We all have our favorite Met Gala beauty moments, but we wanted to hear from the experts—the makeup artists and hairstylists who create these iconic looks. “It’s like the Olympics of hair, makeup, and styling,” says makeup artist Ash K Holm, who crafted Jennifer Lopez’s sultry cat eye for the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” theme. Below, eleven celebrity beauty pros share their all-time favorite Met Gala looks—just as we eagerly await this year’s creations.

### Jennifer Lopez’s Feline Liner
Sean Zanni/Getty Images
“My favorite Met Gala beauty look was Jennifer Lopez’s makeup last year. She wore a stunning light pink and black Ralph Lauren gown, and with her hair pulled back, we wanted her face to shine. The look featured a sexy cat eye paired with her signature glow. Since Jennifer loves options, I prepared multiple mood boards for three potential dresses. Once we finalized the outfit, we honed the makeup. The whole process took meticulous planning and teamwork.” —Ash K Holm

### Cara Delevingne’s Moving Art
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
“I commissioned artist Machine Dazzle to create a custom headpiece for Cara to match her outfit and the ‘Notes on Camp’ theme. We spent months exchanging ideas before the Gala, and I didn’t see the final piece until days before—when I visited his studio to test it. (Those wind-up teeth actually worked!) It was incredible to create our own wearable art for the night.” —Mara Roszak

### Tessa Thompson’s Hair Whip
Ray Tamarra
“My favorite Met Gala moment was transforming Tessa Thompson’s hair into a whip for the 2019 ‘Notes on Camp’ red carpet. The Met is always a highlight for us—I love brainstorming with her and the team. Another standout was her ‘In America’ look, where I made a braided cowboy hat last-minute. My team and I stayed up all night crafting it, and I finished styling her in the car just before she stepped onto the carpet.” —Lacy Redway

### Kristen Stewart’s Rockabilly Barbie
WWD/Getty Images
“I wanted to channel 1940s and ’50s American glamour with a refined rockabilly vibe. This look was pure Kristen—sexy, glamorous, and bold. The color, the attitude—it was her.” —Adir Abergel

### Gemma Chan’s Vintage Inspiration
Jeff Kravitz
“The best part was collaborating with Gemma leading up to the Gala. We drew inspiration from Anna May Wong and ’90s John Galliano Dior Haute Couture runway looks—it was such a fun creative process.” —Daniel Martin

### Lily James’ Sparkling Mermaid Eyes
WWD/Getty Images
“Lily wore a Versace dress in 2022 with an aquatic, mermaid-like vibe. Matching the lilac and silver sparkle of her dress took hours of layering different products to achieve a 3D glitter effect. I kept her skin pale for an ethereal look, using body makeup since so much skin was showing.” —Valeria Ferreira

### Halle Bailey’s Hollywood Glamour
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
“My favorite look was Halle Bailey’s last year for the ‘Karl Lagerfeld’ theme. She wore Gucci flawlessly, looking angelic and timeless. I used opalescent shimmers to complement her sequin dress, and her fiery red bob—a nod to The Little Mermaid—was perfection. Her hairstylist Tinisha Meeks is a true magician!” —Christiana Cassell

### Rihanna’s Classic Moment
Cindy Ord/MG23/Getty Images
“This look was…” (Note: The original text cuts off here, so I’ve left it incomplete as provided.)Rihanna’s Signature Glam
This look is pure Rihanna—a timeless beauty with a modern twist only she can pull off. It’s one of her most iconic styles: flawless skin, a bold red lip, and dramatic lashes (with a fun update!). We used Fenty Beauty favorites like the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation, Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored, and Hella Thicc Mascara. — Priscilla Ono

Zendaya’s Joan of Arc Moment
Sometimes going all-in on a theme pays off, like Zendaya’s Joan of Arc look. The hair perfectly blended history and high fashion. — Andrew Fitzsimons

Violet Chachki’s Vintage Burlesque
I adore vintage hairstyles with a modern twist, and Violet Chachki’s burlesque-inspired look on the Camp Met carpet was a fresh take on a classic. — Andrew Fitzsimons

Daisy Edgar-Jones’ 1920s Glam
One of my favorite Met Gala beauty moments was Daisy Edgar-Jones in 2022. She wore a flapper-style Oscar de la Renta gown with a stunning metallic emerald eye. We tested a few looks beforehand, but this jewel-toned shadow was mesmerizing in person and on the carpet—I still love it. — Vincent Oquendo

Rihanna’s Timeless 2014 Look
I’ll never get over Rihanna’s 2014 Met Gala look in Stella McCartney. It was effortless, clean, and timeless—exactly the kind of beauty that inspires me. Even now, it’s amazing to see how often it’s recreated. — Yusef

Zendaya’s Fairytale Moment
My all-time favorite Met Gala look is Zendaya’s 2019 Cinderella transformation. The tech-driven gown, lit up by Law Roach’s genius, was pure magic. Her makeup was classic perfection—soft blonde tones, delicate baby hairs, and that glass slipper? Iconic. — Nai’vasha