As one of the biggest events on the fashion calendar, the Met Gala sees celebrities meticulously prepare every inch of their look, including months of skincare prep to ensure flawless, radiant skin under the unforgiving glare of red carpet cameras.
With this in mind, Cult Beauty spoke with aesthetic practitioner, Dr Jennifer Doyle, and dermatologist, Dr Sweta Rai, to reveal the insider secrets of how celebrities prepare their skin ahead of the years’ most anticipated red carpet appearance, and how you can copy their rituals yourself at home.
What treatments do celebrities use?
The infamous question, what are the new and trending treatments that celebrities are using to get the glass skin look ahead of big events? Dr Jennifer Doyle reveals that, “in the lead-up to red carpet events, celebrities tend to opt for treatments that enhance skin luminosity without significant downtime. One of the top picks is the MOXI laser from Sciton, which delivers an “airbrushed” glow by refining skin texture and boosting radiance, all with minimal recovery time. Closer to the event, a medical-grade facial like the SkinStorm facial can provide an extra layer of hydration and radiance, giving the skin that lit-from-within glow that photographs beautifully.”
Dr Sweta Rai adds, “most celebrities would focus on subtle yet effective enhancements for increasing skin radiance, an even skin tone, and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. Common in office procedures to achieve the above would be a gentle superficial chemical peel, skin brightening and mild laser treatments, and Botulinum toxin injections to reduce skin lines.”
How far in advance do celebrities start their skin care routines?
Skin care should always follow a consistent routine for the best results, however for those working towards specific events, like the Met Gala, experts recommend starting treatments at least three months in advance, “this allows time to optimise your skin care, introduce any active ingredients and schedule any in-clinic treatments like lasers or peels. This way, your skin has time to respond and truly glow on the day.” says Dr Jennifer Doyle.
Adding to this Dr Sweta Rai says, “procedures should ideally be started 3 months prior to allow for any post treatment redness”. However, Dr Rai does also add some options for those who don’t have 3 months, “last minute superficial chemical peels focussing on facial pigmentation can be done within 1 week of a big event, and superficial laser procedures, like the Clear and Brilliant, laser can be quite safe and adds a glow to your skin.”
Is there a ‘golden rule’ for event skin care prep?
It goes without saying that everybody’s skin is different, and there isn’t a one size fits all approach to it, however, Dr Jennifer Doyle notes that her golden rule to skin care is the power of consistency, “glowing skin is never the result of one treatment — it’s the cumulative effect of a good skin care routine, regular treatments and looking after your skin from the inside out. Hydration, sleep, and diet are often overlooked, but they make a huge difference in how your skin behaves and looks on the big day.”
Dr Sweta Rai highlights her golden rule, “ice packs on the skin to reduce inflammation and close pores on the skin by a vasoconstrictive effect, as well as a moisturiser which assimilates easily on your skin, are effective and cost-friendly ways of preparing for event skin care.”
What are the most vital steps to a skin care routine?
With consistency being the key to a good skin care routine, Dr Jennifer Doyle shares the key steps to her own routine, “Consistent, high-quality skincare is key. The non-negotiables in my own routine, and what I recommend to patients, are: a gentle but effective cleanser, a potent vitamin C serum for antioxidant protection and brightness, a retinol to refine texture and tone, and a broad-spectrum SPF for every single day.These basics form the foundation of glowing, healthy skin.”
What ingredients or products should you avoid before a big event?
Discussing the products to avoid before a big event, Dr Jennifer Doyle says, “I always advise avoiding introducing any new active ingredients in the week or two before a big event. Potent actives like vitamin C, retinols, and acids can cause irritation or sensitivity if your skin isn’t already acclimated. Stick to what your skin knows and loves in the days leading up to the event.”
Further insights on achieving event-ready skin can be found here: https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/blog/red-carpet-skin
