6 Red Carpet Beauty Secrets Everyone Can Steal!
Celebrities have the luxury (and bank accounts!) to enlist makeup artists, hair gurus, and skincare experts to their beauty routines before hitting up red carpet events. I mean have you seen Jane Fonda, Martha Stewart, and Jennifer Aniston lately? They’re all over 50+ smoke shows! But luckily, we normal folks have the internet and social media (free!) to spy on their behind-the-scenes secrets and tips of what those ladies are using, that help make them look + feel as fabulous as possible. Today, I will share some red carpet beauty secrets.
Disclaimer: Of course, I am aware that a large chunk of celebrities have probably also visited a plastic surgeon when it comes to their faces. So maybe their lack of a saggy neck and wrinkle-less foreheads are thanks to more invasive treatments like Botox or face lifts, but whatever. Kudos to them if that’s what they want and they have the cash flow to do so.
I don’t judge ANY female on what they choose to do or choose NOT do when it comes to their appearance. As long as it makes her feel her best self and she came to that decision on her own - then who am I to say she went too far or didn’t go far enough??
For me personally, I have tried Botox and fillers in the past, and currently spend LOTS of my personal time (and money) on trying all of the newest skincare products, makeup, and ways to take care of my face from home. Hello, eye masks, ice rollers, and gua sha! I’d rather sink my money into these things than buy a fancy handbag honestly.
But does having extra help or an over-the-top skincare routine make me (or celebrities) insecure or superficial? No way. When I choose these beauty treatments, I’m wise enough to know these serums or fillers don’t impart self-worth, but they do help with my mental + physical confidence!
Okay, I had to get that off my chest before we move forward, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk - Ha Ha! Now, let’s get into some of those behind-the-scenes beauty secrets, shall we…
TL;DR
Jennifer shares 6 Red Carpet Beauty Secrets Everyone Can Steal
Jennifer's product recommendations are shoppable via text links and image widgets
6 Red Carpet Beauty Secrets Everyone Can Steal
1. Implement Red Light Therapy into your Skincare Routine
This will probably be the most expensive “secret” I’m going to talk about here. But luckily it’s one that you can implement from the comfort of your home without going into a doctor/surgeon's office. And from my own personal experience with red light LED therapy, it has made a significant difference on my skin, in the BEST and most VISIBLE way possible!
Jennifer Aniston, 55, Paris Hilton, 43, and Nicole Kidman, 57 are just a few celebs that swear by red light therapy treatment. Why is it beneficial? These LED lights are used to improve skin tone, clarity, complexion, along with softening wrinkled appearances. It does this by promoting collagen production, reducing inflammation, and stimulating cell repair.
This is a fantastic option for anyone not wanting the more invasive things to improve their skin with such as needles, or extreme peels and lasers, or even surgery. I have worn my red light mask consistently 6 -7 days a week, 10 minutes a day, and for two solid months now.
And I have gotten more people in my life complimenting me on “how pretty my skin looks,” and I guarantee it’s due to this treatment I’ve been doing. Being able to wear this at home, for 10 minutes in my bed before I fall asleep, (the lights are cold btw, no heat) is so easy to do. I included my bare skin photos above so you can see my personal results + plus me wearing it - it does look wild, kinda perfect for Halloween! My skin looks better than I’ve seen it look in years though!
Try This: I use the Currentbody LED Face Mask Series 2, $469, but they also have their original one, $380, that isn’t as high-powered, but still effective. If you want to try out one of these masks, their company is offering 10% off at checkout if you use my code: JENNYSUE. Every little bit helps. It seems like a big investment, but if you were to go into an office to have a red light session done, it could cost anywhere between $50-$200 PER session. So you do the math on that one.
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2. Choose a Radiant Base Over Matte Skin
Have you seen Martha Stewart lately?? I always see Martha Stewart’s makeup artist, Daisy Toye, talk about how she never uses matte base on her older clients because it’s way too aging. As we age, our skin definitely tends to move towards the drier side, so we must inject a bit of hydration back into it. A gorgeous glowy base projects youthfulness without looking juvenile.
Try This: I used two key hydration/glowy pieces in my arsenal for this look today. First, is the K Beauty brand, Peach and Lily Glass Skin Veil Mist,$31 . I spritz this on my face about once a day to rejuvenate my dull skin, as well as spritzing it on right before I apply my face makeup to give it bounce and glow. This product has been around for years because it's one of their best-selling products.
I also applied the L’Oreal Lumi Glotion, $16, in shade “medium glow,” before I put my concealer and foundation on top. This is the actual product that Martha’s MUA Daisy uses on her most often! Also, a staple product for L’Oreal that sticks around because it’s beautiful and easy to use.
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3. Add in a Color Correcting Powder
I know I just mentioned not wearing a matte face, and now I’m mentioning powder! But powder placed in specific areas of the face is so beneficial. And instead of just your run-of-the-mill translucent powder, why not try a subtle color-correcting powder.
All makeup artists know they need to help neutralize discoloration such as blue or purple undertones under the eyes and to help hide dark melasma and age spots. Once you use a concealer to cover up and hide those issues, you have to SET that creamy concealer product to give it staying power and help disguise darkness along with brightening.
Doing some light correcting with a loose colored powder and a powder puff, is so simple. Press in a light sheer layer on top of that concealer so it gives the illusion of thicker skin under the eyes once you’ve taken the sheen away. Then apply by stippling another light layer into the T Zone area of the face to immediately brighten and set.
Fair to light skin should choose a pink-toned powder, while medium to dark skin should grab a peach or yellow powder to brighten.
Try This: Huda Beauty Easy Bake powders, $38, are the absolute best color-correcting powders. Be sure to check out their almost 5-star rating with over 11K reviews to believe me. I’m wearing the pink shade here, “Cherry Blossom” which actually has a faint cherry scent I looove, and the “peach pie” and “banana bread” are also popular color-correcting choices.
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4. Highlight Eyes With Bright White
After any eye makeup look has been created, you can add a touch of white shadow or white eyeliner to specific areas for a bit more pizzazz and brightness! Think Marilyn Monroe and her artist, Allan “Whitey” Snyder who used this shade to her advantage all of the time when did her makeup for movies.
Where to place the white…
- Add a dot of white shadow right along the tear duct area to brighten,
- then directly underneath and along the brow bone for lift,
- and lastly within the lower inner waterline of the eye to make eyes appear whiter - using a pencil here.
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If you’d prefer a bit more subtly, I wrote a whole tutorial on how to enhance your entire makeup look using a nude eyeliner.
Try This: I’ll never stop singing the praises of the Fake Awake pencils, $24, by tarte (available in bright white or nude- I own both) and I used the 2 bright white shades in my Stone Cold Fox palette, $35, I use constantly and is seriously a steal of a deal for a palette with so many super wearable shades it offers! My bullet brush used is this Morphe M321 brush, $6.
5. Heavy Contour is OUT. Soft Bronzer + Blush Combo is IN!
Once we hit 40, our faces are rapidly changing due to collagen and fat loss. This happens noticeably around the cheek area. This is because we lose our fat pads which gives us a more flat-faced appearance, as opposed to those youthful juicy apples we used to have there! But instead of harsh days of contouring, try this technique used by 53-year-old Gucci Westman, celeb makeup artist and creator of the luxury clean beauty brand, Westman Atelier.
Choose your favorite bronzer + blush to create a gentle lift and add color to this prominent area. Use the base of your nostrils as a guide. Place that blush up away from them, never near or below the nostril because it will actually drag the face downward. Blush placed very high on the cheekbone is best.
Then take your bronzer and sweep it around the perimeter of your face like a halo of warmth, then under the jawline and chin to create shadow. Finish with a light sweep of bronzer horizontally across the face in a W-shaped fashion - from temple, down to cheek, back up to bridge of nose, then repeat on the other side to form that W.
Try This: My duo of bronzer and blush are from Makeup By Mario. I’m wearing his Soft Sculpt Bronzer, $32, in “light medium,” and his Soft Pop Powder blush in “Creamy Peach,” $28, here. This Fenty Beauty Cheek Hugging Bronzer brush, $34, makes bronzing a breeze with its sculpted bristles that literally hug your cheekbones!
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6. Do Line Your Lips
A nightmare scenario of any red carpet star would be to get photographed with their lipstick smudging and bleeding around her mouth! This is easily preventable with a lip liner. Yes it’s an extra step, but it’s one that can be very useful and flattering.
By using a longwear lip liner, it ensures a barrier around the mouth that keeps your gloss or lipstick from bleeding out, and helps to create structure where needed as we age and lose a little definition along our upper and lower lips.
Try This: I find the Buxom Power Liners, $22, to be at the top of my must-have list because not only do they NOT require sharpening (roll up) but they include a tiny lip brush at the end that you can simply smudge out the liner to create a soft blur with! I’m wearing shade “Hi Def Honey,” a neutral nude, here. And this Patrick Ta Silky Lip Creme, $26, the formula is the perfect hybrid of a traditional lipstick, but in a soft cream finish! It seriously wraps onto the lips with intense color and wears like a soft velvet satin matte finish - a truly gorgeous product with long wear. I’m wearing the shade “Blushing,” in this post.
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The rest of my look details: You’ve seen me wear it a million times, this large statement Sandbar ring, $98, and Sequin NYC jewelry has kindly offered all of my readers 20% OFF any full-priced item, from now until the end of the year! Just use code: JENNY20 at checkout to receive this deal just in time to do some holiday shopping. // How fun are rhinestone tassel earrings to spice up any solid top?? Similar ones found on Nordstrom here, $48 and Macy’s here, $37. // Foundation worn in this post is a combo of many shades from my Make Up For Ever HD Skin Cream + Contour Palette, $88, it gives the most beautiful skin finish and is fun to play around with if you’re good with color correcting - very handy and mess-free. // A red halter top is the ultimate holiday must-have that is easy to dress up or down! Similar options to mine are found on Revolve here, $150, and here, $50, and Amazon here, $20.
With the holiday season right around the corner hopefully, one (or all!) of these red-carpet beauty secrets will help you when getting dolled up for your festivities! Here are 5 Fall Makeup Trends + Products you should consider trying this season as well!
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Yesterday, Beth and Kelly shared their Halloween celebration! Click the title or image below to read the article.
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