How Sharon Stone Got Ready for Her First Met Gala, From Stretching to Skin Care

For her Met Gala introduction, it seems only fitting that Sharon Stone would be attending the museum’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” 2021 exhibit. The actor, who worked with her longtime stylist Paris Libby for a set of glamorously tailored Thom Browne ensembles, is one of our nation’s most iconic beauties. “This was Sharon’s first Met Gala, and important for me that she look and feel her ultimate best,” says Los Angeles-based facialist Gavin McLeod-Valentine, who designed a skin regimen with “appreciated and empowered” as themes for the evening. 

According to Sebastian Scolarici, an ability to curate environment and talent is one of Stone s many skills. “She’s an incredibly loyal human being who brings others together, and she surrounds herself with people who are not high maintenance,” the hairstylist shares while on a stroll down the streets of his home base in New York. “If she was getting ready for the opening of a supermarket, it would have had the same intensity—she’s a very calm individual.” To further soothe Stone’s natural state, McLeod-Valentine started prep for the occasion with a deep fascia massage “that deeply sculpts and defines the cheekbones, lifts the brows, and strengthens the jawline.” This was followed by a full regimen of Augustinus Bader skin care for its “transformative power.” For hair, Scolarici incorporated a nod to the evening’s floor-length beaded moments inspired by “a dress that Thom Browne’s mother wore in the 60s.” After Stone’s hair was washed, conditioned, and volumized with Better Not Younger products, Scolarici coiffed and set it with hot tools and velcro curlers alike. To “make it a little funkier,” he referenced Madonna and gave it a human touch. “We ran our hands through it, and I straightened the sides to try and give it a little bit of an ’80s edge,” Scolarici shares. 

“Our common source of inspiration was an homage to American glamour,” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Daphne Chantell, who thought of Grace Kelly while creating Stone’s cosmetic finish. “Thom Browne’s structure is unrivaled, his tailoring is impeccable, and his gown is breathtaking—Sharon wanted a clean and elegant beauty look to maintain the focus on her stunning gown,” says Chantell of keeping things sleek with Chanel’s Les Beiges bronzing cream and a mix of Tom Ford eye colors before lining lashes with Swarovski crystals for “a touch of sparkle” that Stone was happy to sign off on—and why not? The crystal eye moment ended up being one of the most relevant trends on the carpet, from Kid Cudi’s emo gaze to Ella Emhoff’s Pat McGrath-sanctioned stare. “She has an opinion, but she’s willing to listen,” says Scolarici of working with Stone for the past few years. “I have to say, for me, she’s the ideal client—because she also has good taste.”

Here, Stone’s photo diary of her inaugural Met Gala, in her own words, from pre-fitting stretching to winding down with a cup of tea after all the excitement.