You might not find yourself sashaying down a red carpet that often (ok, ever) but just because you’re not actually an A-lister, it doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a little A-lister action. From facials that guarantee red carpet-ready complexions to treatments that offer a boost of superstar sculpting, if you want to feel like a Hollywood heroine, you’ve got to start acting like one. Make like a star, swot up on these celebrity beauty routines and go forth and glow…
By Georgia Day
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1 Gel manicure
Best for: Kylie Jenner’s enviable talons
When it comes to glossy, chip-free nails you can’t beat a gel mani for longevity and shine. Having all but replaced the regular old shape and polish treatments in terms of popularity in almost every high street salon, gel nails are the nailista’s treatment of choice. Offering pristine, polished finish that’s easy to achieve (nails are cured quickly under a UV lamp), they should last around two weeks before you start to notice any wear and tear, making them perfect for both road trips, red carpets and beyond.
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2 Cupping
Best for: A Justin Bieber energy boost
Loved by clean-living, health conscious celebs like VB and Justin Bieber (who knew?), cupping is the ancient Chinese practice famous for the circular shapes left behind on the backs of A-list fans afterwards. Renowned for its ability to help with everything from poor circulation to increasing energy and relaxation, it’s perhaps most noted for aiding detoxification around the body, just the antidote to those boozy awards dos then. In a nutshell the cups create suction, which draw blood up to the surface enabling it to then flow around the body better and to the concerned areas to heal. If you do decide to try it, it’s worth noting that the redder the marks afterwards, the more toxins are in your body, while pale cup marks indicate healthy, oxygen-rich blood.
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3 LED facial
Best for: Kourtney Kardashian’s clear complexion
Bridging the gap between your regular facial and the derm’s office, an LED facial is the latest route to getting Hollywood-good skin. Beloved of A-listers like Kourtney Kardashian, this fast fix uses different wavelengths of coloured light to penetrate and heal the skin. The benefits of this hi-tech treatment are various; blue light zaps acne-inducing bacteria, green is good for pigmentation and red encourages collagen production for stronger, firmer skin. If you’re nervous about what to expect in your session, don’t be. A mild stinging sensation is all you’ll feel during it, while the un-invasive nature of the treatment means there’s no downtime to factor in at all. Which makes it ideal for a last minute pre-Oscars fix (or lunchtime dash, as the case may be).
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4 Brazilian blow dry
Best for: Channelling Gisele Bundchen’s sleek locks
There’s a reason that some things stand the test of time: because they work. And as a myriad of celebs will attest, the Brazilian blow dry is one of those things and is an essential if you find yourself craving smoother, more manageable hair. Unlike the Japanese equivalent, it won’t completely straighten your hair (great if you still want to rock your natural wave or curls), it just softens wayward locks and takes the hassle – and frizz – out of your morning routine, meaning you can pretty much wash and go without being a slave to your heated tools.
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5 Cryotherapy
Best for: Millie Mackintosh’s all-over glow
If the climate in this country isn’t quite cold enough for you, allow us to point you in the direction of a spot of cryotherapy. The jet set’s treatment of choice, it’s the latest craze sweeping celeb (and beauty ed) circles. Once reserved for elite athletes during their punishing training schedules, the use of cryotherapy has become more mainstream thanks to its ability to stimulate blood flow, improve inflammation and synthesise collagen production. Each session only lasts a couple of minutes but you’ll understand why when we tell you; the chill factor is high, think -90°C. You have been warned…
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6 Oxygen mist facial
Best for: Gwyneth’s crystal clear complexion
The one thing that almost all celebs have in common is skin that’s beautifully clear and radiates health. No matter whether they’ve been living on a plane or on tour for that last year, their skin never shows it. The reason? Oxygen facials. Beloved of everyone from Madonna to Jessica Biel, the treatment consists of a continuous blast of 90-95% pure oxygen that’s blasted slowly round your face. As well as being antibacterial, the O2 helps remove toxins, refine pores and pack in hydration. You’ll be left fresher-faced and you’ll find the efficacy of any products used afterwards will increase dramatically.
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7 Vampire facial
Best for: Bar Rafaeli’s pillow-y plumped cheeks
Or to give it its rightful (and less spooky) name, the Platelet Rich Plasma facial. Before you get totally freaked out, let us assure you that this isn’t as gory as it seems and involves only a small amount of blood being drawn from a vein in your arm. This blood is then spun round to separate the different components and the white plasma, which is rich in platelets, is then injected back into your skin. Directed in to the right areas, this encourages regeneration, specifically collagen synthesis, which helps promote firmer skin and softened lines and wrinkles.
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8 HD brows
Best for: Emulating Nicole Sherzinger’s bold brows
When it comes to getting a piece of Nicole's look, frankly, we’ll take what we can get. Happily, with the advent of HD brows we can now mimic her faultless arches with ease. Unlike regular brow shapes that offer plucking, tweezing or waxing, an HD brow treatment is a 7-stepped treatment that can involve all three, and more. The reason A-listers love it is simple; it’s totally bespoke and takes into account your whole face from your natural eyebrow shape to your hair shade and skin tone. Not only do your brows look on point, your whole face will look lifted and fresher. What’s not to love?
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9 Microneedling
Best for: Jennifer Aniston’s healthy, hydrated skin
Microneedling consists of puncturing tiny holes in your face, and though it might not sound much like your typical beauty treatment, trust us when we say it’s the latest craze in celeb circles. Making these small holes in your skin, believe it or not, actually kick starts your skin’s internal healing process, which in turn encourages the production of collagen and elastin, the two proteins responsible for giving us firmer, more youthful looking skin. Best of all, because the pricks made by the roller or pen are so small there’s no tell tale bleeding or bruising afterwards.
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10 Endermologie Lipo Massage
Best for: Cultivating Beyonce’s curves
If you’re struggling to shift those last few pounds or inches even though you’ve been working out and eating clean for what feels like ages, an Endermologie Lipo Massage could be the answer. Known for getting results but minus any invasive surgeries, all you need to do is don a full body stocking (we never said it was pretty) and lie back while the therapist massages a ‘hoover’ all over your body. Kneading and manipulating your skin in this way stimulates lymphatic drainage, reduces cellulite and reduces those pesky fat cells. You’ll have to put in the time though, a series of at least 10 sessions is recommended.