Balletcore beauty reigned on the champagne carpet—with soft glam pink looks, sleek chignons, and low buns representing the ethereal art. It was prevalent tonight at the 95th Annual Academy Awards, with stars like Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Florence Pugh, and more emulating the look. Actress Emily Blunt glowed with dewy skin, pink flushed cheeks and lips, and an effortlessly perfect messy bun as she presented Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars.
ELLE caught up with Blunt’s makeup artist Jenn Streicher, hairstylist Laini Reeves, and nail artist Julie Kandalec who each shared all the details of Emily Blunt’s ethereal red carpet, er—champagne carpet look. Streicher reveals, “Emily wore a beautiful white long sleeveless dress with glove arms, pink diamond and silver dangling jewelry, and her hair slicked back. Her look was all about skin and I drew my inspiration from the pink and mauve colors from the jewelry sealed with a glossy lip.”
Makeup artist Jenn Streicher looks on as Emily Blunt applies extra bronzer.
Streicher shared that to achieve Blunt’s dewy skin “and fresh complexion without bringing too much color to the skin,” she mixed Chanel N°1 de Chanel Revitalizing Foundations in B10 and B20. Apply all over the face for a luminous look. To bring out the natural flush in her cheeks, Streicher used Chanel Les 4 Roughes Yeux et Joues Eyeshadow and Blush Palette in Tendresse and contoured Blunt with Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream in Soleil Tan Medium Bronze.
Streicher added Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick in Rosée on the apples of her cheeks and the center of her eyelids to finish the look. She loves this 2-for-1 product because “it brings the right amount of dew as a transparent wash, without adding on too much pigment for a healthy iridescent glow.”
Streicher collaborated with Reeves on Blunt’s dirty blonde tresses. She wanted to “soften the hair” so it didn’t compete with the Valentino dress. According to Reeves, she and Streicher have worked together for a long time—”We listen to each other and collaborate, along with Emily, on what the look is.”
Emily’s hair was prepped using the John Frieda Frizz Ease Replenish & Repair Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner. Laini then applied the John Frieda Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray to Emily’s wet hair to give it volume, starting from the back of her head to the front. She then blow-dried the hair to provide the roots with “some lift.” Once dry, Laini smoothed her ends with John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum using a round brush to move the product through Blunt’s hair and give “a sleeker and more finished look.”
At award shows, pulled back hair is a go-to, and Reeves wanted to give it an updated appeal. “The center part just at the front is quite modern and I’m loving that look right now,” stated Reeves before adding, “I like to take inspiration from different periods and give it a modern twist, whether it’s the part or the style.” She says we will continue to see smaller center parts and hair being slicked back for this spring.
After creating the center part, she pulled the top part of her hair into a horseshoe section and put the hair underneath in a ponytail. She then joined the top part of the hair into the ponytail that had been created. Once the hair was secured in the ponytail, she braided Blunt’s hair, and then made it into a bun. Reeves loosened some strands to create a “softer, romantic look,” and then pinned it into place.
No Oscars look is complete without a manicure and Blunt had the best nail tech—celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec to give her digits some Oscars glam. Kandalec explained, “Emily’s white gown called for a strong modern nude as opposed to a soft sheer nude. The bit of depth found in Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Organdi gave us exactly what we were looking for with opacity and flawless coverage.”
You can shop Blunt’s entire 2023 Oscar look, below.
Beauty Director
Danielle James is the Digital Beauty Director of ELLE.com. Previously, she was the Fashion and Beauty Director of HelloBeautiful.com and MadameNoire.com. She’s bylined for The Cut, InStyle, Allure, Business of Fashion, Nylon, Essence, Good Housekeeping, The Grio, and Huffington Post. Danielle enjoys sailing, thrifting, Japanese whiskey, Naomi Campbell’s runway walk, and Rihanna in the comment section.