As far as red carpet events go, the annual Costume Institute Gala at The Met in New York is the unrivaled pinnacle of fashion and beauty, the Oscars of the East Coast. At Monday night’s affair Gwyneth Paltrow and Mary-Kate Olsen showcased makeup looks by Hourglass Cosmetics as they ascended the famous steps of The Met Museum.

MARY-KATE OLSEN

As a fashion force and celebrated co-designer of The Row, Mary-Kate Olsen implicitly understands the nuances of style. For the Met ball, and to play off her dramatic black dress and textural updo, “She wanted her makeup to look tonal, earthy and utterly feminine,” says makeup artist Molly R. Stern. “It’s very modern and matte. The secret to pulling it off is imbuing the cheeks with a spot of color.”

Skin: Molly first hydrated the skin with Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Cream and primed with Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer to ensure the longevity of her makeup. She followed with Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in Ivory for light, sheer coverage and created a matte finish with Oxygen Mineral Powder #2.

Cheeks: To create contour and warmth in the cheeks, Molly first applied the bronze shade of Hourglass Illume Crème-To-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset to the base of the cheek bone. She then used Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Petal on the apples of the cheeks and blended the two products. “With a look as neutral as this you need to give the cheeks some life,” she says.

Eyes: Molly combined the two shades of Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Gypsy with the taupe shade from Hourglass Vol. 6 Eye Shadow Palette to add depth and shadow to the eye crease and top and bottom lash line. For more intensity, she lined the inside of the upper lash line with Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner in Cognac, a chocolate shade. For an understated lash look, Molly applied Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer to the bottom lashes only, leaving the top ones bare. “I wanted to subtly tint the lower lashes,” she says, explaining why she used the lash topcoat.

Lips: To create a berry stain, Molly pressed Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Nocturnal, a plum wine shade, into the center of her top and bottom lip. “The goal was to make it look like she had been eating berries,” says Molly. She added, “Mary-Kate is an amazing collaborator who likes to push the boundaries.”

Gwyneth Paltrow At The Met Gala

GWYNETH PALTROW

Makeup artist Emma Lovell drew inspiration from Gwyneth Paltrow’s dramatic Prada dress and her tight chignon when devising the star’s luminous look. “We focused on the eyes with a smoky, taupe-y 60s eye,” says the London-based Lovell. “It’s a modern riff on Twiggy, a little more dramatic than Gwyneth’s typical natural look, and with a focus on gorgeous, glowing skin.”

Skin: Emma primed the skin using the new Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, which infuses the complexion with 28 skin-softening ingredients as it prepares it for makeup. “I always aim to create radiant skin,” she says, “and No. 28 ensures a brilliant canvas.” She then followed with Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in No. 2 shade for a dewy complexion.

Cheeks: “Gwyneth was just in Mexico and got a little color so I wanted to highlight that,” she says. To do so Emma applied Hourglass Illume Crème-To-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset. “I used the bronze shade on the top of the cheekbones, underneath the cheekbones and on the temples—anywhere the sun would naturally hit.” She then used the blush shade on the apples of the cheeks and blended the two.

Eyes: Emma started by filling in the brows with MAC Eye Brow Pencil in Fling. She then used the taupe shade from the Hourglass Vol. 6 Eye Shadow Palette all over the socket and underneath the eyes, followed by Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner in Ebony. “Start from the center of the eye lid and draw outwards,” she says. After curling the lashes she applied multiple coats of Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara, focusing on the center of the lashes. “You’re aiming for a rounded effect—more Bambi-like than cat-eye,” she says. For extra drama she finished the eyes with a coat of Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer.

Lips: Emma used Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Fable, a light pink beige. She finished up by blending two shades of Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss and applying it over the lipstick. “I wanted a vintage-y pink lip so I combined the Lush and Child shades,” she says.