You may not have received your red carpet invite yet, but there’s no reason you can’t look red carpet ready… just in case. Why not steal the top beauty secrets the pros use to get their celebrity clients ready for the red carpet and apply them right in the comfort of your own home? After all, who says you can’t wear red carpet glam on date night or to your next office party?
Celebrities have an entire team of professional stylists, makeup artists, and skincare gurus to help them look perfect for the paparazzi. And, luckily for us mere humans, those pros are willing to share a few of their tips and tricks to help you look like you belong on the red carpet, too. Here are eight red carpet beauty secrets from the pros who’ve been there!
1. Fool the Eye with Contrasting Colors
While mixing your lights and darks together in the wash is a quick way to ruin your favorite clothes, it can actually be an amazing idea when you’re building and outfit.
According to celebrity stylist Anita Patrickson, it’s a super easy technique that takes advantage of contrast to flatter your figure. She recommends pairing a dark bottom with a light top. This will give the appearance of a slimmer waist in seconds and draw the eye toward your face… and away from any trouble spots you might want to hide.
2. Body Shapers Are a Girl’s Best Friend
All celebrities have perfectly smooth bodies, right? How else could they get away with wearing those skin tight, barely-there dresses? Actually, no. Body shapers (like Spanx) are a girl’s best friend on the red carpet!
In fact, Kim Kardashian says she doesn’t hesitate to wear two pairs of body shapers at a time when she feels she needs them. How does she get away with it? She’s careful not to choose two different lengths so there aren’t multiple visible seams.
3. A Good Skincare Routine is Non-Negotiable
Clear skin is something you have to work at every day. No matter how skilled you are at applying makeup, it’s always going to look best on blemish-free, smooth, well-hydrated skin. And, when it comes to makeup, less is more…so, if you’ve been good about taking care of your skin, you won’t need nearly as much makeup.
Actresses like Lucy Hale and Olivia Palermo swear by a K-beauty inspired skincare routine, and they get very serious about it in the weeks leading up to a big event. Olivia turns to Korean toners that have fermented ingredients and botanical extracts to hydrate, soothe, and plump up the skin. And Lucy’s must-haves are Korean facial masks that contain charcoal to draw out impurities and botanicals like green tea to keep skin clear and minimize redness.
4. Find a Good Tailor
Having your clothes custom-tailored may sound a little over the top, but you might be surprised to find that it’s actually pretty affordable. And, stylists are quick to point out that it makes all the difference when you want to look ready for the red carpet.
Celebrity stylist Jennifer Mazur says every stylist has a favorite tailor they use for their clients. She says it’s super important for clothes to fit perfectly and comfortably like they were made just for you. Don’t ever head out onto the red carpet if you’re not feeling your best!
5. Yes, You Can Make a Bold Red Lip Last All Night
There’s nothing like a beautiful, bold red lip to make you look red carpet ready. But if it smears all over your face or wears off in 20 minutes, it’s going to ruin your look pretty fast.
Celebrity makeup artist, Joanna Schlip has a tasty solution for this problem- believe it or not, Jell-O is the answer! Simply wet your lips, dip your fingers into a packet of red Jell-O and tap into the lips to create a long-lasting, smear-proof stain that will stay in place for hours.
6. Get the Illusion of an Hourglass Figure in Seconds
We all know that the only way to get an hourglass figure is through a healthy diet and exercise. But you can score the illusion of red carpet-worthy curves in seconds with a simple wardrobe trick.
Celebrity stylist Tara Swennen says that any top that cinches in at the waist but has a slightly longer length will create an hourglass look. She also says the look is classic and it won’t ever go out of style, so it’s one you can invest in with confidence.
7. Find Your Go-to Pose
If you want to look like you’re ready for a walk down the red carpet, you need a go-to pose. Whatever you do, don’t just stand there looking awkward when someone’s taking photos! It doesn’t have to be anything complicated… simply putting one hand on your hip can make you look more confident.
Red carpet fashion photographer Dave Bennet says most people don’t look amazing when they’re photographed straight on. Simply putting one hand on your hip and elongating the leg creates a more defined waist and hips… and that’s what we all want, right? Be sure to practice the pose in a mirror before your big event so you don’t feel awkward in front of the camera!
8. Consider a Tummy Massage
This is one red carpet beauty secret that sounds a little strange, but it comes from none other than Vicky Vlachonis (whose clients include Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz), so you know it’s got to be good! She says having a tummy massage is her favorite trick for helping her celeb clients look amazing in those skin tight dresses.
According to Vlachonis, a tummy massage makes space for the diaphragm muscle, which holds a lot of tension when you’re stressed or anxious. By increasing blood flow to that area, it helps to get rid of bloating, flatten the tummy, and improve digestion. Best of all, it’s a technique you can easily learn to do on yourself!
Wrapping It Up
Clearly, getting red carpet ready isn’t an instant process, but that doesn’t mean you need a whole team of pros to help you get there. When you know the secrets of those who make beauty their business, you can look just as glamorous as any celebrity… even if you’re just headed out to lunch with the girls or hitting the town with your man!
