Oscar Red Carpet Make-Up Trends 2012

Rooney Mara

In many ways, the Acadamy Awards are a truly pivotal in terms of trend setting for the year ahead.

But this year, the Oscar red carpet make-up trends on these red-carpet beauties seemed to fall flat and pale in comparison to Hollywood starlets of the past. 

Let’s review, actress by actress…

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Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez

With the exception of Jennifer Lopez‘s big sexy eyes and double set of lashes, the trend this season leaned heavily toward clean skin with very little luster. The choice of lip stains went from Lopez’s pale rose to Rooney Mara’s deep shade of Crimson. Shades of brown shadow with a classic black liner dominated the look.

There were no surprises this year or full-on, Dior-style glam appearances!  Although the runway and the red carpet are very different venues, they serve the same purpose: to present the best of the best, to inspire, and to make us dream the many possibilties of beauty.

emma stone

Fashion and make-up go hand in hand, and must be coordinated. Although my fellow FoS members loved it, I think the Giambatista Valli dress Emma Stone wore overwhelmed her beautiful face with that huge bow and barely-there make-up.  

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow was divine in Tom Ford, but she needed to channel Joan Crawford with her hair and make-up.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and her right leg
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and her right leg

Angelina Jolie rocked in her Atelier Versace black velvet gown, but lacked a stronger eye contour and her hair needed to be up and done!  A lot of the fashions seemed half-baked where the gown’s top didn’t match the bottom.

>> MORE: Beauty Trends

My make-up award goes to Rooney Mara for her flawless pale skin and wicked sexy cat eyes. What makes her so appealing is that she dares to be original.

All in all, this year’s red-carpet make-up played it safe, and set no trends that inspired me. I guess it’s a sign of the times!-– Brad Boles

photo creditBryan Crowe / ©A.M.P.A.S.

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