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The Met Gala is one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar, and as such, celebrities prepare for it with meticulous attention to detail. One crucial aspect of their preparation is their skincare routine, which is designed to ensure flawless and radiant skin on the red carpet. This year was no exception, with the A-list booking in treatments and tweakments weeks before the event to secure superstar skin.
“Skin prep is essential when it comes to events like the Met Gala because it is the base for makeup. The more nourished skin is, the easier it will be for a makeup artist to achieve a smooth finish to look radiant in photographs”, says celebrity esthetician Joanna Czech – the woman behind the Met Gala red carpet glows of Amber Valletta, Paris Hilton and Anna Wintour herself. But how far in advance does the prep actually start, and what are the top treatments and products behind those flawless faces? We tapped Czech to find out.
How Far in advance does the prep really start?
“Everyone is different – I like to start consulting or seeing my clients 4-6 weeks in advance. This way, if there are any more aggressive treatments they need, like a chemical peel, they can do it in advance so there is time to recover. In the days leading up to the Met, I focus on soothing, hydrating, evening complexion, sculpting the face and reducing any inflammation or redness. For my clients who have the LYMA, I recommend they use it daily for 20 mins at home”.
What are your top treatments and products pre-Met?
“What makes our facials so special is that no two treatments are ever the same. I like to use a variety of products from Environ, Forlle’d and my own line, especially my sheet masks for soothing and hydrating the skin. I’ll end my treatment with Biologique’s Finishing Serums, they are great for instant and lasting effects that result in vibrant and radiant skin. A few of my favorite modalities include the LYMA laser and cryotherapy, both reduce inflammation in the skin. I can’t forget the importance of deep tissue massage and microcurrents for sculpting and snatching the face”.
Of course, we couldn’t resist a good old Insta stalk to see what products and treatments were used ahead of this year’s Met Gala. Scroll on to see how the likes of Cara Delevingne, Lily James and Kendall Jenner got their skin red-carpet ready both before and on the night.
Lily Collins
No, Collins isn’t talking about a two slabs of bread and some filling kind of sandwich, she’s talking about Iván Pol’s ‘The Beauty Sandwich’. Aka one of Hollywood’s most sought-after treatments. Pol – the go-to skin specialist for the likes of Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez (who also booked in with him pre-Met) – is all about super snatched skin sans Botox and filler. How? By using non-invasive techniques and a multi-layered radio-frequency method to firm, sculpt and tighten skin without a needle or laser in sight. Not forgetting his Secret Sauce, of course – a totally natural oil-based “sauce” formulated to repair, protect and perfect. On the day, Fiona Stiles used the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Hydrogel Sheet Mask to create skin radiance, smoothness, and hydration, and the Advanced Génifique Face Serum to lock in hydration for a healthy, glowing base.
Cara Delevingne
Before creating the silver smokey eye of dreams, celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo prepped Cara Delevingne’s skin to perfection with Cetaphil. Perfect for sensitive skin, the dermatologist favourite brand is all about using nourishing, gentle actives to deliver deep-down hydration. Key products included the Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser, Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream, and even the Moisturizing Body Lotion to give her décolleté a subtle sheen.
priyanka chopra
We recently revealed that Face Gym is one of the biggest skincare brands in the world, so it’s hardly surprising that Priyanka Chopra checked into its New York studio for her Met Gala skin prep. Using facial massage and whizzy tools to tighten and tone the muscles in the face, it’s a fast and effective way of sculpting skin and boosting glow before a red carpet event.
Lily James
Armed with Charlotte Tilbury skincare, Lily James took to Instagram to reveal her full pre-Met Gala skin prep routine. Hailing her all-time favourite moisturiser, Tilbury’s iconic Magic Cream, as her go-to glow-getter, she also swears by the Glow Toner, Magic Serum, Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil and Magic Eye Rescue to secure the ultimate radiant complexion.
Kendall Jenner
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you’ll have heard that every single product used by Mary Philips to create Kendall Jenner’s Met Gala beauty look was under $25. Yes, really. Philips posted about the products she used, which included an array of skincare must-haves from L’Oréal Paris’s Revitalift Derm Intensives range. Superstar skin without breaking the bank? Sign us up.
Olivia Wilde
Shout out to celebrity makeup artist Jo Baker, who took to Instagram to reveal every product she used to create Olivia Wilde’s stunning Met Gala beauty look. Including her prep steps, of course. First Wilde treated herself to pre-Met her facial with Cynthia Franco, a celebrity aesthetics and therapeutic specialist known for her holistic approach and Head To Glow treatment. Once in her makeup chair, she was prepped to perfection using doctor-backed luxury skincare brand 111Skin. The focus was on lightweight hydration, so Baker opted for the new Reparative Collection for an instant firming and radiance-enhancing boost. Specifically, the Repair Serum, Eye Lift Gel and Day Cream. We’ll take all three.
