GWEN STEFANI'S NUDE MAKEUP: YES OR NO?
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards
Last night at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards wasn't the first time singer Gwen Stefani had sidestepped her signature winged liner and bold red lips for shades of nude. But perhaps it wasn't her most successful.
Gwen Stefani wears the look she's most known for in this photo from the launch of her Urban Decay collab.
I'm a huge fan of Gwen on The Voice. She's a fantastic coach, all warm and maternal and very smart. I particularly enjoy the work of her longtime beauty dream team, hairstylist Danilo (we chatted with Danilo here) and makeup artist Gregory Alt – whether more natural or over-the-top dramatic, Gwen always looks uhmazing.
Gwen Stefani and beau Blake Shelton performed a duet from his new album, If I'm Honest.
But Gwen's Billboard Music Awards look last evening... something seemed off, and sparked some social media discord.
Gwen Stefani with Ciara at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards
The nude lip colour got much of the blame, but it wasn't the real problem. Gregory Alt went for a soft eye-makeup look, without a trace of the black liner and thick inky lashes the star often wears. Mistake, I think.
Gwen and Blake wrote "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" together; they first performed it on The Voice.
Not that Gwen can't carry a less defined eye. But those bold brows and exaggerated highlighting – pardon me, strobing – and contouring create an overall effect that overpowered her eyes and made people ask WTF? Here, look at some random images in which Gwen wears a better version of her Billboard makeup:
gwen stefani in nude lips
Gwen Stefani on her latest album cover – nude lip with defined eyes and fluttery lashes. Gorgeous.
Gwen Stefani in nearly bare gloss, along with dramatic lashes and a hit of dark liner. Love.
Gwen Stefani on The Voice: shades of nude, but more intense eyes. One of my fave season 9 looks.
Gwen Stefani on The Voice: my fave makeup look from season 9. Adore. Dramatic eye, nude lip.
Gwen in theatrical eye makeup with a light pink-nude lip – I loved this look from The Voice too.
back to gwen's billboard awards makeup
Gwen Stefani on stage at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards
Gwen's Billboard Awards makeup looked better on the jumbo screen as she performed onstage – the soft eye makeup made her look vulnerable, which I think was the point.
In this snap from Danilo's Instagram feed, Gwen looks fantastic under those bright stage lights.
Gwen Stefani posted this selfie on Instagram after the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.
And the eye makeup worked in Gwen's selfie, of course.
Gwen Stefani's 2016 Billboard Music Awards makeup: yes or no?
But off-stage...
What do you think about Gwen's Billboard Awards makeup? Yes or no?
Update: here's what Gwen's makeup artist Gregory Arlt had to say (nothing unexpected, really) about things.
