One of the most glamorous entertainment events is just around the corner. On Sunday, March 10, celebrities will descend on the red carpet at the 96th Academy Awards ceremony to recognize the best actors, actresses and films of the past year.
This occasion is also an important event in the fashion and beauty world, as the stars' style choices will set the trends for the rest of the year.
But it's not just what they wear that will impress; many trend watchers will also look closely at how they look. From aesthetic treatments to bold makeup looks, celebrities are often at the forefront of the latest beauty trends and the Oscars are a great time to showcase that.
This year, all eyes will be on nominees including Emma Stone (Best Actress nominee for her role in Poor Things), Carey Mulligan (Best Actress nominee, Maestro), Lily Gladstone (Best Actress nominee, Killers of the Flower Moon ), Emily Blunt (Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Oppenheimer), America Ferrera (Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Barbie) and more.
It's not just women whose styles and beauty regimes will be scrutinized. Men like Bradley Cooper (nominated for Best Actor, Maestro), Cillian Murphy (nominated for Best Actor, Oppenheimer) and Colman Domingo (nominated for Best Actor, Rustin) were also fashion favorites this awards season.
We spoke to leading estheticians and experts to find out when celebrities start their beauty prep for the Oscars, what treatments they usually opt for and the emerging beauty trends in 2024.
When do celebrities start preparing for the Oscars?
According to Lydia Badia, one of the UK's leading specialist rhinoplasty and facial surgeons, celebrities start their beauty preparations for the Oscars well in advance - and some even start as early as Christmas!
"The Oscars season is exactly what they live for [they] That makes me quite worried," she told Yahoo UK. 'They have to look their best. The treatments would start three months in advance.
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"Some of them even say, 'I hate Christmas because it puts a stop to my Oscar preparation regimen.'"
In the two weeks leading up to the Oscars, treatments start to pick up, Badia says.
"It will probably be a combination of collagen-boosting techniques, micro-needling and radiofrequency - to really improve collagen and skin tightness, as well as some body tightening treatments, which are all non-surgical, and they're all done by different machines and beauticians."
Last minute treatments are more focused on wellness and creating a 'glow' with facials and vitamin infusions, administered intravenously. These treatments can be performed up to the day before the Oscars.
The reason to start beauty preparations early is because beautiful skin takes time, says Dr. Ahmed El Mutasar, the award-winning cosmetic doctor who follows The Aesthetics Doctor on Instagram, where he has a million followers.
"For us, time is measured in seconds, minutes and hours. For our skin, it is measured in the skin cycle, which is how long it takes for your skin to shed. The skin keeps moving outward from the base layer and then sheds. and that takes about four to six weeks. If you make a difference in someone's skin, you need about two skin cycles," he explains.
Skin routines in the run-up to the red carpet
While everyone has different skin needs and concerns, some routines and treatments are generally popular among celebrities.
Dr. Safa Al-Naher, director of dental and facial aesthetics clinic Serene Dental, tells Yahoo UK that celebrities who want to work on the quality of their skin from within usually turn to lasers.
"Lasers like the Indo lift, which can help tighten the skin and dissolve fat, are located under the skin," she says. "Surface lasers, CO2 lasers and the like can also break up scars and generally improve the texture of the skin."
Other treatments such as chemical peels and skin boosters are popular, as is medical-grade skin care after consultation with skin care experts. The latter can deliver "visibly transformative results on all skin types," says Dr. Al-Naher.
In his practice, Dr. El Mutasar says he often creates skin care plans that include tretinoin, prescription retinol, and powerful vitamin C for acne and pigmentation.
Skin boosters are also very popular, as are tear fillers to reduce the appearance of dark circles or hollows under the eyes using a hyaluronic acid dermal filler such as MaiLi, which can also be used for cheekbones, chin and jawlines.
Many celebrities are also into facelifts, with improved techniques and technology making them look more natural than ever, says Badia. "It's not so obvious now. It's not like 20 years ago, when you had that tight, frozen, super-slim look, which wasn't very attractive."
I want red carpet skin - what can I do?
Although celebrities often have access to the most expensive and advanced beauty treatments and technology in the world, there are a number of things we can do to ensure our skin always looks its best.
Using medical-grade skin care can make a big difference if you feel like your skin has issues that need to be addressed. "Retinol is one of the most studied - and therefore proven - skin care ingredients that dramatically improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and skin texture, and I believe it should be the foundation of every woman over 30's skin care routine, " says Dr. Al-Naher, who recommends AlumierMD's Retinol Resurfacing Serum.
She also notes that facial massages are very popular, especially lymphatic massages, which help drain "any kind of excess fluid that's retained under the eyes or around the neck, to give you better circulation and just an overall brighter, brighter complexion".
Skin care aids are also becoming more common in our daily routines, with products like facial massagers and LED masks easily available. LED masks are "great" because they kill harmful surface bacteria and encourage the body to produce collagen and elastin, but Dr. Al-Naher warns that we need to be careful when it comes to using beauty aids.
"You don't want anything too aggressive," she says. "Because you don't want to irritate your skin. So things like microneedling, people can buy those pens, but I wouldn't do that, I would just leave that to an expert."
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Badia says she has seen an increase in the "desire for subtle changes." Facelifts and breast enlargements are becoming increasingly popular, but so are injectables that can stimulate collagen instead of adding volume.
"It's so important to feel good," she adds. "Whatever problems we have with the way we look, any changes we make should increase self-confidence because it radiates. There is nothing more attractive than a person, man or woman, with self-confidence."
The 96th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday 10 March 2024 from 11pm on ITV and ITVX. Read more about the 2024 Oscars: