When it comes to getting stars glammed up for the Met Gala, this industry icon has it down pat.
From Naomi Campbell and Pamela Anderson to Bad Bunny and Doja Cat, celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath has helped plenty of stars put their best face forward on fashion’s biggest night — and this year’s no exception.
“The Met Gala isn’t just about looking beautiful, it’s about telling a story,” she tells Page Six Style, predicting plenty of “reverence and rebellion”-filled looks at this year’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” themed gala.
“Unlike other red carpets, where the brief might be something simple but sublime, like ‘soft glam,’ the Met is about unleashing an idea,” she adds.
And while McGrath’s keeping her lips sealed about her plans for this year, she and her team have spent weeks “testing textures and pushing boundaries” — and plan to be “misting glow and reapplying gloss” until seconds before stars hit the steps of the Met.
After all, the fashionable fête is McGrath’s “favorite night of the year” for a reason.
“I’ll never forget the drama of Taylor Swift’s Elson-red lip, the angelic gleam of Skin Fetish highlighter on Doja Cat’s cheekbones or the hypnotic spa skin moment with Tyla,” she says of her favorite Met moments.
While only time will tell what tonight has in store, read on for McGrath’s favorite red carpet must-haves, from “couture” lipstick to a base that’s anything but basic.
“Skin prep is everything. This formula plumps, soothes and delivers a luminous base that makes any complexion look alive and ethereal.”
“A whisper of color, a wash of glow. I love tapping this into cheeks, lids, even lips — the ultimate skin-loving veil.”
“My latest icon. The shimmer, the saturation, the sheer poetry of pigment — it’s made for Met Gala majorness. Every shade performs like silk and speaks in couture.”
“I’m OBSESSED with the precision and plushness. It sculpts the lip in one stroke and delivers couture color payoff that wears like a dream.”
This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.