Natalie Portman’s red lipstick and nails will make you weak in the knees

On two points, the world is in universal agreement: Natalie Portman is one of the most talented actresses of all time, and she’s also the most beautiful. He’s been an on-screen mainstay for nearly three full decades — practically one Countless number of red carpet and promotional appearances — but she keeps setting her personal bar higher and higher. How do her archival gowns keep getting better? How fresh does her hair and makeup look? The answer may lie in Portman’s red lipstick and matching ruby-colored nail polish from her latest event.

When Portman arrived Jan. 9 at the 14th Annual Governors Awards, a celebration of film excellence hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood, she pulled out all the stops for a sleek, ultra-sexy look that felt both classic and edgy. A little courage on the famous gorgeous star. She hit her usual Old Hollywood marks with long, curled-under spirals through her hair, but it’s the bright lipstick and matching nails that really pop against her sleek black gown. Pops of color are usually seen when one wears otherwise neutrals, but Portman’s technique looks like a beauty version of the TikTok-viral “sandwich method.”

Apparently, the styling trick, popularized by creator Lydia Tomlinson, suggests matching the colors, tones, or fabrics of the upper and lower body pieces, leaving more room to play in the middle. Portman’s beauty version employs a similar basic structure. Her dark red lips and nails are the “bread” – so to speak – and her sumptuous Schiaparelli gown is the filling.

Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Storey created Portman’s velvety red lips for the evening, all the more impressive considering she worked on the star’s dainty, watercolor blush-centric look just days earlier at the 2024 Golden Globes. Meanwhile, celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager worked on Portman’s lush, retro-inspired curls.

The entire event looks gorgeous, but the formula is relatively easy to follow. The next time you really need to stand out, consider trying the sandwich method on your own—you’ll be surprised how easy it makes choosing lip colors.