Beauty Evolution

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4 Celebrity Facialists on How They’re Prepping Skin for the Oscars Red Carpet -

While bright lights, glamorous fashion, and cheering fans are all hallmarks of a walk down the red carpet, Oscars beauty secrets continue to mystify us, each star’s glowing complexion more blinding than the next on Hollywood’s biggest night. But trust that there are many steps leading up to a celebrity’s major glam moment, whether it’s the Oscars or another high-profile event.

In order to put their best faces forward, celebrities must put in the work for a healthy, luminous finish. “Prepping the skin before makeup is essential to get that smooth, effortless glow,” says Shani Darden, esthetician and founder of her eponymous skin care brand. “Keeping it healthy and happy in the weeks beforehand is essential.” With this in mind, Vogue spoke with four celebrity facialists about how they’re prepping stars’ skin for the Oscars red carpets and beyond.

I Always Get Complimented on My Curls After I Use This Cult Hair Tool -

“Do your curls do that all on their own?!” a woman recently asked me, cocking her head in curiosity while examining my shaggy mane of ringlets. Whenever I’m asked this, or something of this nature, my answer in simplest terms is yes. (It’s genetic. I have the best hairstylist ever. I give my hair lots of TLC…).

But I always make a point of mentioning that if my curls are looking extra springy, extra voluminous, or just plain extra on a particular day it’s because I’ve diffused. And not just with any hair dryer, but the holy grail: The Dyson Supersonic with its heaven-sent diffuser attachment. The instant cult-classic tool is already the stuff of legend among spiral-maned individuals in the know—and I’ve made it my mission to share it with those who have yet to be indoctrinated.

As someone who has spent many years as a beauty editor, and logged countless hours reporting backstage during fashion month, I can confidently say there is no diffuser more praised and beloved by the pros, especially in catering to textured hair of all shapes, sizes, and densities. The Supersonic is a true wonder on every front, but beyond being quiet, lightweight, and elegantly streamlined as a whole, it’s the airflow/heat settings that are the ultimate game-changer.

Unlike most (if not all) other hair dryers, the Supersonic has three different airflow and heat settings that allow for a totally customized experience. This is important for a variety of reasons. For one, curly hair is more fragile and delicate by nature, which means that you want to be as sparing as possible when it comes to heat and avoid rough handling at all cost.

Instead of defaulting to 0 to 60 as most dryers do, you can (as I do), stay happily in the low to medium heat and air range with optimal results while ensuring your hair stays healthy, even with daily use. “Less is always more,” stresses celebrity hairstylist Matthew Collins of the beauty of the Supersonic’s gently robust results. “Less heat, less movement, and a less powerful airflow setting will help protect the integrity of the shape.”

I Was Too Obsessed With Skin Care -

What do you use on your skin? That’s not a hypothetical opening line; I really want to know. It’s one of the first questions I ask when I meet someone for the first time. I’m always checking for acne, hydration levels, and fine lines. I see the world through complexions, but I’m not judging. I’ve been on a quest to find answers for the last two decades.

I started battling cystic acne in middle school when my hormones first entered the chat. At 12, my dermatologist prescribed topicals. The following year, I was using Proactiv and taking antibiotics. I avoided my reflection, brushed my teeth in the dark, and kept my eyes down in conversations. By my junior year of high school I went on Accutane, which meant monthly blood work and lips so dry not even Aquaphor could quench them. When I packed my bags for college, I brought birth control pills and a shiny new prescription for Spironolactone, an oral medication that is used to treat high blood pressure and can help clear acne by blocking androgen hormones.

The combination worked, and my skin stayed mostly clear throughout my twenties. Still, I never forgot the way acne had once ruled my life. I washed my face every night, no matter how drunk I was, and studied my reflection carefully, monitoring my jawline for signs of impending breakouts. I gobbled my pills gratefully, a nightly offering to the unpredictable hormones raging beneath my skin’s surface.

A decade after I started taking Spironolactone and the pill, I began to experience irregular bleeding. I saw specialists, had ultrasounds, and tried acupuncture. When my gynecologist finally took me off both sets of pills, my cycles went back to normal immediately. I was both relieved and nervous. Left unchecked for the first time in years, my hormones were now free to run rampant.