glam straight from a fairytale storybook—and appropriately on-theme with the "Garden of Time" dress code. Her glam, and her Maison Margiela dress, are equal parts ethereal and evil fairy godmother.

Working with the inimitable Sheika Daley, Zendaya's makeup took a moody, gothic turn. Her lips were glossed with a high-shine, deep burgundy, while her eyes were blown out with red eyeshadow. The latter is notoriously difficult to pull off. Alas, it was executed to perfection.

A pale scarlett was expertly diffused up to her brow bone, while a darker, crimson shade added depth along her lash line and inner corner. Her skin was kept minimal, and she forewent blush and bronzer in favor of a uniform complexion.

Vampy makeup accents are shaping up to be a big trend for the evening (Emma Chamberlain arrived with a similar aesthetic), so it’s no surprise that Zendaya is leading the charge.

Take your eyes up a centimeter or two, and yet another I-can’t-believe-she-can-pull-this-off moment awaits. The Euphoria star’s typically bold and bushy brows have been noticeably plucked away into a paper-thin line. I have always thought skinny brows were retired in the ‘90s, never to be brought back again. And yet, leave it to Zendaya to breathe new life into a once-dead beauty trend.

So much so, that I might just go grab my tweezers...

Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.

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