7 times the hair and makeup stole the show at Haute Couture 2018

It doesn’t get any prettier than this. At the latest CHANEL Haute Couture show, models sported rosy tones all over, achieved using CHANEL Ombré Premiere in Rose Synthétique on eyes, CHANEL Rouge Allure in Incantevole and Rouge Coco Gloss in Poppea on lips, and CHANEL Joues Contraste in Forchia Rosa on cheeks. The tricks for keeping the look modern is to use a light hand with the eye and cheek makeup, and letting the lips do the talking.

Models were transformed into real-life dolls with glistening skin the focus of the makeup at the Giambattista Valli show. Their other features were delicately preened, too: brows were brushed upwards with a gel, eyes were defined with a touch of mascara, and lips were prepped with a glossy balm.

The makeup look was far from subtle this season at Christian Dior, with models’ sporting extreme strokes of eyeliner. “I was inspired by surrealist works imprinted in my memory as well as some very strong film images,” says Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup. “I created a graphic projection of the eyelashes by over-exaggerating them in the extreme. Long, precise lashes were drawn onto the upper and lower eyelids, framing the eyes and stretching excessively towards the temples.”

Looking for ways to take your braids to the next level? Copy the look from Alexis Mabille and attach a pair of show-stopping earrings to the bottom of your braids, concealing your elastic bands at the same time.

The latest Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture collection was named “Nuages” - or ‘clouds’ in French - and the makeup reflected the theme accordingly. Models had accents of turquoise, aqua and citron painted on their eyelids, and complexions were kept luminous with highlighter applied liberally under the eyes to brighten the area.

At the Alexandre Vauthier show, hair was pulled right back to reveal dark, smouldering eyes that stole the show. Our guess is the look was created by layering different eye makeup formulas, like kohls, eyeshadow creams and eyeshadow powders for an ultra-smudged effect.

Accents of gold, copper and bronze brightened the models’ eyes at the Georges Hobeika show, while a peachy pink stain was smeared on cheeks and lips to add warmth to the overall look.

Want to up your makeup game? Here are the best eyeshadow colours for your eye colour.

Which look is your favourite, and why? Let us know in the comments below.

Main image credit: Benoît Peverelli
Inset image credits: Getty