Taylor Swift has managed to achieve that rarest of beauty transformations: the seamless kind. Despite coming of age in HD, the singer has kept her look clean, sophisticated, all-American, and refined. She may not experiment as much as the next pop star, but Swift elaborates on the elements that work for her, such as rebooting that red lip classic thing that you like over and over again (if it ain't broke...).
As a teenage country star, Swift favored ringlet curls and a peaches-and-cream complexion, brightened with subtle touches — say, a hint of blue shadow or a diffused coral lipstick. As a powerhouse pop star, she’s jacked the amperage with smoky eyes and, of course, that famous scarlet pout.
What’s more, like with most aspects of Swift’s image, there’s a continuity in her beauty choices that radiates authenticity. Today's smoky eyes are often blended with the same hints of lapis she wore as a teen; whether straightened and skimming the eyes or pushed to the side, her bangs are still ever-present. She'll really never go out of style.
Ahead, the subtle, and pitch-perfect, progression.
Like many teens, a young Taylor Swift favored colorful makeup: Blue-lined eyes, glossy lips, and bronzer were her makeup mainstays in 2006.
Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images.
By 2007, Swift played up her curly hair, styling it in volumized ringlets; a more grown-up smoky eye sealed the country star’s red carpet look.
Photo: Tony R. Phipps/Getty Images.
Her soft, artfully rumpled updo and satin-finish complexion were as sophisticated as they were sweet.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.
Today, Taylor is famous for her bright-red lips. But before she wore the look 20 different ways, the singer sported this matte version at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images.
The crossover artist left her soft, country-inspired look in the dust at the 2010 American Music Awards, thanks to flat-ironed hair, face-framing layers, and dramatic eyeliner.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/AMA2010/Getty Images.
Mile-long lashes, the faintest of waves, and nude lips completed one of our favorite mod looks ever.
Photo: Rick Diamond/ACMA2012/Getty Images.
Just the classics: Swift combined red lips, winged eyes, and Marianne Faithfull-inspired hair for a winning look at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images.
We love how the addition of a halo braid echoed the lines in Swift's Grecian-inspired dress, creating an ethereal look.
Photo: Jeff Vespa/Getty Images.
This 2013 American Music Awards look was part rocker, part Heather Locklear, and all good.
Photo: Frederic J Brown/Getty Images.
What better look to wear to the 2013 premiere of Romeo & Juliet than candy-apple-red lips and brushed-out curls? Someone, get this girl a balcony.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/AMA2013/Getty Images.
Blue-tinged cat-eyes, ruby-red lips, and choppy tresses made for a fierce — but still chic — new vibe.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
This super-sleek look had us doing a double take at the Elle Style Awards in 2015. Slicked-back hair, hazy cat-eyes, and naked lips (a red carpet rarity) added up to a fresh, refined vibe.
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images.
High-gloss hair, bonded at the nape, put Taylor’s graphic cat-eyes front-and-center (and gave her sequin ensemble a run for its money) at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo: Mark Ralston/Getty Images.
This chin-length bob had many fans wondering whether the star went for the chop at the 2016 Grammy Awards, or simply pulled a Gigi. The verdict? The cut is real — and a complete keeper.
Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images.
Dare I say this is the edgiest look T. Swift has ever donned? The bleached-blond locks debuted on her Vogue cover, and we barely recognized the country-turned-pop princess.
Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images.
Around the time Taylor got close with Tom Hiddleston, and was traveling non-stop during a short break from the spotlight, she emerged with her darker blond hair again. The natural look definitely suits the starlet, and it makes sense to switch back to something a bit more low-maintenance for her time off.
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
During her first night out post-Tom Hiddleston, Swift debuted new bangs and shaggy layers, courtesy of hairstylist Gareth Bromell.
Photo: via @garethbromell.
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