Ariana Grande's Biggest Makeup Mistakes

With her own makeup brand, Ariana Grande has joined the ranks of several other pop stars and become a beauty mogul. Following the launch of R.E.M. Beauty in 2021, Grande entered into a new phase of her career, where fans weren't just loving her music — they also started looking to her for makeup tips and inspiration. These days, of course, her makeup looks are always flawless, but the star has occasionally slipped up and made a few common beauty errors. 

There were a few points in her style evolution journey where she rocked bold makeup looks that are worlds away from her go-to aesthetic now (thick cat eyes, anyone?), while other times she was guilty of some simple blunders that we all make every now and then, like forgetting to blend her bronzer. To be clear, Grande always manages to look flawless, whether she goes makeup free, nails her eyeliner game, or commits the worst beauty offenses under the sun. These makeup mistakes just prove that she's human, and we kind of love it. 

One of the biggest foundation mistakes that we've all been guilty of (Ariana Grande included) is choosing a shade that doesn't match our skin. Granted, things can get complicated when you're wearing tan, but in this case, you might have to invest in two foundations: one for when you're tanned, and one for when you're not. We're sure the camera lights didn't help Grande's cause here at the 2015 American Music Awards, but even being one or two shades too light in your foundation is a blunder too obvious to miss. 

Red dresses can steal the show in the best way possible, but the downside is that the bold color tends to clash with a lot of makeup choices. The purple-toned pink lipstick that Ariana Grande wore to the 2013 American Music Awards suited her warm skin tone, but struck the wrong note in the overall look thanks to her Christmas-esque sequined red dress. Pink lips can still suit a crimson-toned gown as long as they're soft enough not to clash, but unfortunately, this combo caused something of a color collision on the red carpet. 

Most of Ariana Grande's looks at the 2024 Olympic Games were top notch. But at the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Qualifications on the second day of the event, the singer was spotted with some harsh bronzer lines. It just goes to show that even A-listers aren't immune to the common makeup error that pretty much everyone will be guilty of at some point in their lives — failing to blend. Whether you prefer a heavy contour or a light dusting of blush, visible lines on the face are generally a no-go. Blending makeup isn't as difficult as you might think, so never forget to finish things off with a damp sponge or brush. 

Just as skincare should extend down to your chest, a good makeup routine includes the décolletage, especially when the outfit you're wearing shows it off. Ariana Grande's look at the 2018 Met Gala was near perfect, except for the patchy tan on her chest area. Props to the singer for opting for a safe, sunless tan, but the uneven areas (which may even have been accentuated with highlighter) draw attention away from the masterpiece that was her Vera Wang Sistine Chapel-inspired gown.

We happen to be fans of Ariana Grande's signature cat eye, but in a June 2023 TikTok video, the "7 Rings" singer herself insinuated that her old go-to of a "thick cat eye and overdrawn lip" was a makeup blunder. These days, Grande leans towards a much more minimal look, preferring a sharp wing (if she goes for a wing at all), false lashes on her outer lids only, and lips that are lined to perfection.