Zendaya became one of the most talked-about figures on the red carpet of the 2026 Emmy Awards ceremony. The actress took the stage in a sheer Prada gown adorned with crystals and a fresh pixie cut, while her look was completed by makeup inspired by the beauty aesthetic of the late 1990s. As reported by Wave RBC.UA citing the makeup artist's Instagram, the look was created by Ernesto Castillo, who worked exclusively with Prada Beauty products and focused on the glow of the skin and eyes.
Inspired by crystals and '90s aesthetics
According to Castillo, the starting point for the makeup was the crystals on Zendaya's gown. The makeup artist aimed to accentuate their sparkle, combining frosted and satin textures so that the face harmoniously "echoed" the outfit. "I emphasized the glow of the skin and focused on the eyes and lips in a late-'90s style," he explained. As a result, the look became a nod to the glamorous beauty aesthetic of the late previous decade, which has returned to fashion in 2026.
Step-by-step skin work
The foundation of the look was thorough skin preparation: Castillo first applied Augmented Skin Cream, Skin Essence, and Skin Eye cream for the eye area. He built up the base with Reveal Skin Optimizing Foundation in shade MW55 and corrected imperfections with Blurring + Micro-Correcting Concealer in shade MN5. Cream blush Touch Cream-to-Powder Blush in shades Tulip and Cherry was applied to the cheeks, while extra glow was added with Light Glowing Highlighting Powder in three shades — Pink, Champagne, and Champagne Deep. The makeup was finally set with Reset Rebalancing Setting Powder.
Eyes and lips: the final accent
For the eye makeup, the artist chose Dimensions Holo Nude Eyeshadow in shade 08 Pansy, creating a soft shimmering effect, and added depth with Pradalines Durable Gliding Eye Pencil in shade Wood. The lashes were defined with Lash Extending Mascara in black shade Nero. The finishing touch was the lips: first, Monochrome Soft Matte lipstick in shade Tiepolo Reflection was applied, followed by Liquid Balm in Blushware on top, giving the characteristic wet, glowing finish of the '90s.
Context: the overall look
The makeup became a logical continuation of Zendaya's overall look at the 2026 Emmys: a sheer Prada gown and a fresh pixie cut, which stylists call one of the most fashionable haircuts of fall 2026, combined with the glowing "frost-satin" makeup to create a cohesive, meticulously detailed ensemble. The editorial team has previously covered the best looks from the 2026 Emmy Awards, and Zendaya's look with Prada Beauty products ranked among the most notable.
