Okay, squad, let’s talk about Zendaya and her total slayage at the Met Gala over the years. Like, OMG—because this queen does not miss! Her Met Gala looks are basically the definition of iconic, and today, we are going to break down her makeup. Whether you’re binge-watching Euphoria, geeking over her Spider-Man stunts, or scrolling through her Insta feed for killer inspo, Zendaya’s beauty game has been nothing short of perfection. So let’s rewind and hit some of the most insane looks she’s ever served up.
Can we talk about how Zendaya is literally a chameleon when it comes to transformation?? Like, she will give you futuristic sailor in one moment and then straight-up Cinderella the next. And the glam? It’s ALWAYS on point.
2015 Met Gala: “China: Through the Looking Glass”
**Zendaya at 2015’s Met Gala… GALAXY VIBES.***
This was Zendaya’s first Met Gala, and she went hard right out of the gate. She rolled up with a vibe that was like futuristic warrior princess but on a serious fairytale level. Everything was sparkly, edgy, and fierce.
Makeup Breakdown: Bronze Goddess
For this look, it was all about a soft, bronzy glam that let Zendaya’s eyes do allll the talking while keeping things warm and golden. I’m not saying we all have to try this, but I’m also not NOT saying that 😉 If you’re vibing with this look, here’s how you can copy it:
1. The Skin = Glowy AF
Zendaya’s skin looked like she was kissed by the sun. The base was sheer but still gave enough coverage to hide any imperfections. The glow came from a lightweight foundation + an extra layer of highlighter (um, obviously).
Pro tip: Go with a light-medium foundation that has a dewy finish. Think like NARS Sheer Glow. And def don’t forget the highlight—start with something subtle like MAC’s Soft & Gentle for that low-key glam glow.
2. The Eyes = Warm & Sultry
Those eyes?! Warm browns and bronzy shades kept her eyes soft but still lit (like, in the “fire” way). A nice copper shimmer shadow on the lid will give you that Zen-glow.
For those smudged lower lashes, grab a pencil in a warm brown or even a bronzy shade. Don’t go too heavy here—you’re looking for soft, sexy dimension instead of heavy-duty lines.
3. Brows = Full & Fluffy
Zendaya’s brows were keeping up their A-game, and TBH, thick natural brows are always in. Filling them in lightly without making them look too drawn-on is your goal here.
Product rec: Try Glossier’s Boy Brow if you haven’t already. Not only does it give your brows fluffy structure, but it’s also kinda like the chill brow queen of brow products.
4. Lips = Basic, but Perfect
Just a cute, slightly glossy nude lip.
Basic lips never have to be boring. They’re like your daily Taylor Swift stream: always a vibe. <<
You can rock a gloss like Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow for this look. It gives you that “I’m here and I’m cute” energy without doing the most.
2017 Met Gala: “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons”
This is the moment Zendaya floated in with that massive Dolce and Gabbana off-shoulder tropical gown. I mean…who manages to bring paradise ONTO A CARPET? Zendaya does, because duh 🙌
Makeup Breakdown: Coral Princess
Okay, if you love bright bold vibes that scream summer, Zendaya gave you exactly what you wanted at the 2017 Met Gala. This time, she wasn’t super bronzed out—she went bold. Let’s talk about how her makeup was like “vacation glam” but MET GALA STYLE.
1. The Skin = Velvet Matte
Unlike the dewy look from 2015, in 2017 her skin was sleek. The velvet finish was as velvety as it gets: medium coverage with not too much glow but still polished.
You’ll want something that’s buildable without looking heavy. Go for like Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation—it gives that control on how much you build up.
2. Eyes = Warm & Soft
Her eyes were framers for the whole coral vibe. A mix of dark brown tones on the crease and gold/bronze on the lid. Not too overdone, just…perfectly balanced.
Don’t forget to pop some gold shimmer on the inner corner (yes, literal ✨sparkle✨ on the tear ducts!) and to finish with clean, long lashes—but not ones that take you to Drama-town.
Pro tip: False Lashes Worth It: Avoid super heavy falsies. Go for ones like Ardell Wispies if you need some extra lift.
3. Brows = Sharp But Soft
Sharp—yes, but Zendaya always goes for brows that feel like they grew from her head (not drawn on with a Sharpie marker). Keep the arch natural but well-defined.
4. Lips = The STAR
Sis, this lip…PERFECTION. It was a bright af coral color and it popped. This was the type of lip where everyone’s like, “Yes, I need that color in my life.”
Use a coral lipstick or even a stain like YSL’s Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain in 07 Corail Fauve to capture that lipstick energy. It was matte, sharp as diamonds, and yep, LONG-WEAR.
2018 Met Gala: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
THE JOAN OF ARC YEAR. Zendaya entered looking like a straight-up knight…a GLAMOROUS knight. From the armor dress to the shoulder-length bob, Zendaya wasn’t just serving looks: she was serving an entire renaissance painting.
Makeup Breakdown: Silver Siren
We gotta give the biggest props to the makeup artist who said “hey, we are GOING THERE” because Zendaya literally glowed like silver starlight in this lewk.
1. Skin = Soft & Ethereal
The skin had a finish that was soft but luminous—not flat. More muted than her bronzy Met Gala vibes from before. It’s like she had a pearl filter IRL.
Pro tip: You want a satin finish. Try Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Foundation. And def drop a teeny bit of highlighter across the high points (TOP of cheekbones, down the nose) to get that goddess-like vibe. Subtle ✨glow✨ but no disco ball, capiche?
2. Eyes = Soft Smokey
Alright guys, even though her eyes were cozy with a soft smoke effect, there was a slight silver shimmer across the lids. It wasn’t loud but it felt like soft moonlight on her eyes. Yup, I said it: ✨moonlight✨.
To recreate this, use soft greys and a bit of silver shimmer like the one in the Huda Mercury Retrograde Palette. Finish with a SUPER soft smoke around the eye, just enough to give depth.
And lashes? Long, natural, and add mascara to give it some feathery separation.
3. Brows = Structured but Light
TRUTH: Zendaya rarely overdoes the brows, and for this, it was no different. Lightly filled, natural structure—keeping it cute but not stealing the thunder away from her eyes or lips.
4. Lips = Mauve Nude
Finally, that lip! A soft mauve nude.
I mean, Zendaya really balanced this whole look to perfection. It was Joan of Arc, but make it soft and romantic—and that takes serious skill.
Go for something like Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk if you’re obsessed with mauve nudes—it’s like MAGIC for your lips.
2019 Met Gala: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”
Excuse me while I scream forever about how Zendaya showed up as CINDERELLA—LITERAL Cinderella—and lit up her dress. There was magic at this event, and Zendaya was truly the fairy godmother’s VIP.
Makeup Breakdown: Fairytale BUT Make It Glam
Zendaya brought that literal princess-but-MET level of glam, and I was so here for it. Let’s break it down:
1. Skin = Glowy and Perfect
Yep, Zendaya went for the classic Cinderella base: fresh, dewy, and very soft focus. The finish? Ethereal.
To recreate this, I’d recommend using something like a tinted moisturizer and then topping it off with a glow-enhancing primer like Charlotte Tilbury’s Wonderglow. This is defs princess-approved.
2. Eyes = Lashes were LIFE
Big lashes made this look pop: full, fluttery but still soft enough to keep that inviting princess vibe.
Add a soft shimmer on the lids—pale champagne or silvery. Keeping the eyes wide, awake, and slightly dreamy was the ✨mood✨.
3. Brows = Soft & Teen Princess Friendly
Keeping it very light and neat, Zendaya’s brows helped pull together that youthful magic, minus the sharpness. Slash the fairy tale brows that are never too fussy.
4. Lips = Barely There
Cinderella didn’t need a red lip to own the night. Zendaya’s lips were natural, a very soft pinky-nude. Almost like she just used a touch of lip balm…and that’s it.
Tip: Try a balm/gloss combo like Dior Lip Glow in 001 Pink for a sweet wash of “princess moment” color.
Final Thoughts
Zendaya’s makeup at the Met Gala isn’t just random—they always perfectly match the vibe of the year’s theme, which…honestly? Slays every time. We have glow, we have glam, we have edgy knight realness. Do I secretly wish she could do my makeup every day? Yeah, OBVI. But hey, with this breakdown, we can at least FEEL like that.
