Beyoncé
Getty Images, courtesy of Vogue
Zara Larsson
Getty Images, courtesy of Vogue
Rita Ora
Getty Images, courtesy of Vogue
Last night, some of the world’s most beautiful faces descended on Madison Square Garden in New York for the 33rd edition of the MTV Video Music Awards. If the annual awards show revealed eccentric, groundbreaking looks in the past, that wasn’t the case this year. Some of the best beauty looks at the 2016 MTV VMAs were in fact relatively pared down—albeit on-trend. Bright, bold lips and candy-colored wigs were replaced with neutral pouts and polished, slicked back lengths as seen at the Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton Fall 2016 Ready-to-Wear shows.
Beyoncé arrived on the red carpet—hand in hand with her fashion forward daughter, Blue Ivy—with her hair styled in a pulled back, futuristic braid. The Video of the Year recipient elevated her twisted hairstyle by way of sun-kissed skin, a sharp cat-eye, and rose-colored lips.
Raked back, saturated strands were also seen on Swedish performer Zara Larsson. The Lush Life singer paired her wet look with a black, cinched-waist mini dress.
Meanwhile, all that was needed to get Rita Ora camera-ready was a helping of hair gel and artfully applied, sooty eyeshadow. The singer pulled her blond tresses into a structured updo and balanced her statement look by way of a matte, nude lipstick.
Click through the gallery for the on-trend beauty looks from the 2016 MTV VMAs.