How stars prep their skin before the Oscars, according to an insider
It’s the momentous crescendo of awards season; the Academy Awards honour the year’s finest achievements in film, and the 2025 Oscars red carpet was suitably glittering. With all eyes, lights and lenses on the nominees and attendees, every element of the occasion is meticulously pre-planned, with skin prep being no exception.
“Skincare is the foundation of any red carpet look” says celebrity aesthetician Keren Bartov, responsible for the lit-from-within complexions of Academy Awards winners Mikey Madison and Zoe Saldaña and nominee Demi Moore (Best Actor winner Adrien Brody also benefitted from Bartov’s pre-event expertise). “I collaborate closely with make-up artists, hairstylists and a celebrities’ entire glam team to ensure that skin is prepped in a way that enhances their overall vision” she continues. “For example, if a make-up artist is creating a dewy, fresh look, I focus on deep hydration and radiance. If the aesthetic is matte and sculpted, I adjust skin preparation to the brief by refining skin texture and ensuring that oil is balanced so that make-up sits flawlessly on the skin.”
Bartov highlights that as well as taking into account Oscars red-carpet beauty looks, skin treatments and skincare regimens are also “tailored to suit each client’s skin type and event schedule.” That’s a lot of skin maths, and the fact that the Oscars takes place at the end of a thrilling but undeniably fatiguing awards season makes achieving radiant skin all the more challenging.
So, what’s the difference between a regular facial and an Oscars-worthy one? “The former tends to be more intensive and can include treatments like lasers, IPL, and deep resurfacing to target pigmentation, acne, and scarring” says Bartov. “These treatments may have temporary side effects such as redness or peeling and are best performed well in advance of an event” she adds.
“For the Oscars, I shift the focus to skin tightening, hydration and attaining instant radiance with zero downtime. The priority is to smooth, firm and enhance the skin’s glow to ensure it looks immaculate under bright lights and in front of ultra-HD cameras.”
An Oscars skin prep timeline
“Ideally clients will come to me for monthly treatments in advance of the Oscars; this means I can maintain skin health, boost skin cell renewal and deeply cleanse skin” says Bartov. She notes that Hollywood schedules don't always allow for as intensive preparation as you might imagine, so the following is Bartov’s most-followed pre-event skincare timetable.
Four-six weeks before: “This is the time for any deep treatments such as IPL, laser facials or resurfacing to address any pigmentation or texture concerns (if they’re needed)”.
One week before: “Facials are hydration-focused at this point, using peptides and gentle exfoliation to smooth and brighten skin.”
48 hours before: “This is a crucial time to get skin looking its best; my clients often come to my clinic for a gentle Glow Facial for even deeper hydration and instant firming and radiance.”
Oscars day: “For final prep I use cooling techniques, de-puffing massage and skincare that specifically enhances make-up longevity.”
In addition to the above, Bartov encourages clients to look after themselves as much as they can during the hectic Oscars run-up: “incorporating lots of omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins in the diet supports skin health and drinking plenty of water keeps skin hydrated and elastic. There’s a lot to be said for getting at least seven hours of sleep per night too – it’s essential for cellular renewal and it prevents signs of fatigue.”
The best skincare to use and treatments to book before an event
Skincare-wise, Bartov recommends “gentle acids to renew skin and create smooth, even texture. Just remember that it’s essential to use SPF daily after using an acid.” Also on her pre-event agenda are “peptides and antioxidants to boost skin elasticity and hydration and protect skin from environmental damage.”
As for treatments, “if the focus is to enhance the natural glow of a younger client, a treatment plan might involve a Glow Facial with deep hydration and LED therapy, a radiofrequency facial for subtle lifting and firming and lightweight serums applied to prep skin before make-up and make the base last longer.”
“When prioritising firming and sculpting as well as keeping skin luminous, I turn to TriLift by Lumenis; it’s an advanced in-clinic treatment that works on muscle lifting and skin tightening for a visibly sculpted, contoured look. I follow up with peptide-rich serums and cooling therapy to reduce puffiness and refine facial structure before make-up application.”
Bartov also advocates for ultrasound therapy to both stimulate collagen and enhance skin texture and loves at-home tech for prolonging and improving on the effects of professional treatments. She invented The Wand for exactly this purpose; “it’s a medical-grade device that blends radiofrequency, red light therapy and infrared technology. It also helps to enhance skincare absorption and stimulate blood flow [both fundamental elements of radiant pre-event skin]”.
The skin tech used by celebrity make-up artists is always very telling too; actress Mikey Madison’s make-up artist Melissa Hernandez used Current Body LED Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 2 on the red light setting before the Oscar’s ceremony for a “game-changing glow”, while Zoe Saldaña’s make-up artist Vera Steimberg used the same mask alongside the brand’s LED Neck & Décolletage Mask to help the actresses’ skin to bounce back from jet lag.
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
Even hairstylists embraced the energising, therapeutic powers of red light therapy, with Michelle Yeoh’s stylist Robert Vetica using Laduora DUO 4-in-1 Pod Based Scalp & Hair Care Device prior to creating the actresses’ shiny, polished updo.
DUO 4-in-1 Pod Based Scalp & Hair Care Device
Elsewhere, some good old-fashioned handiwork pays dividends before stepping out in front of the cameras. Celebrity facialist Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine was behind Cynthia Erivo’s gleaming skin, treating the actress to his signature rhythmical facial massage treatment before the Oscars, with extra suppleness supplied by new Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum applied by Eviro's make-up artist Joanna Simkin (soon to launch in the UK; until then try the plumping, cooling Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate).
Other facial massage devotees include Academy Award nominee Felicity Jones, who prepped her skin for the Oscars with lymphatic drainage and Barbara Sturm facials in advance before make-up artist Gina Kane administered a gua sha massage on the day using Lisa Eldridge Skin Enhancing Treatment Cleanser for balmy slip and “to leave skin primed and hydrated.”
Skin Enhancing Treatment Cleanser
Margaret Qualley’s skin was also left glowing after “a light facial massage and prep with Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream Illuminating Hydrating Fluid” according to her make-up artist Tyron Macchausen.
For Halle Berry’s candlelit complexion, make-up artist Hung Vanngo prolonged the effects of a stimulating facial massage with the new Chanel No1 Massage Accessory by applying Chanel Sublimage L’ Essence Lumière Ultimate Light-Revealing Concentrate before make-up.
Even just a simple skincare mist can work wonders to lock down both glow and make-up. Emma Stone’s make-up artist Rachel Goodwin used IS Clinical Copper Firming Mist both before and after make-up (“it’s everything!”) while make-up artist Kate Lee spritzed actress Emily Mortimer’s skin with Chanel Sublimage La Brume Intense Revitalizing Mist “to lock in an extra layer of moisture on the skin before applying her skincare and lightly refreshing the make-up look throughout the evening.”
Meanwhile, waterproof aloe-vera infused Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray kept Demi Moore and Michelle Yeoh’s complexion fresh from arrival to the after party.
Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
The skincare and skin treatments to avoid before an event
This isn’t the window to try a new retinol or have a run-in with a strong exfoliating acid; you risk a pre-event retinol purge or adverse reaction.
As for the skin-terventions to skip, Bartov advises giving deep peels a wide berth in the run up to a special occasion, as they tend to leave skin “sensitive or flaky.” As previously mentioned, many laser treatments and IPL “can cause redness and peeling”, so are best skipped too. “Last minute injectables such as filler and botulinum toxin are rarely a good idea either as they can result in unexpected swelling or bruising” (even if you’ve not experienced such side-effects before). Otherwise, glow forth.
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