The Emmys aren't exactly known for its revolutionary beauty moments. The gowns (and jumpsuits!), sure—but the hair and makeup tends to fall in the category of "beautiful but safe." Not knocking it. Instead, as stars traipse down the red carpet, they become walking billboards for products you won't just want to buy but will actually wear.
The one product that makes our editors' phones blow up more than anything else? Surprisingly, it's not lipstick or eyeshadow—the typical beauty heavyweights—but highlighter, the key to celebrities' larger-than-life glint. And because there’s no better way to shop than staring at a famous person’s cheekbone and whispering "I want that," we went ahead and did the legwork—ID’ing the highlighter responsible for each celebrity's gleam. Scroll on for the findings, and rest assured they're red carpet-approved.
Tracee Ellis Ross needs no product to glow, but Charlotte Tilbury's blush-highlighter duo, which makeup artist Lisa Storey paired with the brand's Beach Sticks in Ibiza and Formentera, certainly helped.
A combination worth copying: deep coppery lids (courtesy of Lancôme's new Proenza Schouler palette) and a sweep of champagne on your cheeks.
Yes, it's $48. And, yes, it's worth every penny. With a clear balm on one side and a shimmery cream on the other, Pat McGrath found a way to make you look lit from within—and you don't even need Thandie Newton's genes.
If Elisabeth Moss's dewy skin looks familiar, it's because it was done by a certain duchess's makeup artist, Daniel Martin.
It's hard to compete with a Vera Wang jumpsuit made with 3,000 crystals. But makeup artist Joanna Simkin and this workhouse palette were up for the challenge on Issa Rae.
Evan Rachel Wood took the brand’s newly launched highlighter out for its debut. On the tops of her cheekbones and in the corner of her eyes, it gleamed without veering into shimmer territory.
Alison Brie’s gorgeous, monochromatic glow (eh?) came from the hands of makeup artist Melanie Inglessis. To gel with Brie’s smoky brown eye makeup and add balance, Inglessis relied on Juice Beauty’s shimmering, highlighter-bronzer hybrid.
Yara Shahidi’s rosy-pink makeup was understated, at least in contrast to her outfit’s excellent floral scene-stealer. Makeup artist Emily Cheng went with the theme, dusting her face with peachy shimmer.
Makeup artist Beau Nelson teamed this half-foundation, half-illuminator with a touch of Josie Maran's Illuminizing Powder Veil applied over blush for that Missandei glow.
Is there anything better than when a celebrity wears a full face of drugstore makeup? The cherry on top of Kristen Bell's affordable look is this 3-in-1 under-$15 palette that triples as a blush, highlighter, and bronzer.
Letitia Wright was just tapped by BareMinerals as an ambassador, and it's not hard to see why.
We might or might not have yelled "What is that?" when Angela Bassett hit the stage at the Emmys. The answer? Unsurprisingly, another win from the mother of makeup.
True, this isn't a highlighter, but it'll give you the sheen of one. Makeup artist Pablo Iglesias tapped it on the high points of Penélope Cruz’s face. And as you can see, the results speak for themselves.
For Madeline Brewer’s marble-finish skin, makeup artist Jenna Kristina tapped on the brand’s Fluid Sheet in #11 as a blush, then went in with #8 to add her statuesque glow.
Feel how you might about Sandra Oh’s loss, her gorgeous makeup (and achievements) were still outstanding. Lancôme’s creamy powder topped her cheekbones, with a dab on her Cupid’s bow.
We know Rachel Brosnahan walked away with plenty of statuettes last night, but might we suggest one for this makeup?
A favorite of our editors, this luminizing powder builds to a blinding glisten or can be swept on sheer for a subtle sheen.