How to Glow Like a Victoria's Secret Angel, According to This Celebrity Facialist

Tomorrow, the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show returns to New York City after two years abroad. Multi-season veterans Kendall Jenner and the Hadid sisters, as well as exciting newcomers such as Winnie Harlow and the event's first Filipino model Kelsey Merritt, will no doubt awe attendees with celestial complexions in real life. But also being taken into consideration is the fact that millions of viewers will be tuning in on high-definition televisions when the show airs next month, leaving little—if any—room for skin imperfection.

The long and short of it is the stakes for crystal clear, seemingly poreless visages have become increasingly high. And that's where the show's lead facialist Georgia Louise, armed with her notoriously stealth techniques, cutting-edge technologies, and arsenal of instantly-gratifying products, comes in. Tasked with looking after the world's most recognizable faces (who are genetically blessed, sure, but human nonetheless), New York City-based Louise has taken a no-nonsense, real-world accessible approach to de-puffing, contouring, and brightening to get the Angels ready for their big night.

From fighting blemishes and keeping thirsty skin hydrated, to erasing dark circles after a long-haul flight, Louise weighs in on how women everywhere can, in fact, glow like an Angel.

Give Yourself a Daily Facial
"They're young, but from their rigorous workouts to traveling around the world, the Victoria's Secret girls are often puffy, dehydrated, and tired under the eyes,” explains Louise. For the Angels, and any woman that hasn't had a full night's rest due to travel or a demanding schedule, a facial massage with Louise's cult, Gua sha-inspired rose quartz Butterfly Stone is a one-two punch for de-puffing and sculpting. Once glided inwards and outwards along the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline, the tool boosts circulation and drains built-up fluid in the lymph nodes to lift and contour the face. And, the results can be bolstered further by putting the it in the refrigerator or freezer beforehand to icy effect. "It's like cryotherapy for the face!" she explains of the rejuvenating practice. "No matter what age you are, always spend a minimum of five minutes a day massaging your face, even if it's just [kneading] in your cleanser or night cream. It's key for longevity in our skin cells."

Reduce Inflammation With LED Light Therapy
For jet-lagged Angels, a dose of Louise's LED blue light therapy, which penetrates the skin and stimulates collagen to heal it from the inside out, is essential for treating flare-ups and calming the skin. "Particularly for the models prone to breakouts, it's great for diminishing inflammation, as well as detoxifying the cells and brightening the skin," she explains. "You can land off a plane, undergo the blue light therapy for eight minutes, and have an unbelievable glow." If you can't make it to Louise's atelier or a dermatologist's office for a pro treatment, there are a slew of affordable, easy-to-operate at-home LED light devices for zapping blemishes, as well as looking after your skin's overall health.

Supercharge Your Roster of Sheet Masks
"I always tell the Victoria's Secret girls, you need an assortment of sheet masks," explains Louise. But not just any sheet masks. Over the summer, the facialist unveiled her new headphone-like GloPulse device which, equipped with two electrode, galvanic current-administering cheek plates, is designed to be used in tandem with one of three iodized custom-formulated sheet masks (in Green, Honey, and Aqua formulas). "[They] allow the actives to be pushed deeper and faster into the skin," she says of the two-step process. To revive Angel skin, Louise often looks to the anti-aging Honey mask, which is packed with anti-inflammatory propolis, soothing centella asiatica, and nourishing Vitamin C.

Go Easy On Exfoliation—Especially Before an Event
"In the weeks ahead of the [show], I tell the Angels to switch from scrubs that are too abrasive to a more gentle enzymatic cleanser [because] you get the exfoliation without the aggression," she explains, highlighting Dr. Barbara Sturm's Enzyme Cleanser as a go-to. However, while smooth, flake-free skin is a priority, Louise errs on the side of caution in the days leading up to the big day, and advises the models against using products with vitamin A, as well as intensive AHA, BHA, and PHA acids to avoid any sort of inflammation. "Instead of focusing on exfoliating, focus on hydration," she insists.

Let Hyaluronic Acid Be Your Secret Weapon
As far as Louise is concerned, hyaluronic acid is one of the most important components of skincare and is especially essential for the Angels given their extreme fitness regimens. "Our skin is made up of hyaluronic acid and it's basically like the water tank [of the epidermis]," she explains. "With their intensive workouts, the girls sweat a lot and their water tanks become half empty, which deflates the skin, making the face look less full, and premature lines more likely to show." A hyaluronic acid infused elixir, like Dr. Barbara Sturm's Hyaluronic Serum, not only restores the skin's reservoir, but also allows it to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. "It's a magnet for the body to drive water to the face when it needs hydration, which is key for keeping one's complexion plump, dewy, and healthy," says Louise. She also suggests layering a lightweight moisturizer instead of a rich cream on top, while steering clear of the T-zone. "A lot of the models are slightly on the oilier side, so I always tell them to avoid [those problem areas] for pictures," she adds. Yes, even Victoria's Secret Angels shine—and not in the celestial sense—sometimes.