CHANEL BEAUTY AT THE MET: FIVE FACES. FIVE CHROMATIC WORLDS.

CHANEL has never used make-up as a mask, it touches the skin like weather, sunshine hitting the skin on a spring day. For the 2026 Met Gala, their approach was no different. The 2026 theme, “Fashion Is Art”  created a brief where every designer was expected to treat their  muses like artwork. However, with CHANEL beauty, each make-up artist works less like a painter and more light a lighting designer for skin. CHANEL’s approach is not about correction or coverage, it is about amplification of light. 

Looking at Imagine’s four favourite Met looks by CHANEL BEAUTY across the stunning spectrum faces of Margot Robbie, Lily-Rose Depp, Sarah Pidgeon and Ayo Edebiri a beauty story forms. The looks were not stagnant but designed to interact with the light in the room, the shimmer moved, reflecting and refracting light, colour was released in gentle bursts upon cheeks.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Margot Robbie attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)

A sun-struck goddess, Margot Robbie’s palette consisted of molten bronzes, soft golds and champagne highlights. Make-up artist Pati Dubroff aimed to build a skin for her that felt warmed by the sun, rather than overly made-up. Using bronze diffused at the temples and gold highlights where light would naturally hit, the eyes were the focal point with a champagne flash at the centre of the lid. To achieve this early 2000s CHANEL glow use CHANEL Ombre Première Laque in Rayon, which is liquid light and melts into skin rather than sitting on top of it.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Lily-Rose Depp attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Lily-Rose Depp’s make-up looked classically romantic with a kiss of moodiness. Nina Park built a palette of misted pinks and diluted taupes. Depp’s eyes were softened with a smokey finish and her skin was left fresh and pearlescent. Her lips were treated with CHANEL Sublimage L’Extrait Huile Lèvres before colour, turning pigment into a stain.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Sarah Pidgeon attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)

Sarah Pidgeon emulated a blooming Orchid, her skin luminous and dewy. Make-up artist Emily Cheng built a blushing complexion using gentle peach, rose and a faint lilac touch that could be seen from different angles. Using the CHANEL Sublimage base ensured that blush looked radiant rather than applied.

Ayo Edebiri at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)

In contrast, Ayo Edebiri’s look had a smoky but celestial shimmer. Her make-up artist, Dee Carrion focused on reflective shine and contrast, using flashes of emerald, blonde and violet. To create depth and luminosity the CHANEL Les 9 Ombres palettes can be layered for opacity and sparkle density.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Gracie Abrams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Finally, Gracie Abram’s look channelled the beauty of a delicate petal. Make-up artist Emily Cheg created a porcelain case to contrast the impactful flush of blush, blooming upon her cheeks like a peony. 

On a night dedicated to fashion as art, CHANEL reminded us that beauty doesn’t have to be excessive to be seen. Make-up can be atmospheric, something that catches and plays with light rather than sitting fixed on the skin. Each face felt alive and gorgeously glowing.