All the Details on Ariana Madix’s ‘Love Island USA’ Finale Beauty

After six weeks of nightly screenings, “Love Island USA” wrapped its eighth — and arguably buzziest — season on Sunday, with a two-hour, romance-filled finale that finished with the dramatic crowning of this year’s winners, fan-favorite couple Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff, presented by Emmy-nominated host Ariana Madix.

Delivering the highly anticipated results, Madix donned her most avant-garde beauty look yet, pairing aquatic makeup and asymmetric hair with an oceanic minidress by designer Le Thanh Hoa.

Crafted by celebrity stylist Carl Bembridge, the same artist who informed her Season Seven beauty, the hair played with elements of finales past. “Over the last two seasons, I’ve always incorporated some form of hair crown created from the hair itself,” Bembridge told WWD. “For this season, I wanted to evolve that idea and take it to a more elevated, fashion-forward place. We created asymmetric hair detailing that felt modern, polished and editorial, while still showcasing the creativity and artistry that has become part of our finale tradition.”

To achieve the slicked and sleek base under the braided arch, Bembridge relied on three hero products: Color Wow’s Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, the Texas Hold ‘Em Big Hold Spray and the Pop and Lock High Gloss Finish. The rest of the hair, which consisted of a finely cut bob protruding the back left side of her bun, was dressed in the Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray, to give it a “glassy, expensive looking” allure.  

Between rough-cut fringe, mermaid wave extensions, a bouffant side part and a slicked ponytail, Madix and Bembridge fearlessly sampled every style and silhouette in the big book of hair this season. This final aesthetic, however, contained a certain je ne sais quoi the others were missing to some degree.

“This look was different from the rest of the season because I always like to create a real wow factor for the finale,” he explained. “Throughout the season, we’ve seen a lot of effortless, beachy, flowing styles, whereas this look was much more artistic and fashion-focused. It felt more like hair couture a sculptural piece with a lot of detail, creativity and thought behind it, making it the perfect statement for the final episode.”

With the hair setting a high standard, artist Krystal Dawn ensured the makeup didn’t miss a beat, painting an underwater portrait in shimmery white, baby blue and royal blue hues over Madix’s eyes. The base — iridescent yet even-toned — was accented with cool-toned contour and coral blush, while her lips were shaped with taupe liner and filled with a clear gloss.

On Instagram, Dawn offered the description, “Finale Fantasy,” alongside a slew of images and behind-the-scenes videos in collaboration with Bembridge. She also tagged Madix’s fashion stylists Emily Abbey and Emily Men, who sourced and helped rework the design ahead of the show.

Following the reality dating show’s storied 2024 success, which reached 919.1 million minutes watched in just one week, Madix returned to Fiji last summer, bringing with her a portfolio of bombshell beauty moments. Amid season seven, Bembridge told WWD he’s always thinking of ways to outdo the previous hairdo. “I’m always thinking, ‘What can I do next now that that’s ticked off the list?’” he said. “I love being super versatile — whether it’s natural looks, high-glam wow moments, fashion-forward edge, or flirty ‘90s vibes. Hair can completely transform a look. It’s the cherry on top of the cake in my eyes.”