Celebrity skin care secrets to radiant, natural looking skin

Celebrities look their best on the red carpet. How do they make sure to look perfect?

Although it’s hard to say what your favorite star’s specific beauty secret is, I can tell you what gets results for actors and models who come to see me in South Florida. These people are in the limelight constantly, and here’s what helps many of them look their best:

Cosmetic Medicine Treatments
I recommend these at least 3-4 weeks before a Gala Event:

• Botox: This helps with lines in motion, especially forehead (“worry”) lines, “frown” lines between the eyes, and “crow’s feet”. The sides of the brows can even get a lift when Botox is injected by an experienced physician.
• Skin Fillers: Restylane and Juvederm can improve lines at rest, especially from the nose to corners of the mouth (“smile lines”), and the corners of the mouth down (“marionette lines”). Also, we can increase lip fullness. My patients usually want a natural look that brings out their beauty, and doesn’t draw attention to an overdone procedure. As a result, moderate lip fullness is the norm - and it helps my patients look great.
• Microdermabrasion with mild chemical peels: this allows for improved skin texture, easier makeup application, less blocked pores, and skin that’s easy to moisturize. Although microdermabrasion can be done as late as a few days before an Event, it’s best to have a few treatments under your belt so that you know how your skin will respond after treatment. Everyone is different.

Even for Celebs, Home Skin Care Counts!

I advise patients to have a decent skin care line at home that serves several functions:

• Cleansing: Cleaning skin twice a day is reasonable for most patients.
• Exfoliating: This may only be needed 2-3 times a week. Acne-prone patients may need more frequent exfoliation.
• Treating With Antioxidants: Vitamins A, C and E protect skin from UV light damage - but only when we use them regularly. Quality skin products can deliver great antioxidant protection.
• Moisturizing: Moisturizing twice a day is a good practice. Our skin makes more oil if it feels it’s too dry.
• Protecting from Sun Exposure: This is extremely important for those in the public eye! It’s the daily sun exposure we get - outdoor chores, walking the dog, walking from house to car, car to work, etc. - that has a cumulative effect on our skin. Add sunblock to your moisturizer in the morning, and don’t forget your neck, chest, and other exposed body parts!

Simple Ways to be Red Carpet Ready:

• Keep hydrated - your skin needs the hydration to look its best.
• Dr. Naficy is completely right - stay away from smoking and alcohol. These are two major causes of premature skin aging. Of course, I’m quick to add sun exposure to this list. Fry now, pay later.
• As it has been mentioned before, a quality make-up line makes a huge difference on the big day. If it’s in your budget, consult with a professional make-up artist. Many, however, seek assistance at higher end cosmetics counters.

These are general guidelines. Talk with your Doctor to see what's right for you!

Remember: It’s Your Face! When it comes to Cosmetic Medicine procedures, always seek out an experienced Medical Doctor who treats patients his- or herself.

The celebrities on the red carpet definitely look great with their radiant skin and wrinkle-free foreheads and brows. Here are some tips from least invasive to more invasive to become the envy of the crowd:

1. Get started on a routine skin care regimen that involves gentle exfoliation (an alpha-hydroxy acid or light glycolic acid can do the trick) of dead skin cells, followed by a sunscreen and moisturizer. Neutrogena and Olay are less expensive over the counter brands. More upscale brands like Clinique and Lancome are effective as well with a broad array of products.
2. If you have acne, get treated! There are many ways to treat acne, ranging from over the counter products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, to prescription strength products with topical antibacterials and vitamin A derivatives that treat the bacteria that cause this problem. Retin-A may be useful for ruddy, uneven complexions.
3. Treat your self to some new quality makeup. A large part of the reason those stars look so good is that they have hairstlyists, clothiers, jewelers, and make-up artists providing for them right before the big event. Make-up brands like MAC, Trish McEvoy, and Nars are known for their "stage make-up" that can help hide imperfections and not appear too heavy. I also like a new, rising upscale brand called Le Metier de Beaute that offers light-diffusing foundation, really cool pen-like liquid liners, and wonderful colors of lip gloss! Check out their website.
4. Even though celebrities may hesitate to publicly admit it (and who would want to?), it is not uncommon for them to seek the advice and treatment from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon beforehand. Many smoothened foreheads and brows have been treated with Botox Cosmetic several days before the big event, and plumped up lips and nasolabial folds may have been given a little boost with Restylane or Juvederm soft tissue fillers. Caveat: if you want to try this route, go to a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist that knows what they are doing, and if you are going to get injectables, do it at least a week before your big day so that any bruising and swelling have time to fade!

Hope this helps!

-Dr. Jennifer Walden
Plastic Surgeon, New York, NY

Hi Michelle,

As a celebrity hairstylist here in Los Angeles, I'm privy to what goes on behind the scenes for major events like these. First of all, the preparation starts weeks in advance. Botox and Restylane are just the beginning for anyone over 30. Then there's facials to remove any blackheads, microdermabrasion to smooth the skin, facial waxing to remove any unwanted hair, facials that tone the delicate muscles of the face by means of electrodes, stimulating and tightening the muscles at their point of origin and insertion, giving the face a subtle lift (Nicolette Sheridan has this done by a Beverly Hills facialist). Plenty of rest and water... and then, there's the all important make up artist.

Some make up artists actually use a small machine that airbrushes on the foundation for an ultra smooth finish. Contouring under the jaw line and sometimes the cheekbones, depending on the face shape, may also be necessary. If you're not already using eyelash extensions (permanently glued on lashes) then individual lashes are used on the outer third of the eye for a more glam look. I've also seen make up artists use collagen depositing pads that sit under the eyes for about 20 minutes prior to a make up application, to plump up wrinkles. There's also the use of body makeup for the arms and chest area, if you haven't done a spray on tan.

For myself personally, if I know that I'm going to be on camera, I try to get about 20 minutes of sun two days before the event (using a moisturizer with an SPF 30 of course) to plump up my skin and give myself a little glow. I also use my favorite under eye moisturizer by Paul Scherri called Osmovital Plus, which is about $40, to smooth out the fine lines under my eyes. (Even though I'm a guy, I have my own little rituals to look my best.)

Basically, no stone is left unturned in the quest for beauty in front of the camera... because we all know that those photos may be around for decades.

Keep in mind that there is an "X-factor" when you're in front of the camera: you're wearing gorgeous clothes tailored to your body, expensive jewelry, the photographers and fans are screaming you name... you feel powerful, you're in demand and that confidence shows on your face! And last, but not least, the bright lights and flashing cameras sometimes wash out your skin so you look even more flawless.

Hope this doesn't burst your bubble about the "Glamorous Life" on the red carpet. If you're a day over 30, it's a heck of a lot of work!

Best Regards,
Romi Cortier

There could be a number of reasons for this. One obvious reason is that many celebs have good skin to begin with (after all, it is hard to make it to that level with bad skin). The second reason is professionally applied make-up.

Having said that, there are a few tricks for getting a more radiant, glowing skin for the big events in your life:

1. Schedule a microdermabrasion on the day of the event. This is easy, safe, and inexpensive.
2. Make sure your body (hence your skin) is well hydrated.
3. Take a nap! Make sure you all well rested before the event.
4. Avoid smoking or excessive alcohol.
5. Have confidence in how good you look. Thinking that you look good will often make you look better to others.

I hope this helps!