The stars of television stepped out for the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, and the beauty looks offered endless inspiration for real life.
While summer is barely over, the red carpet heated up with all manner of bling, however silhouettes draped fluidly. The beauty looks followed sui. Forget over-the-top, mile-long lashes and traditional red carpet mega-makeup. The A-list opted for decidedly low-key glamour by way of glowing-from-within rosebud cheeks, blurred lips and lightened-up mascara creating the look of touchable, fluttery lashes that softened the entire face. As for hair, close crops were a major trend — including Zendaya’s shortest pixie yet — plus languid waves as seen on Cailee Spaeny, Chase Infiniti and Selena Gomez.
Behold the best beauty at the 2026 Emmys:
Sarah Pidgeon
To complement the sheer lilac hue of the Love Story star’s dress, makeup artist Emily Cheng applied a “whisper of sparkle” to the eyes using Chanel Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in Cool. The effortlessly chic vibe extended to hair, too. Stylist Christian Wood used K18 products to create the smooth waves, finishing. the look with K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil to heighten shine. On her nails: Two thin Coats of The GelBottle BIAB 17, a milky nude, applied by nail tech Iram Shelton.
Chase Infiniti
Simply stunning. Makeup artist Amber Dreadon added “extra luminosity” to the Testaments actress’s decolletage and shoulders with a spritz of Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Oil Mist in Cocoa Butter Vanilla. To create perfectly bended hair ripples, hairstylist Lacy Redway relied on the ghd sculpt and ghd wave tools.
ELLE FANNING
The Margo’s Got Money Troubles lead’s longtime makeup artist, Erin Ayanian Monroe, wanted her to look “like the best version of herself,” so she played up cheeks with L’Oreal Paris True Match Hyaluron Tinted Balm Embellisher in 3 Rose Lumiere. “An easy smudge” of L’Oreal Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Worth It infused lips with just enough color. To create glossy, touchable waves, hair pro Jenda Alcorn smoothed a drop of L’Oreal Paris Elvive Glycolic + Gloss High Shine Leave-In Serum before styling.
Lukita Maxwell
CAREY MULLIGAN
Selena Gomez
Lengthy locks! Hairstylist Renato Campora prepped the Only Murders in the Building actress’s tresses with Joico Defy Damage Heat Protecting Shield before running a drop of Joico Dream Blowout Glass 72H Frizz Fighter through and blow-drying. Makeup artist Hung Vanngo used PCA Skin to heighten glow before applying Rare Beauty makeup. As for her sparkling nails, manicurist Tom Bachik applied Essie’s Gel by Essie in Frost Yourself “to match her Louis Vuitton dress.”
Nicole Kidman
Louisa Jacobson
Cailee Spaeny
Quinta Brunson
“Skin is always on the mood board,” says the Abbott Elementary star’s makeup artist Rebekah Aladdin. She prepped the complexion with Aveeno Positively Radiant Vitamin C Serum.
Emmy Rossum
The perfect pairing: voluminous curls and a softly blot ruby pout.
Carrie Coon
The key to the Gilded Age actress’s beauty look was a glowing, hyper-sculpted complexion for which prep started days before the awards show, with an The Method by Augustinus Bader facial by celebrity esthetician Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine. Makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo hightened the effects on Emmys night with the high-tech ZIIP Halo beauty device, which lifts, sculpts and depuffs via microcurrent. A dab of Beau Domaine’s The Rich Cream created a smooth canvas for makeup.
Zendaya
Joy Sunday
Rhea SeEhorn
