Four well-known aestheticians shared with me the secrets behind Hollywood stars’ flawless skin

Bright lights, glamorous gowns, and cheering fans. These are the essentials of any red-carpet appearance. But the real mystery continues to be the flawless skin celebrities show off at these events, each star glowing even more than the last. Behind that perfect radiance lies long preparation and a series of carefully planned steps that lead up to the moment of glamour, whether it’s the Oscars or another major event.

To show their best face on the red carpet, celebrities need to invest in a healthy, luminous complexion. “Prepping the skin before makeup is key if you want that smooth, natural glow,” says aesthetician Shani Darden, founder of her own skincare brand. “Keeping the skin healthy and balanced for weeks before the event is the most important thing.” With that in mind, Vogue spoke to four renowned aestheticians about how they prepare their clients’ skin in the days leading up to big red-carpet moments.

Joanna Vargas

“Makeup needs the perfect canvas if you want a flawless look,” says celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas. “Exfoliation and hydration are the foundation of glowing skin that doesn’t need heavy coverage.”

Although she works with clients on the very day of the event, Vargas avoids aggressive treatments like strong peels or deep pore extractions to prevent irritation. She also recommends avoiding minimally invasive treatments such as lasers or microneedling, as well as alcohol, in the week before. “Alcohol makes you puffy, damages collagen, and really dehydrates the skin,” she explains. “It’s simply not helpful.”

Vargas, founder of her own salon and product line, relies on everything from LED treatments in her signature light-therapy bed to lymphatic drainage to “sculpt the face, calm the skin, and bring back its natural glow.”

On the day of the event, her routine looks like this: cleansing, exfoliation, a sheet mask, de-puffing massage, LED device, serum, and a short hands-on facial massage. Her red-carpet protocol starts with a salicylic acid cleanser, followed by a mask that combines physical and chemical exfoliation for a smooth surface, even on sensitive skin. After the LED treatment, she applies the soothing Twilight Face Mask for an intense hit of hydration, and uses her Magic Glow Wand to reduce puffiness and redness. Finally, an oil-based serum locks in moisture and leaves the skin soft and radiant.

Shani Darden

Shani Darden, the celebrity aesthetician whose clients include Shay Mitchell and Jessica Alba, says she usually sees her clients more often in the lead-up to awards season. The focus is on treatments that tighten, tone, and lift the skin. A visit to her Beverly Hills studio usually includes her signature facial, which combines “a light chemical peel, vibration therapy, microcurrent, oxygen therapy, extractions when needed, and LED light therapy.”

Everything is tailored to the skin’s condition to achieve results without irritation. “The most important thing is not to change your routine too much right before a big event,” she warns. “Don’t try new products or invasive treatments too close to the date.” On the actual day of the red carpet, Darden uses her Cleansing Serum to soothe and rehydrate the skin, followed by a chemical peel such as Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Peel Pads, which she says are a good at-home alternative to her professional lactic-acid peel. Her favorite step is the Facial Sculpting Wand, a device that shapes and defines facial contours. A hydrating serum and a lightweight moisturizer finish the routine and give the complexion a fresh, dewy look.

Tammy Fender

Tammy Fender, a holistic practitioner and founder of her own skincare brand, approaches the skin through a philosophy of whole-body wellness. “Beautiful skin is the result of a balanced lifestyle, natural formulas, healthy food, movement, and good sleep,” she explains. In her view, skin preparation ideally begins six weeks before an important event, allowing time to “support the body’s natural rhythm” and renew the skin with treatments that boost oxygenation and gentle exfoliation.

While rest and reduced stress are her best recommendations, Fender also relies on hydrating, nourishing products designed for sensitive skin. “Natural, soothing ingredients can ease tension and stress on a day filled with excitement,” she says, advising clients to avoid glycolic acids, retinol, and excessive exfoliation. “This isn’t the moment for risks, especially when you’ll be facing countless cameras.” Her perfect ritual consists of three steps: a cleanser, a botanical toner, and a nourishing serum or balm. Her Cleansing Milk cleanses without stripping moisture, while Bulgarian Rose Water brings back freshness and radiance. Finally, the Plant Milk Serum, a blend of white lily, arnica, and milk thistle, gives the skin a natural, dewy finish under makeup.

Toska Husted

According to celebrity aesthetician Toska Husted, the key to preparing for a big event is to calm, brighten, and firm the skin without causing irritation or breakouts. “A pre-event treatment focuses on gentle exfoliation to achieve healthy radiance, along with sculpting, toning, and lifting, rather than targeting specific concerns like acne or hyperpigmentation,” Husted explains. She always tailors her approach to the skin’s condition, aiming to “highlight natural features and beauty instead of covering up imperfections.” Her prep includes cleansing, hydration, sheet masks, contouring and de-puffing devices, and LED masks, but she avoids any invasive procedures before an event.

Husted, whose clients include Kim Kardashian and Alexandra Daddario, often reaches for Biologique Recherche Lotion MC110 N°1 to plump and smooth the skin, or the brand’s Elastine Serum for even texture and fine lines. For brightening, she recommends Auteur’s exfoliating mask and Biologique Recherche’s PIGM 400 sheet mask. She uses Patchs Défatigant to calm dark under-eyes, while Valmont’s cream mask relaxes fine lines and smooths the complexion.

Vogue.com