Last week’s red carpets and magazine shoots confirmed that this season’s defining beauty trend is all about luminous skin, lifted contours, and refined drama. From the 2025 Academy Museum Gala to bold editorial spreads, radiant, sculpted beauty took center stage, seamlessly balancing structure with softness and glow with grace. Each look told its own story, yet together they wove a cohesive visual narrative: confident, modern glamour grounded in timeless elegance.
Across Hollywood, artists embraced a harmonious interplay between light and shadow. Nowhere was this more evident than at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala, where the beauty offerings celebrated balance—glowing complexions that felt fresh, defined cheeks that framed the face with understated power, and hair textures that transitioned effortlessly from sleek sophistication to voluminous movement. It’s a mood that honors both precision and freedom, ensuring every face and frame appears artfully composed while still alive with personality.
The Looks
Makeup
Tessa Thompson embodied the elegance of the 2025 Academy Museum Gala beauty scene with a clean, glowing complexion and a softly defined wing. Her neutral shimmer eyeshadow complemented her bright yellow gown, while a delicate contour and natural blush brought a radiant warmth to her skin. The satin nude-pink lip finished the look with understated refinement — modern, minimal, and quietly captivating.
Cardi B, on the other hand, channeled a more dramatic interpretation for her Paper Magazine feature. Her bronzed, contoured complexion glowed under the lights, accentuated by a sharp winged eyeliner and sculpted blonde brows. A glossy nude lip softened the edges, while voluminous lashes framed her eyes with signature intensity. Altogether, this look echoed the ongoing beauty movement’s focus on radiance and facial definition.
Hairstyle
Elsewhere, Thuso Mbedu’s slick, short cut proved a masterclass in restraint and control. The wet-look finish added depth and sheen, perfectly aligning with the sculpted aesthetic that dominated the 2025 Academy Museum Gala beauty scene. Her hairstyle framed her face with effortless structure—a bold, minimalist statement that redefined sophistication without relying on length or volume.
In contrast, Angela “Blac Chyna” White brought a dynamic energy with her voluminous auburn updo. Structured yet full of movement, the reddish-brown tones, lifted by lighter highlights, added dimension and vibrancy. Together, the pinned curls formed an artful composition of texture and height, capturing the same principles of radiant sculpting that made last week’s beauty moments so unforgettable.
Check out the best beauty looks spotted at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala and other events…
Janet Jackson
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Cardi B
Get the lips
Ava Duvernay
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Niecy Nash
Shop editor’s edit
Tessa Thompson
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Teyana Taylor
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Chloe Bailey
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Thuso Mbedu
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Angela “Blac Chyna” White
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Ciara Miller
Shop the hair
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Last Week’s Best Beauty Looks Celebrated Vintage-Inspired Glamour
