Fashion
5 Celeb-Approved Tips For A Glowing Complexion
It's no secret that I'm kind of obsessed with skin care. I love reading about DIY masks, cleansing routines, and the best lotions and serums, and I even relish hearing about how to get skin ready for important events, like the Grammys or Oscars. I've always just been fascinated by the tips and tricks celebrities use to look perfect on big nights, since I'm also just not convinced that every single person we see walking down the red carpet happened to be born with perfectly flawless skin. It's statistically impossible!
So is it money? Botox? A complicated set of holograms? Seriously, I've always been dying to know what celebs do to make their skin look so freaking great. And to help satisfy my curiosity, I spoke to Tony Silla, skincare expert and owner of the Face Place in LA via e-mail, which caters to celebrities like Emmy Rossum, Mary-Louise Parker and Sofia Coppola, and helps get their skin red carpet-ready.
Tony was kind enough to answer my questions and supply me with five basic pointers for getting skin in awesome condition for an important event.
1. Healthy Skin Starts With Healthy Eating
While Silla admittedly noted that he recommends increasing Face Place signature treatments to twice a week with the last treatment the day before or morning of the big event, he also stressed the immense importance of overall diet and nutrition. "Stay away from sugar and salt in the week before as these can also cause puffiness and fluid retention in the face," he wrote. He also noted that one of the biggest mistakes he sees clients make regularly is "not taking care of their diet and lifestyle and [not] realizing the impact this has."
2. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep was another huge component of Silla's strategy for event-ready skin. "Ensure enough sleep in the weeks leading up to the event, with head elevated to ensure no excess fluid around the face and no swelling around the eyes," he wrote. So be sure to budget time for enough sleep and rest before any big, super-photographed events in your life (and definitely no staying up late the night before).
3. Splurge On Some Things, But Not Everything
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Silla surprised me when he wrote that you don't necessarily need to splurge on every item in your skincare routine to ensure great results, writing that you, "can save on a gentle cleanser for example and invest in a results-focused serum packed with power ingredients." However, he also stressed that it's important to not over-stimulate the skin with harsh products — so when going for cheaper options just make sure they don't actively irritate your skin.
4. Be Consistent With Your Routine
Silla listed not being consistent with a skincare routine and constantly changing regimes as the number one mistake he sees his clients make most regularly (followed closely by not cleansing properly and using overly-harsh products). And I for one can say I am definitely guilty of this one; I'll often use a serum or moisturizer for a couple months, get bored, and try something else when it suits my fancy, usually meaning I'm not even using any single product long enough to see its desired effects (retinol creams, I'm looking at you). Having a little patience and making sure you commit to a morning and evening routine is one of the easiest — and most effective — things you can do for your skin.
Try Skinceuticals Retinol Refining Night Cream, $42, Amazon
5. Keep It Hydrated
And while it might not sound exciting, Silla also noted the tremendous importance of just keeping your skin hydrated. In fact he said proper hydration is one of his absolute top tips for event-prep, writing that you should work on this on both the product and diet front.
There's nothing like loving the way your skin looks and feels — especially on important days or events when you really want to feel your best. If you're getting ready for a red carpet level event of your own, just remember to get lots of sleep, stay hydrated, and stick to your routine!
