(Celebrity)

Olivia Wilde Made This ‘00s Beauty Trend Her Forever Signature

Trendy but timeless.

by Amanda Ross
Mondadori Portfolio/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images

Just like paging through a yearbook, Olivia Wilde’s beauty evolution doubles as a 20-year retrospective of the hottest hair and makeup trends. While Wilde has always been game to play with modern styles and motifs, she does them all her way — and makes the trends distinctly hers in the process.

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When the world first met Olivia Wilde, her California golden girl glow, sunny highlights, and easy smile made her a no-brainer addition to Fox’s seminal teen juggernaut, The OC. Bill Davila/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Wilde quickly made it clear she was no cookie-cutter starlet, unafraid to express herself through bold beauty looks and standout ensembles. When she does embrace trends, though — like this fantastically mid-aughts pouf — she still shines. Mirek Towski/FilmMagic/Getty Images
From discussing her love of classic rock in interviews to embracing leather and studs, Wilde’s always been one to embrace her edgy side — but fuses it with her signature poise and polish. Here, her sweet pink blush plays well off her sultry gown.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images
A timeless beauty, Wilde’s Grecian-inspired curls and gown at the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards look right at home. Her elegantly arched brows and bold liquid liner had, by this point, become her signatures.Frank Trapper/Corbis Entertainment/Getty Images
Though her makeup is reliably minimal and sleek, Wilde loves hair experimentation — and it all seems to suit her. In 2011, every stylish celebrity was test-driving bangs but Wilde’s lightly tousled set takes the cake.Christian JENTZ/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
When Wilde jumps on a trend, she goes all in. Her totally of-the-moment ombré waves and flamingo-pink lipstick are perfectly 2013, but are so well done and flattering that they’d suit the 2022 red carpet, too. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images
Of course, it’s not just Wilde’s hair that gets to play with color and aesthetics. When she took another trip to the dark side with cool mahogany hair, Wilde played up the vintage vibes with plenty of siren-red lipstick moments.Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Fresh-faced and glowing, 2017-era Olivia Wilde is a woman fully stepping into her own power. With the premiere of her acclaimed directorial debut, Wilde chopped her hair to a jaw-skimming bob and embrace skin-glorifying highlighter. Nicholas Hunt/WireImage/Getty Images
In 2020, Wilde took her signature eyeliner look to new heights. Bold and blocky with eye-elongating wings, she looks like a stylish superhero on the Oscars red carpet.George Pimentel/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
In 2022, Olivia Wilde’s mastered the art of mixing trends with traditions. Her sharp eyeliner is much as it ever was, but the shadow highlights framing her face and soft nude lip are completely contemporary.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage/Getty Images