Best of 2014: Top 10 Beauty Looks of the Year

Here are our favorite moments in hair and makeup from the past 12 months

By Cinya Burton Dec 20, 2014 3:00 PMTags
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2014 may very well have been the year of the booty but it was also a year of beauty as well.

Bright eye shadow made a comeback thanks to Lupita Nyong'o (and her talented makeup artist Nick Barose). Braided updos continued their reign on the red carpet but this time we delighted in styles probably too complicated to copy—true pro-level looks. (We're still staring at you shots of you, Maria Menounos and Lucy Hale!)

Of course, there are always the ladies that seem to leave us in awe year after year. Blake Lively and her flawless locks gave us with the worst case of hair envy after the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. And Kate Middleton proved once again that no one can pull off a hat quite like England's most famous Duchess.

Keep scrolling to see all of this year's best beauty moments, up-close and personal:

Philip Cheung/Getty Images

Best Red Lip: Kate Bosworth
A red lip...Not that special, right? A dime a dozen? Old Hat? Then why did the actress blow our minds when she stepped out with this stunning one. In case you're wondering (we know you are) the combo is Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Pop Life and Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Lust.

Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Most Enviable Mane: Blake Lively
Confession: We spent entirely too much of 2014 obsessing over (OK, fine, worshiping) photos of the former Gossip Girl star at the Mr. Turner premiere during the Cannes Film Festival. In fact, her hair was so flawless we think that very night somewhere in the world Gisele Bündchen woke up in a cold sweat. 

Adam Orchon/Sipa USA

Best Use of Colorful Makeup: Lupita Nyong'o
Bringing sexy back? Pfft. Try bringing blue eye shadow back! Now that's a task thought to be impossible and yet somehow the incredible Lupita did just that in 2014.

Instagram/Getty Images

Best New Braid: Lucy Hale
Just when we thought we'd seen every plait imaginable, Lucy Hale's hairstylist Kristin Ess creates this woven masterpiece and our minds (and Pinterest) explode.  

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Best Hat Hair: Kate Middleton
We challenge you to find someone who has a better-looking mane under a hat (or fascinator). Spoiler Alert: No such person exists. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Coolest Hair Color: Nicole Richie
Out of all the celebrities to go lavender this year Richie was first and our favorite. Why? Simple. She made punk oh-so-pretty. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Best Vampy Lipstick: Selena Gomez
Take note, this is dark glamour done right. Oh, and be sure you also jot down exactly how to recreate that pout: Mac Cosmetics lipstick in Rebel and Media.

 

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Dreamiest Updo: Maria Menounos
Gather 'round: Let's once again admire the total perfection that was the E! star's Oscars updo.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Best Fresh Face Look: Allison Williams
Glowing skin? Check! Rosy cheeks? Definitely! Lashes for days? Oh, Indeed!


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Best Accessory: Emmy Rossum
With one snapshot, the Shameless actress proved why flower crowns can and should be worn at more than weddings and Coachella.