The $22 Cream One Dermatologist Uses To Get His Celeb Clients Oscars-Ready

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When it comes to red carpet glamour, striking dresses, sultry makeup, and contoured bodies are what keep us entertained. Yet, much of the behind-the-scenes effort—think countless hours of in-office procedures like microcurrent facials or red light skin therapy—goes unseen. In fact, celebrity dermatologists and aestheticians say that prepping for just one evening on the red carpet can take up to six months, with treatments ranging from injectables and microneedling services to chemical peels and hydrating facials.

Every skincare professional has their own method, but they all agree on one thing: achieving radiant skin requires consistent, personalized care. With this in mind, Women's Health consulted four dermatologists and four aestheticians to see how they're prepping the skin of their celeb clients before the Oscars red carpet (BTW, it airs this Sunday, 3/10). Note: due to doctor-patient confidentiality, the dermatologists aren't able to share the exact celebrities they treat, but trust us when we tell you their roster is full of A-listers.

Shani Darden

Oscar Nominated Client: America Ferrera

Regardless who's in aesthetician Shani Darden's studio—her A-list clients include Pedro Pascal, Kristen Dunst, and Shay Mitchell—she ensures they receive her exclusive pre-red carpet Signature Facial. “This facial is custom-tailored to what each client needs to ensure tight, sculpted, glowy skin,” she says. Included in the treatment are various devices: her Facial Sculpting Wand, which uses vibrational therapy to target fine lines and wrinkles, microcurrent gloves, which run low-level electrical pulses into the skin to trigger the facial muscles to tighten, and her LED Light Therapy Mask, known for reducing the appearance of pigmentation, acne, and wrinkles. Other treatments such as oxygen therapy, microcurrent, extractions, LED, and cryotherapy are also available as add-ons.

Darden not only attributes her clients' radiant pre-red carpet glow to her hard-hitting devices but also to the potent skincare products she uses both during the treatment and prescribes for at-home use. In her facials, she uses her Cleansing Serum, formulated with glycerin for hydration and oat bran extract for protecting the skin barrier. And before they hit the carpet, she advises her clients use her Triple Acid Signature Peel, an at-home exfoliant that offers the perfect pre-event boost, as well as her new Moisture Boost Plumping Serum, a one-stop-shop for long-lasting hydration that doesn't interfere with makeup application.

Facial Sculpting Wand

Shani Darden by Déesse PRO LED Light Mask

Cleansing Serum

Triple Acid Signature Peel

Moisture Boost Plumping Serum

Georgia Louise

Oscar Nominated Client: Emily Blunt

Celebrity aesthetician Georgia Louise starts her clients' red carpet prep months in advance for lasting results on and off the carpet. “Many of my A-list clients see me monthly, but I recommend they also come in three days before their event to have skin recover and look its best,” she says, adding that she customizes her facials for each client using a combination of technology and her hands. “The basis of all my facials includes a triple cleanse using cold steam and water jets, removal of blocked pores, a manual massage—this includes intraoral massage, gua sha, and lymphatic drainage—and microcurrent with oxygen.” One thing she stays away from ahead of the red carpet? Manual extractions. “I don’t want the skin to be marked-up before the carpet,” she notes.

Where things get fun in Louise’s spa is with her high-tech devices. “I use the Raja Medical Sapphire 3 OxyLight machine for oxygen and light therapy that offers the most incredible glow. I also love my Georgia Louise Cryo Freeze Tools and my Georgia Louise Lift + Sculpt Butterfly Stone, which help calm and tighten the skin. And she never forgets about microcurrent treatments. “I am a huge fan of Environ, who has the best microcurrent machine on the market called the Tri-Wave System."

To get the red carpet glow going the day-of, Louise always advises her clients—Jennifer Aniston and Amy Schumer are included on her roster—to keep it light and layer up slowly, versus using heavy creams which will make their makeup pill. “My Georgia Louise Finishing Serum, which has olive squalene and vitamins, seals and preps the skin beautifully before makeup," she says.

Joanna Czech

Oscar Nominated Client: Carey Mulligan

In celebrity aesthetician Joanna Czech’s office, no two treatments are the same. “I use a variety of modalities, targeted serums, and technologies including laser, cryotherapy, LED light, and microcurrents,” she says, adding that the amount of devices in her spa makes it look more like an operating room. “It’s important to me that I’m always learning about new treatments and devices, but I’m also not afraid to stick with technologies I’ve been using for decades, like LED light,” she says. One tried-and-true device her clients love is the Lyma Laser. According to her, it increases the ATP energy in your cells. "I think of it like a light switch where your cells turn on to the regenerative process instead of the degenerative process," she says.

Above all, her most valuable technique is her hands, which keeps clients like Suki Waterhouse and Lily Aldridge coming back. “Manual massage is extremely important because it’s oxygenating, stimulates blood flow, plumps the skin, sculpts, depuffs, and relaxes the facial muscles,” she says. This technique, along with skincare products from her line, is the foundation of her facials. She loves a pH-balanced and hydrating toner like Joanna Czech Skincare The Toner and as well as a calming serum like my Soothing Serum. If Czech’s clients are in a pinch and want to get their skin glowing right before an event, her favorite at-home trick is to use a sheet mask and rub an ice cube on top for a cooling and soothing effect.

The Toner

The Soothing Serum

Joanna Vargas

Celebrirty aesthetician Joanna Vargas has many celeb clients including Rachel Brosnahan and Naomi Watts, and many of them like to do technology-based facials before their red carpet appearances. A popular treatment is her Triple Crown Royale, which features a relaxation pod, her patented LED bed and microcurrent machine (these can only be found in her salon!), the Balancer Pro Lymphatic Drainage Massage Air Compression Garment, and a full Supernova Facial for hydration. She also likes to use cryotherapy wands along with her Magic Glow Wand, which stimulates lymphatic circulation in the face.

Vargas uses all her own products—she created her own line based on what her clients needs—during her facials, and she recommends her clients use them on the day of the event for the best results. Before makeup, she prescribes her Bright Eye Firming Masks under her Forever Glow Sheet Masks to prep the skin. “Most clients don’t wear much makeup on their skin so I want to make sure their skin is hydrated and dewy,” she says. Next, she recommends following with her Eden Calming Serum, which features stem cells and hyaluronic acid, as well as her Rescue Serum, an oil-based vitamin C she uses for brightening. “Plus, my Eden Pro Moisturizer makes for the perfect finisher under makeup,” she adds.

Magic Glow Wand

Bright Eye Firming Mask

Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask

Eden Niacinamide Calming Serum

Rescue Vitamin C + Squalane Serum

Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer

Dermatologist Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD

Before dermatologist Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD even touches his clients' face, he invites them in for a comprehensive skin analysis. “Prior to a celeb’s big day, we talk through the best ingredients and strategies for their skin to get it looking its best,” he says, adding that most clients start with laser treatments to stimulate collagen, heat the dermis, and help with any breakouts or superficial skin issues. “We then do a custom facial at our newly-opened Aesthetica Skin Lab, which typically focuses on deep hydration, lymphatic drainage, and targeting certain variables like rosacea or hyperpigmentation.”

The devices and skincare products he uses vary from person to person, but many clients love everything from LED to microcurrent. “The combination of devices we use is as unique as our approach to each facial,” he says. And the same thing goes for topical skincare products. For soothing compromised barriers, he loves using products from RoC. And for those needing a boost of hydration, it’s Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Gel Cream or products from Rhode. “From time to time, we also create our own unique topicals that are not available on the market,” he adds.

Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Daily Face Moisturizer

Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer

Barrier Restore Cream

Dermatologist David Colbert, MD

In dermatologist David Colbert, MD's office, treating the body is just as important as the face. His signature pre-red carpet treatment kicks off with the renowned Red Carpet Facial, a two-hour session combining the Triad Facial with laser collagen toning, followed by a series of rejuvenating procedures including photo facial, light microdermabrasion, lavender acid exfoliation, and LED light therapy targeting the face, neck, chest, and hands. After this, he treats his clients with radiofrequency tightening of the lower face and neck, which is performed with the Endymed device. "There's always the occasional extraction or cortisone injection for stress pimples that sometimes occur," he says. "None of these treatments have any downtime, and the client is totally red carpet ready."

Transitioning to body treatments, Dr. Colbert employs the Red Light LED Bed for full-body rejuvenation, followed by EMsculpt to tighten and firm the waistline and the buttocks.

Dermatologist Dennis Gross, MD

"For red carpet events, complexion issues, uneven skin, fine lines and wrinkles are always a top concern," says dermatologist Dennis Gross, MD. "I advise patients to consult me at least six months before their event so we can devise a plan that caters to their unique goals." When it comes to treating these concerns, Dr. Gross says that he mixes and matches multiple treatments such as lasers, injectables, and chemical peels to layer over his standard facials for even better results.

If a client is coming in a few months before a big event, Dr. Gross likes to start with laser treatments. "Cutera Secret PRO, which combines radio frequency micro-needling and fractional CO2 laser into one device, is my go-to treatment for texture concerns including acne scarring, enlarged pores, and fine lines," he says. If a client is coming in a month before a big event, injectables like Botox and filler are his pick for fixing volume loss and fine lines. Lastly, if a client is coming in right before a big event, he recommends his in-office Alpha Beta Peel, a low-dose multi-acid chemical peel, or his HydraFacial Phyto-Retinol Treatment, which infuses the skin with anti-aging ingredients. "Additionally, almost all of our treatments and facials incorporate LED to enhance treatment results and minimize downtime," he adds.

Dr. Gross also recommends topical solutions like his over-the-counter Alpha Beta Daily Peel and Vitamin C Lactic 15% Firm & Bright Serum for a radiant complexion. To prep before makeup, he suggests using the DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro to decrease inflammation and kill bacteria for a smooth, glowing finish.

SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm and Bright Serum

Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

Dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD

According to dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, opting for non-invasive treatments is the smart move before stepping onto the red carpet. "We rely on impactful, non-invasive treatments that yield results without any downtime," she explains. "These methods are perfect for gearing up for red carpet events." Dr. Shamban compares prepping for the red carpet to training for a race—it's all about consistent care. Her long-term approach includes procedures such as tissue tightening, resurfacing, and boosting cellular hydration and oxygenation. Additionally, she emphasizes techniques like high electromagnetic muscle stimulation, contouring with EMFACE, and collagen-boosting treatments such as Vivace RF Microneedling as essential components of her regimen.

For more conventional options, there are treatments like Salt Facials, combining sea salt, ultrasound technology, and LED phototherapy to achieve a refreshed complexion. Additionally, oxygen facials, microcurrent therapy, ice globes, and chemical peels without downtime are popular choices. When it comes to daytime skincare, Dr. Shamban opts for potent products to apply before makeup. These include the Restorsea Pro Lip Magic, Sente Hydrafirm Serum, and Avene Thermal Water Spray, ensuring optimal skin preparation for any occasion.

Lip Magic

HydraFirm Serum

Thermal Spring Water

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