The Academy Awards are the pinnacle of Hollywood award shows and a night in which careers have launched as well as ended. As a beauty expert, I've always loved watching the Oscars to see the latest trends in beauty and fashion. 

While most media outlets cover the best & wrost dressed, I usually focus more on the makeup.

This year, most everyone kept it classy and on point. In my last book, "How to Fake Real Beauty" I discussed the Classic Day Face, which is a very classic makeup that draws attention to your features and not to the makeup itself. I then show how to take the Classic Day Face into evening in a couple of simple steps.

                                  

 

 At this year's Oscar ceremony many actresses wore a version of The Classic Face with stunning results. While for us, the show is entertainment, for the actors it's serious business. They're on the World stage. The visibility and the stakes are as high as it gets. Of course there are always a few epic fails (again, entertaining for us, big business for them).

Some actors dress outrageously on purpose, because even bad press is media attention and can be good for their career. I think the smartest actresses keep their look timeless and wear makeup that simply plays up their features without being too trendy. Below some of my favorites and a couple of clunkers:

                                        

 Halle Berry: The girl hasn't made a misstep since "BAPS". She not only looks gorgeous and ageless, but her makeup was perfection. Her features are enhanced yet she looks fresh faced.

                                            

 Demi Moore: Stunning! A very classic makeup that's neither too heavy or too light. My one critique, which is just my own personal opinion is that I wish she'd cut a few inches off her hair. Her hair is beautiful and her long hair is her brand, but I think lopping off a few inches would take her look to the next level.

 

                                            

Margaret Qualley: Possibly my favorite of the night. The beautiful daughter of Andie McDowell is an ingenue. Her classic makeup is designed to draw focus to her face. The slightly darker lip balances her dark hair without being too dark or heavy. Kudos to her makeup artist!

                                           

 Selena Gomez: Another favorite. She looks beautiful in peachy nude shades that worked perfectly with the color of her gown. The added eyelashes take the Classic Day makeup into evening while keeping her look youthful and fresh.

 

    

Zoe Saldana: Winning! Zoe has on a classic makeup very similar to Selena Gomez, but adjusted for her skintone. When you look at her you see a lovely Zoe Saldana, not a makeup artist's palette.

 

                                      

Mikey Madison: Another fresh faced ingenue with makeup designed to showcase her face, not the makeup itself. Her classic makeup is enhanced with the bold winged eyeliner and I'm here for it.

                                     

Lupita Nyong'o: Lupita always looks flawless. She can carry bolder colors and wears them beautifully. She's a great example of someone who can carry bold colors without overwhelming her features. Props to her makeup artist Nick Isamu Barose.

 

And now, some of my least favorites:

                                   

Mylie Cyrus: Hear me out. Mylie is a beautiful woman. Her makeup is beautiful. So what's the problem? She bleached her brows and the effect ruins her look. It gives her an odd, alien look. This is an example of how botched eyebrows can ruin an otherwise winning look.

                                   

Ariana Grande: I'm a fan. She was terrific in Wicked. She looked great during the opening number at the Oscars in the beautiful red gown, a nod to the ruby slippers. So what's the problem? Her makeup look is off. While her makeup is similar to other actresses on my favorites list, it doesnt work on her. On her I see the makeup, not her features. It's comparable to when someone wears a gown that overwhelms them and you think "That dress is wearing her" Ariana is pretty and very talented but her look has been off the entire awards season. Her eyebrows are also oddly shaped (compare them to her earlier photos) and that further throws things off.

                                      

Lily-Rose Depp:  Big beauty lesson here. Lily-Rose is clearly a very beautiful young woman. The makeup shades she's wearing are flattering and in line with the Classic face ideal. So what's the problem? She's too cool for school. I scoured the internet for a photo of her smiling on Oscar night and I couldn't find one. The sulky, dead-eyed expression falls flat. (Her contouring should also be blended slightly more). She's a beauty but a little charisma will go a long way to bringing her beauty to life.