Now that the Oscars are done, red carpet season is officially over. But since everyone is still listening to “Shallow” on repeat, the Cut wanted to salute this year’s red carpet beauty MVP: Lucy Boynton. It’s not just that she’s beautiful, though obviously she is. But thanks to the work of her frequent makeup artist, Jo Baker, the Bohemian Rhapsody actress’s face was never boring. It was a continual thrill, surprise, and delight for months and months. Baker told the Cut, “Lucy is my perfect muse who suits my taste and style completely. We both like vibrancy, uniqueness, fun colors and expressive looks as well as the classic beauty aesthetic.”
A common critique of the red carpet is that celebrity fashion choices have become too safe. The same can be said of red carpet beauty, where a smoky eye and nude lip are standard. But not for Baker, who really upped the beauty ante this season, creating beautiful-but-accessible looks that felt truly new. Among her inspirations, as seen on her Instagram, were yellow caution tape, pink custard sponge cake, power lines, and even the geometry of Gothic cathedrals. “Symmetry and lines are something I am fascinated and mesmerized by,” Baker said. Click through the slideshow to see some of Boynton and Baker’s best work, including the inspirations for each look.
The Vanity Fair Pre-Oscars Party
It’s not Wiz Khalifa, but yellow caution tape that inspired Boynton to create this “dangerous,” abstract liner look. Baker likes to prep lids with NARS Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base before creating a look like this.
The Pre-Baftas
Try taking your cat-eye and giving it the emoticon treatment, like Baker did here.
A Chanel’s Pre-Oscar Party
Baker created a “powder blue” haze inspired by “when the ’50s housewife decides to Tupperware the leftovers,” she wrote on her Instagram.
The Santa Barbara Film Festival
Baker went to Queen Elizabeth Girls School from the ages of 11–17. Her memories of eating pink custard sponge cake during schooltime and the red of British telephone boxes inspired this look.
While Doing Press
For this geometric look, Baker recalled spotty, stripey birds. “Nature shows us … stand out or go unnoticed!!! Be bold … be brave,” she said.
The SAG Awards
Another great abstract liner look, that suggests the eye socket is going to be so 2019.
The BAFTAs
If you thought there was something really fishy about this look, you’d be right. Baker was inspired by the flashy tail of a red snapper.
The Oscars
An eye-shadow shading inspired by the end of Winter doldrums and the coming of spring.
The Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards
Look cloosely and you’ll see that individual spikes of sparkly silver were drawn out from Boyton’s lashes, recalling fireworks.
The Golden Globes
The golden arches by way of eye shadow — but Baker was thinking of the Gothic architecture of cathedrals, rather than Big Macs.
In Los Angeles, California
This lip look brought to you by raspberry Popsicles.