Legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell returned to the 2026 Grammy Awards as a vision in gold—an apt look, as the decorated musician promptly won her 12th Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980). Complementing her (literal) winning ensemble was an equally bold makeup look, complete with a can’t-look-away warm red lipstick that proves matte lipstick looks just as gorgeous on 82-year-old lips as it does on pouts 50 years younger.
For Mitchell's exact matte red lip, look no further than MERIT Beauty's Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Vermillon ($26). "We wanted to naturally enhance the already beautiful Joni with a pop of color on her lips," says makeup artist Loren Canby, adding that she loves the way the shade made Mitchell’s “blue eyes pop.”
MERIT Beauty’s Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick is well-known for its hydrating ingredients, smooth texture and buildable pigmentation. Its matte formula delivers the hydration of a traditional lipstick, thanks to hyaluronic acid and sesame seed extract, with a velvet, soft-blurred finish that’s non-drying and never settles into lip creases.
Mitchell joins the ever-growing list of professional makeup artists and celebrities who love MERIT Beauty; Canby exclusively used MERIT for Mitchell's big night. For Mitchell's complexion, Canby prepped her skin with the Great Skin Instant Glow Serum ($38) and Great Skin Priming Moisturizer ($38), followed by the fan-favorite Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick ($38) and Flush Balm ($38) in the baby-pink shade, Stockholm. "For her eyes, I began with an all-over Solo Shadow Sheen in Glacé ($26) for a gorgeous shimmer and deepened the lash line with [Solo Shadow Matte] Brun ($26). I finished with Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara ($26)," Canby reveals.
