The best beauty looks from the Venice Film Festival 2025 Between wet hair, luminous makeup, nail art, and a few dark touches
In Venice, cinema doesn’t begin on the screen. Before the projectors light up, the story comes alive on the red carpet, where every gesture becomes a line of dialogue and every lock of hair a caption. This year, at its 82nd edition, the Venice Film Festival transformed into a runway of images sculpted by make-up artists and hair stylists, true invisible directors. In their brushes, gels, and sprays we read stories of modern sirens, vintage divas, punk heroines, and dark muses. The red carpet, more than just a gala corridor, became a parallel set where beauty looks walked like protagonists of a collective screenplay. And it is here that the stars reminded us that beauty is not an accessory, but a grammar made of eyeliner, waves, burgundy lipsticks, gloss, blush, and jewel-like manicures.
Venice 2025: best beauty looks
Wet look: mermaid charm never stops enchanting
Some trends come back cyclically because, like music classics, they withstand any fashion. Such is the case of the wet hairstyle, once again reigning over the lagoon. But beware: 2025 doesn’t want it flat and monotonous, but interpreted. Greta Ferro showcased a perfect example, sculpted without stiffness, created by Sauro Sartorel for Kérastase. It was completed with an Armani Beauty make-up that carved her features. Stunning was the lip combo: Prisma Glass Icy Plumper and 30 Lip Maestro 213. Greta Gerwig also chose sleek hair with luminous Armani Beauty make-up featuring pool lips and boyfriend blush. Iconic top model Eva Herzigova revisited the ’90s with a tousled wet look, “hangover effect,” paired with black kajal and shimmering plum lips, a nostalgic yet contemporary take. And then there was Indya Moore, the true mermaid of the festival, in Saint Laurent: sleek hair by James Catalano and make-up by Vincent Oquendo, with glittering lids and glossy lips. Her look was pure magnetism, proof that the wet effect can become an identity language. The finishing touch? Saint Laurent earrings.
Imperfect waves and calibrated naturalness
If the wet look embodies sculpture, natural waves tell poetry. An example? Amal Clooney, with her extra-long caramel-chocolate hair styled by Dimitris Giannetos. The secret of her soft, imperfect waves was a mix of L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Strong Hold Hairspray and L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss High Shine Leave-In Serum. Then she let the Venetian breeze be her best ally. Her Charlotte Tilbury make-up was inspired by the vintage 1995 Scherrer fuchsia taffeta dress she wore: base with Airbrush Flawless Foundation, warmed up with Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Stick - Peachy Glow, plus Lip Cheat Contour Duo - Tan Hot Lips 2 - Carina’s Star + Super Cindy. Staying with hairstyles, Cate Blanchett, with colorist Nicola Clarke, chose light boho waves, animated by Sam McKnight’s Sundaze Sea Spray. For an extra glow, Mary Greenwell used Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk foundation, pink blush, and peach lips. Mia Goth, instead, had barely-there waves. Christian Wood created a slightly volumized ’60s curtain fringe framing a face sculpted by Nina Park’s natural make-up. In contrast, Ayo Edebiri preferred Old Hollywood waves by Jacob Aaron. Her glam touch? A spritz of Delina by Parfums de Marly through her hair.
Dark romance: when beauty flirts with shadow
The red carpet doesn’t live only on light. This year, the dark side took center stage with theatrical elegance. Riley Keough chose Chloé for her gown, Owen Gould for hair, and Rachel Goodwin for make-up. The result? A gothic-Victorian look straight out of a dark novel, suspended between drama and delicacy. The same vibes for Eve Hewson, in Schiaparelli, with a gleaming sleek bun by Halley Brisker, feline eyeliner, and burgundy lips drawn by Alex Babsky. Rose Villain, instead, set the carpet ablaze with her couture mohawk by Yuri Napolitano: central knots turned into punk architecture, enhanced by Alessandra Andreotti’s make-up. A glittering Vivienne Westwood gown and rebellious attitude completed the picture. Vicky Krieps’ sorbet-pink mixie cut was one to copy, managing to merge grace and punk.
Calibrated elegance: the power of measure
Between a sculptural wet look and a rebellious mohawk, Venice also offered lessons in restraint. Sofia Carson confirmed her elegance with a refined faux bob and Armani Beauty make-up in nude tones with overlined lips, feline eyeliner, and intense gaze. A timeless beauty look, defying any trend. Another masterclass in timelessness came from Amanda Seyfried and Julia Roberts. Seyfried opted for a glossy maxi bun by Renato Campora, sculpted with waxes and modeling pastes as if it were marble. Genevieve Herr’s make-up, feline eyes, Lancome nude lips, and balanced contouring, created a flawless equation where nothing was left to chance. At her Venetian debut, Notting Hill diva Julia Roberts wore a creation by Dario Vitale, new creative director at Versace, flaunting strawberry blonde waves by Serge Normant, subtle yet refined make-up by Genevieve Herr, and black nails. Emma Stone, Benedetta Porcaroli, and Leslie Bibb, instead, chose light as their leitmotif. For Lanthimos’ muse, Nina Park created a glowing base, perfect brows, sharp eyeliner, and nude lips. Mara Roszak styled Emma’s copper Christy cut, prepping with Rōz Bodybuilding Air-Thickening Spray, blow-drying roughly with a T3 diffuser, and shaping with Evergreen Style Cream. Leslie Bibb, on Frankenstein’s red carpet, looked ethereal in pastel Armani Beauty make-up by Rachel Goodwin, paired with her impeccable side-part bob. Finally, Benedetta Porcaroli looked stunning with wind-tousled hair and a Rachel’s cut by Gianni Crispino for Kérastase, plus Armani Beauty make-up by Nicoletta Pinna. Want to replicate it? You’ll need brown eyeshadows, lots of mascara, and nude lipstick.
Details that set trends
2025 will also be remembered for jewel nails. Marc Jacobs set the tone with Yulenny Garcia’s nail art: midnight blue, long, square, studded with 3D crystals. Emily Blunt, beyond her cinnamon-spice lob tamed by Laini Reeves and luminous make-up by Jenn Streicher, elevated her milky manicure with a golden lunette drawn by Julie K. Meanwhile, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, with Armani Beauty make-up by Francesca Abrahamovitch and hair by Hyungsun Ju, went for princess nails, already copied everywhere. Chloë Sevigny turned up the heat with red lips and a flamenco bun by Molly Greenwald, while Paris Jackson chose a messy bun with soft fringe styled by Rebekah Forecast and natural make-up by Lisa Potter-Dixon.
