The Beauty Looks That Inspired Us In 2022
Beyond the usual allure of the red carpet, every now and again there’s that moment when a celebrity makes us stop, look and suddenly want to rethink our hair, makeup or entire look. From Kendall Jenner’s Oscars-worthy hair to Zendaya’s effortless evening glamour, NEWBY HANDS shares the beauty highlights that have inspired us all this year
Kendall Jenner’s golden locks
When Kendall Jenner attended this year’s Oscars, she used bronze tones to brighten up her chestnut hair, proving that brunettes can have just as much fun as blondes when it comes to the red carpet. Whether it’s a shimmering honey brown or a rich caramel chocolate, the secret is a blend of high and low lights that add texture, depth and dimension to the hair, for a result that always looks expensively sun-kissed. Or, as top colorist Josh Wood says, “as though you’ve just spent a month on a yacht in the Med”.
Jodie Turner-Smith’s exquisite eye makeup
After nearly two makeup-free years, many of us were happy to wear little more than a bit of blush and maybe some mascara. Until we were mesmerized by Jodie Turner-Smith’s stunning red-carpet looks – and then pored over every detail on her Instagram feed. Whether it was her ombré eyeshadow that looked like a shimmering sunset, or her breathtakingly beautiful monochrome black liner and cream-shadow eye, or her unforgettable Josephine Baker-inspired Met look – complete with rhinestones – she has quite simply made us fall in love with wearing makeup again.
Hailey Bieber’s super-healthy ‘clean skin’
Whether walking the red carpet at the Met and the Grammys, or bare-faced and doing her beauty routine on Instagram, Hailey Bieber’s incredible skin is always a standout. Forget glass, dewy, dumpling or donut skin, it’s this clear, velvety complexion – aka ‘clean skin’ – that we aspire to. The secret? Being 27 helps, as will keeping skin clean (but not over-cleansed), hydrated and moisturized. Blue LED is excellent for breakouts; niacinamide is a great multi-tasker for improving hydration, pores and texture; plus vitamin C adds clarity and brightness. And even the skin of a 27-year-old will benefit from using a retinol – even better is retinal (retinaldehyde). As for makeup, Westman Atelier’s Complexion Drops foundation gives the best ‘clean skin’ finish I’ve found.
Kaia Gerber’s mermaid hair
After years of beachy waves, pulled-back ponytails and easy twist-and-clip up-hair, in one red-carpet moment, Gerber and her tumbling pre-Raphaelite curls brought back a feel for a more styled and dressed look. Even if you prefer your hair simpler and straighter, it now needs to look finished – with a sharper part, crisp ends and a sleek shine – as just-back-from-the-beach is replaced by just-out-of-the-salon. Dust off the styling tools and stock up on the root sprays – and especially finishing creams (used on lengths and ends, it gives hair the professional blow-dry finish in seconds). The fluff- and flyaways-smoothing GHD Glide Professional Hot Brush and Oribe’s Crème for Style are your new hair essentials.
Zendaya’s effortless evening glamour
Whether she’s at the Oscars or the Emmys (or any red-carpet affair she’s attended this year, quite frankly), Zendaya’s flawless, understated elegance is always on point. With her soft, textured up-do and shimmering silver-eye makeup complementing her silver Valentino skirt, she made everyone else at the Oscars look overdone, as she set the new Hollywood-style standard. The fact that she had done her own makeup for such a stellar evening only made us love her even more. But if we thought it couldn’t get any better, six months on, at the Emmys, with her ’70s-inspired polished nude makeup, she once again gave old-school Hollywood glamour a fresh and flawless twist.