Between the roles she chooses and her off-screen activism, there's a lot to admire about Shailene Woodley — including her straightforward, fuss-free approach to beauty. While the beauty chameleons among us find patron saints in the Rihannas and Katy Perrys of the world, Woodley proves that there's nothing wrong with letting small tweaks punctuate your beauty evolution.
When it comes to her hair, Woodley loves playing with her length — going from long and flowing to short and choppy — adding small color changes along the way and, as of late, shifting from her go-to braids to more avant-garde looks (slicked back, wet hair). She's even gone a shade or two darker this year.
Woodley doesn’t go for trendy makeup, either. Instead, her spin on classic red carpet looks is where she really leaves her mark. The actress rounds out sultry focal points — tightlined, smoky eyes with statement lip color and defined brows — with a complexion that looks more makeup-free than perfectly done.
The result is a signature style that strikes a difficult balance: girl next door meets Hollywood glam. See how Woodley captures the best of both worlds, ahead.
2008
Side-swept bangs and a soft, smoky eye are all the 16-year-old actress needed to stand out at a 2008 movie premiere.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
2009
Glowing skin and tightlined eyes are still a go-to for Woodley the next year, but she updates her 'do with long layers.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
Woodley achieves eyelash perfection with a heavy application of mascara the same year.
Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.
Just shy of her 18th birthday, Woodley rocks a look she'll wear on and off for years to come: no-makeup makeup and long, straight hair.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
One way to test-drive a haircut before going under the scissors? Follow Woodley's lead and style your 'do in a look that mimics the shape. Here, Woodley’s hair foreshadows a pixie cut to come.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
But first, Woodley puts her layered hair to good use by wearing it in loose barrel curls.
Photo: Joe Kohen/WireImage.
2010
We love the fishtail braid Woodley wore to the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
Later that same year, Woodley wore her hair wavy and loosely pulled back — and paired it with flushed cheeks, glowing skin, and a perfect shade of nude on her lips. There’s nothing not pin-able when it comes to this soft, romantic look.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
2011
Nearly naked skin and flowing ombré hair give us Earth Mother vibes — and we love it.
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images.
Pale pink lipstick shades often come off looking either too chalky or too frosty. This complexion-flattering shade is the perfect pick to accentuate Woodley’s healthy glow.
Photo: Alexandra Wyman/WireImage.
2012
Radiant skin, peach-meets-coral lipstick, and Old Hollywood waves are perfectly situated at the intersection of natural and glamorous.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
The girl next door goes glam without crossing into overdone territory, thanks to striking red statement lips, kitten-lined eyes, a textured ponytail, and full lashes.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.
Woodley continues her journey into bolder beauty looks with fuchsia lipstick and a flirty topknot at the 2012 British Academy Film Awards.
Photo: Mike Marsland/WireImage.
For the heavily photographed Academy Awards, Woodley sticks with staples but punches them up a bit for the occasion. The result? Her smoky eye done in flattering brown and golden tones, perfectly separated lashes, peachy-nude lipstick, and radiant skin make for a timeless beauty look.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
2013
A clean, tightly-pulled-back pony helps gussy up a no-makeup makeup look.
Photo: Vivien Killilea/WireImage.
We’re not sure which we covet more: this warm, honey-blonde hair shade or its incredible shine. Either way, it’s inspiring us to book a gloss treatment, stat.
Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/FilmMagic.
2014
Sure, Woodley shed a few tears when cutting her hair short for her role in The Fault in Our Stars, but the results couldn’t be more flattering.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Slicked-back hair and impeccably tightlined eyes, done in shades of deep brown with shimmery highlights, make the actress’s hazel eyes pop.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
Bright pink lips seem outside the box for Woodley, given her go-to makeup looks, but the cheery shade pops when paired with black eyeliner and a sleek blazer.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Woodley nailed this sophisticated look for the 2014 MTV Movie Awards thanks to slicked-back hair and cheeks that pop with a peachy-gold highlight.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
Blonde highlights and a tousled style give Woodley’s pixie cut a fuss-free, lived-in look.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.
Woodley’s usual sleek hair look gets a fresh update thanks to strategically styled, piece-y bangs.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images.
We love seeing Woodley’s smattering of freckles through barely there makeup.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
We love an actress who can wear components of a red carpet look twice. (Recognize that blazer and gold necklace?) She updates the style with a rose-toned lip color and volumized hair.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
2015
We’ve raved about this hairstyle before — and for good reason: The slightly messy braid shows off the dimension in her hair color and looks damn cool.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage.
2016
What can we say? We love everything about this actress’s lob, including the new deeper tone, soft layers, and bendy waves.
Photo: Michael Stewart/Getty Images.
This braided updo doubles down on Woodley’s headline-making style from the year before and looks absolutely romantic when paired with smoky eyes, peach lips, and glowing skin.
Photo: Gisela Schober/Getty Images.
Woodley steps outside her comfort zone for this edged-up look, and it pays in spades: Though she’s essentially wearing the same shades of makeup as in the last look, faux-wet hair and ultra-dewy skin up the sex appeal exponentially.
Photo: Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage
Braids and back-combing give Woodley’s pulled-back hair added interest, while obsidian tightlined eyes contribute to a feline look.
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images.
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