Cynthia Erivo’s stunning Tony Awards glam breakdown

Cynthia Rrivo
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com / lev radin

The Tony Awards red carpet is always a feast for the eyes, but this year’s ceremony delivered something truly spectacular when Cynthia Erivo stepped into the spotlight as host. The multi-talented performer didn’t just command attention with her hosting prowess – she absolutely slayed with a beauty look that had everyone talking long after the curtain fell.

Fresh off preparations for her highly anticipated film Wicked: For Good, which drops this fall, Erivo brought serious ethereal energy to Broadway’s biggest night. Her glam squad crafted a masterpiece that perfectly balanced sophistication with whimsy, creating a look that felt both timeless and thoroughly modern.


The vision behind the magic

The entire beauty concept revolved around Erivo’s show-stopping Schiaparelli couture gown, a masterwork of fashion artistry featuring lustrous oyster pearls, intricate beaded details, and sumptuous peach velvet that seemed to glow under the stage lights. Makeup artist Joanna Simkin knew immediately that the dress would dictate the direction of the entire look.

The team’s approach centered on creating harmony between fabric and face, ensuring every element worked together to tell a cohesive visual story. Rather than competing with the gown’s elaborate details, they chose to complement its romantic essence with makeup that enhanced Erivo’s natural radiance while adding strategic drama where it mattered most.


The pearlescent quality of the dress inspired a luminous, almost otherworldly complexion that seemed to emit light from within. This wasn’t about heavy contouring or dramatic color – it was about capturing that perfect golden hour glow that makes skin look absolutely flawless in photographs and under bright stage lighting.

Achieving that celestial complexion

Hydration as foundation

The secret to Erivo’s luminous skin started long before any makeup touched her face. Simkin began with a strategic skincare routine that prioritized deep hydration and skin barrier support. The TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner provided the perfect first layer, delivering moisture while prepping the skin to accept makeup seamlessly.

Following up with the Ceramic Milk Ampoule created that coveted dewy base that would serve as the canvas for everything else. These K-beauty staples are known for their ability to create that fresh, bouncy skin texture that photographs beautifully under harsh lighting conditions.

Balancing act with foundation

Here’s where things got interesting – achieving glow without looking greasy requires serious skill. Simkin reached for the Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation, strategically mixing shades 43N and 45W to create a custom color match that would photograph perfectly under the Tony Awards’ intense lighting setup.

The semi-matte finish was crucial here. While the skincare provided the glow, the foundation needed to control any excess shine while still allowing that luminosity to peek through. This technique creates depth and dimension that looks natural both in person and on camera.

The application technique involved building coverage gradually, focusing more product on areas that needed evening out while keeping the naturally gorgeous parts of Erivo’s complexion barely touched. This selective coverage approach maintains that skin-like finish that’s become the gold standard for red carpet beauty.

Lashes that stole the show

Layering for maximum impact

If there was one element of Erivo‘s look that had makeup artists everywhere taking notes, it was definitely those lashes. Simkin’s approach involved a masterful layering technique that created serious drama without looking overdone – no easy feat when you’re dealing with strip lashes and individual clusters.

The base layer started with KISS Lash Couture Noblesse Lashes, chosen for their natural-looking density and the way they enhanced Erivo’s eye shape without overwhelming her features. These provided the foundation for what would become a truly spectacular lash moment.

Custom clusters for dimension

The real genius move came next. Simkin took the more voluminous Lash Couture Masterpiece Lashes and strategically cut them into smaller pieces, creating custom spiky clusters that could be placed exactly where they’d have the most impact.

This technique allowed for precise control over the final look, building density and length in specific areas while maintaining a fluttery, romantic quality that complemented the overall ethereal vibe. The clusters added texture and movement that looked stunning both up close and from a distance.

The key to making layered lashes look natural lies in the placement and the way they’re trimmed to follow the eye’s natural curve. Each cluster was positioned to enhance Erivo’s eye shape while creating that coveted feathery effect that photographs beautifully.

Nails as wearable art

Sculptural elegance

Celebrity manicurist Mycah Dior approached Erivo’s nails as miniature canvases for artistic expression. The concept blended bold red carpet glamour with delicate romantic touches, creating what Dior described as sculptural celebration of elegance.

The base design featured a sophisticated gradient technique, starting with a natural nail bed that gradually deepened into rich crimson at the tips. This wasn’t your standard French manicure – the transition was seamless and organic, creating depth that complemented the overall look’s ethereal quality.

Hand-sculpted details

Using clear acrylic powder as her medium, Dior custom-shaped each nail before adding the color elements. The shade combination came from mixing Aprés Nails’ Vampire Drunk with Never Bordeaux You, creating a unique crimson that perfectly matched the romantic mood of the evening.

But the real showstoppers were the hand-sculpted orchid flowers that adorned select nails. These weren’t simple nail art stickers – they were three-dimensional sculptural elements that required serious skill to execute. Each flower was individually crafted and positioned to create visual interest without overwhelming the hands.

Artistic finishing touches

The final layer involved airbrushing Dusky Dawn, a soft lilac shade, onto specific fingers before adding the orchid sculptures. This technique created subtle color variation that added depth and visual interest to the overall design.

Deeper purple accents in Virgo Away were used to highlight and shade the sculptural elements, giving them realistic dimension that made them appear to bloom right from Erivo’s fingertips. The entire look was sealed with professional-grade top coat to ensure longevity throughout the long awards ceremony.

The bigger picture

Erivo’s Tony Awards beauty moment represents everything we love about modern red carpet glamour – it’s sophisticated without being stuffy, dramatic without being over-the-top, and artistic without being costume-y. The cohesive vision between dress, makeup, and nails created a look that felt both of-the-moment and timeless.

As we eagerly await her Wicked film debut, this Tony Awards appearance serves as a perfect reminder of why Cynthia Erivo continues to be one of entertainment’s most captivating talents. Her beauty choices reflect the same thoughtfulness and artistry she brings to her performances – every detail carefully considered and flawlessly executed.

This look will undoubtedly inspire countless recreations and serves as a masterclass in how to approach red carpet beauty with both creativity and sophistication.

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