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Home • Beauty

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards

From Teyana Taylor's pixie cut to Janelle James's metallic manicure, here are all the best beauty moments from the red carpet.
The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
By India Espy-Jones · Updated January 5, 2026
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Tonight, the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards—held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California—marks the first major awards show of 2026. While the Golden Globes and Oscars are less than a month away, tonight’s show sets the tone for what’s trending now, and what we’ll see next, when it comes to Hollywood glam. 

It’s safe to say pixie cuts weren’t left in 2025 (thankfully!) with Teyana Taylor’s jet black crop cut. However, updos were surprisingly more popular tonight. Sheryl Lee Ralph, for example, is turning us onto ponytails this season with a hair-wrapped power pony. In the same breath, Danielle Brooks and Jessica Williams followed suit: the former opted for a cropped ponytail while the latter tied hers up with a little black ribbon. Meanwhile, Wunmi Mosaku accessorized her twisted updo with a single braid across the front. 

There’s proof celebrities agreed on updos. But, manicures pointed out an interesting divide. On one hand, Janelle James rocked sparkling metallic nails, and, on the other, nude reigned supreme with Quinta Brunson, a pregnant Krys Marshall, and virtually everyone else. 

On the note of makeup, a few red lips here and there (think: Shunika Terry-Jennings) added color to the otherwise natural glamour we saw tonight. While there was a fair share of light nude lipstick and sculpting blush, Skye P. Marshall’s mocha brown lip, powdery shadow, and bronzed cheeks proved just how good deep-toned nudes look on Black women.

Ahead, take a look at all the best celebrity beauty moments from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.

Teyana Taylor

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Teyana Taylor arrives at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

Chase Infiniti

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Chase Infiniti attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

Sheryl Lee Ralph

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Danielle Brooks

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Danielle Brooks attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Wunmi Mosaku

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Wunmi Mosaku attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Jessica Williams

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Jessica Williams attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Janelle James

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Janelle James attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Quinta Brunson

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Quinta Brunson attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/WireImage)

Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: (L-R) Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler attend the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Shunika Terry-Jennings

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Shunika Terry-Jennings attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/WireImage)

Krys Marshall

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Krys Marshall attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/WireImage)

Skye P. Marshall

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Skye P. Marshall attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)

Donna Jordan and Michael B. Jordan

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Ryan Michelle Bathe

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Ryan Michelle Bathe attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/WireImage)

Nicole Beharie

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Nicole Beharie attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/WireImage)

Ruth E. Carter

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
Ruth E. Carter at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Damian Marcano

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Damian Marcano attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)

Ego Nwodim

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Ego Nwodim attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/WireImage)

Denée Benton

The Best Beauty Looks At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: Denée Benton attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
TOPICS:  best red carpet beauty celebrity beauty Critics Choice Awards 2026