When Tracee Ellis Ross steps onto a red carpet, you know she’s bringing a look. For the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, the actress delivered a masterclass in effortless glamour, wearing a sandy-hued, fringed Alexander Vauthier Haute Couture kaftan that was equal parts funky and fabulous. To complement the movement and warmth of the ensemble, celebrity makeup artist Molly Greenwald kept the beauty look clean, sultry, and glowing—all thanks to a curated lineup of Merit products.
The Beauty Breakdown
Complexion: Warm, Lit-From-Within Skin
Molly focused on enhancing Tracee’s natural glow with The Minimalist stick in Palomino and Buff, ensuring a seamless, second-skin finish. To add warmth and dimension, she blended Bronze Balm in Leo and Monarch along the high points of Tracee’s face, giving her that effortlessly sun-kissed effect without looking overly sculpted. The result? Skin that looked healthy, radiant, and perfectly polished.
Eyes: The Ultimate Greasy Smoky Eye
A party look demands a little drama, and Molly delivered with a modern, glossy twist on the classic smoky eye. She started with the Solo Shadow in Nelson, a long-wearing matte cream shadow that created the perfect base. To add that coveted “greasy” sheen, she layered on Shade Slick in Bel Air, a warm, luminous gloss that gave the eyes a slightly lived-in, dewy effect. The final touch? A few swipes of Clean Lash Mascara for softly defined lashes that didn’t overpower the look.
Brows: Softly Structured Perfection
Tracee’s bold brows were groomed and defined using the Brow 1990 sheer gel pencil in Brown Black for natural, hair-like strokes. To lock everything in place, Molly finished with Brow 1980 volumizing pomade in Dark Brown, adding fullness without making them look too heavy.
Lips: A Chic, Warm Neutral Moment
With her glowing skin and glossy eyes as the focal points, the lips were kept soft yet polished. Molly used the yet-to-be-released Signature Lip Sheer Liner in Beverly Hills to subtly define the lips before filling them in with Signature Lipstick Matte in Antibes—the perfect warm neutral to tie everything together.
Speaking of the Signature Lip Sheer Liner, it’s set to launch on March 18, marking Merit’s latest innovation. This gel-based liner promises a soft, buildable color that enhances the lips’ natural shape while keeping things smooth and hydrating—no settling into fine lines, just a flawless, effortless pout.
Tracee’s Vanity Fair look was the perfect blend of earthy warmth and modern edge, proving once again that she—and Molly Greenwald—understand the art of understated glamour.
Credit: amy sussman/getty images / Molly Greenwald Instagram
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