Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Beauty

Celeb Beauty: Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution

From smoky eyes to barely-there nudes, here are the best makeup moments from our December cover star.
By Nicole Marie Melton · Updated October 28, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
01
2004: Golden Touch

Union sported golden eyeshadow and bronze lipstick when she stepped out at a Hip-Hop Summit event in Beverly Hills.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
02
2005: Out of the Blue

For the premiere of The Honeymooners, Union arrived in navy blue eyeshadow and shiny neutral lip gloss.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
03
2005: Signature Look

At an HBO Golden Globes Awards Party, Union opted for a shimmering gray eyeshadow, rich cinnamon cheeks and her signature shiny nude lip gloss.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
04
2008: Glowing Goddess

Union arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of Cadillac Records wearing a pewter smokey eye with a glossy, rose-tinted lip.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
05
2008: Red Carpet Ready

Union starred in the 2008 film Meet Dave and was the center of attention at the movie’s premiere in radiant bronze lipstick, contoured eyeshadow and thick, wispy lashes.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
06
2009: Shimmer and Shine

Union hit the red carpet at the Disney-ABC Television Group Summer TCA Tour wearing shimmery silver eyeshadow and a lovely, soft pink lip.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
07
2009: All Glammed Up

At the BET Honors, Union glowed in smokey pewter eyeshadow and glossy, pale pink lips.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
08
2009: Princess Chic

Union arrived on the red carpet at a Target shopping event in pretty, dewy skin enhanced with soft blush and long lashes.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
09
2009: Sexy Style

Union rocked a fierce matte red lip for a full-on glam look at an Emmy Awards party hosted by PEOPLE magazine.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
10
2009: Smoke Signals

At the Los Angeles premiere of Good Hair, Union turned heads in a high-contour smokey eye and beautifully bronzed cheeks.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
11
2010: Copper Tone

Union arrived at the global launch of the Montblanc John Lennon edition in uber-rosy blush paired with matching copper-colored eyeshadow and lipstick.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
12
2010: Au Naturale

Union was the epitome of gorgeous when she made her rounds at New York Fashion Week in only a touch of golden-bronze eyeshadow, mascara, and creamy, taupe lipstick.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
13
2010: High and Mighty

A sculpted, rosy cheek and winged cateye was the makeup move of choice when Union attended the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party in 2010.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
14
2011: Old Hollywood Glamour

Union channeled old Hollywood glamour in a beaming red lip and matte, flawless foundation when we saw her at the ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood event.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
15
2011: Sexy Siren

At the Transformers: Dark Of The Moon New York premiere, Union revisited her trademark nude lip with a beautifully contoured chocolate brown eyeshadow.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
16
2011: Fresh Face

Union was all smiles at the premiere party for LaLa’s Full Court Life in a hematite gray smokey eye and iridescent rose-colored lipstick.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
17
2011: Sunny Delight

At the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Awards ceremony, Union was a ray of sunshine in tangerine tinted lip gloss and peach-hued blush.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
18
2011: Lash Out

Union proved that it’s all about the eyes when she flaunted super lush lashes with a simple, barely-there pout at the Dior Pop-Up Shop.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
19
2011: Look at Me Now

When Union arrived at InStyle’s A Night of Firsts event, she beamed in look-at-me-now lashes with a sexy kohl-rimmed eye. Super sweet pink lip gloss completed the look.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
20
2011: Party Perfect

Union rang in the new year at LeBron James and Savannah Brinson’s New Years Eve fete in a wide-eyed look complete with wispy lashes and rose-colored lipstick.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
21
2012: Sunny Delight

At the Atlanta premiere of Think Like a Man, Union wore pearly pink eyeshadow and a shiny nude lip.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
22
2012: Elegant Look

At the Los Angeles premiere of Think Like a Man, Union dazzled in a sexy smoky eye and her trademark glossy lip.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
23
2012: Dew You

Union’s dewy, glowing skin was pure perfection when she arrived at the Delano Hotel in Miami.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
24
2012: Raspberry Dream

Union was all smiles at a Planned Parenthood fundraiser wearing a touch of black eyeliner and a fun, raspberry lip.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
25
2012: Crimson Cutie

You can’t go wrong with a glossy red lip and Union pulled off the trend marvelously at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
26
2012: Smoke Signals

Union turned heads in a smokey eye and lovely nude lips when she stepped out on the red carpet of the Black Girls Rock Awards in New York City.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
D Dipasupil/Getty Images
27
2012: Holiday Delight

Union opted for a juicy red lip and dark eyeliner when she made a holiday appearance on behalf of Wade’s World Foundation at Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami, Florida.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
28
2013: Simple Yet Stunning
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images
29
2013: So Fresh and So Clean

Union sported a charcoal gray smokey eye with dewy, fresh-looking skin at the BET Honors pre-dinner at the Library of Congress in Washington, D. C.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET
30
2013: The Eyes Have It

When Union arrived at the BET Honors 2013, she rocked radiant peach lipstick, mile-long lashes and glowing bronze eyeshadow.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
31
2013: Sweet Shade

At the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon looks pretty in pink lipstick paired with cotton candy curls.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
32
2013: Everything is Illuminated

The Being Mary Jane star is simply radiant on the ESPY Awards red carpet.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
33
2013: The Natural

Union goes for a barely-there look at the 5th Annual ESPN Magazine Body Issue Party.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
34
2013: Lash Out

Union rocked lush lashes and steel gray shadow to the 2013 Entertainment Weekly Pre-Emmy bash.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
35
2013: Retrograde

Union’s red lip looks retro chic paired with pin-up girl waves.

Gabrielle Union's Beauty Evolution
TOPICS:  Gabrielle Union