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Article by BR Georgiana
I already told you about my undissimulated love for anything Oscar, but I don’t think I mentioned the envy (genuine, feminine envy, I’m sure you know what I mean) I feel every time I see those camera-ready strands, the plump, dewy faces and the sculpted bodies underneath the proverbial mermaid dresses.
I have been jealous of the Hollywood divas until I found out that they don’t really roll out of bed looking like the dolls they are on the red carpet. Each of these ladies has an army of beauty and fashion gurus standing in her shade with a quick-fix for every possible flaw. The maths is simple: actresses are women, and women have flaws. There is no such thing as perfection.
Even if you and I are not movie stars, that doesn’t mean we can’t look the part when we want to. This is why I figured you might be interested in some red carpet tips and tricks used by celebrities. In my opinion, some of them are really worth guinea pigging before a special event, so read on and enjoy!
A Sweaty Face? What’s That?
If there is something celebrities really want on the red carpet that is a sweat-free face. They do interviews, smile for photographers and meet and greet fellow actors, so they need to keep a dry face and their make-up in place. This is why many of them spritz their faces with unscented deodorant before they proceed with the make-up. The antiperspirant controls sweat just like it does with underarms, especially in areas with the most sweat glands: hairline and upper lip. However, since these deodorants are not meant for facial use, you might want to test them first on a tiny area of your skin. Spray and pose!
Oops! There Goes Pepto Bismol
Yes, the treatment that calms down upset stomachs, you read that right. Anyone can deal with a squeamish stomach before sashaying on the red carpet, of course, but it’s not the tummies of the famous I am talking about here.
Make-up artists swear by Pepto Bismol for mega-glowy skin. Its main ingredient, bismuth subsalicylate, delivers a one-of-a-kind facial peel, leaving skin clear and tight, with no open pores in sight. Imagine an army of divas coating their faces with a layer of Pepto. Funny, right? Apparently the thick liquid dries up blemishes and tightens pores like nothing else.
Would you give it a try?
Not a Spot in Sight
For unexpected spots and zits celebs have a lethal weapon: nasal spray or Visine.
Dermatologists explain that these are vasoconstrictors which act like topical steroids: they shrink blood vessels so they work great on embarrassing red pimples, also reducing dark circles and puffy eyes.
This one sounds pretty interesting, wouldn’t you say?
In Love with Spanx
Girls, rejoice! I found out that squeezing a body into a super-slim dress can be a daunting task even for silver screen divas. If it weren’t for the spanx, we would not see so many flat tummies and perfectly-shaped thighs on that red carpet.
The tight tights literally suck you up, and they are the can’t-step-out-in-the–spotlight-without item for stars like Gwyneth Paltrow (yes, you heard me!), Carrie Underwood or Julia Roberts. Jessica Alba loves how her lumps and bumps are instantly smoothed out, Katherine Heigl hearts them so that she wore a pair even under her wedding gown and Cate Blanchett turned to the precious tights in her post-baby days. What can I say?
Spanx you very much for the tip, ladies!
Keeping Your Babies in Place
A-listers are famous for their gravity-defying Oscar dresses. The problem is keeping the important things covered.
Bodices can tumble south in a split second with the wrong move, and that is why the double-sided tape was invented.
With one side that sticks to the garment and one to the skin, it allows celebs to secure even the most dangerous décolletés.
Not a Step without Shoe Pads
Do you really think Hollywood stars are better than us at wearing high heels for hours? Not at all!
But the trick they use is to slip gel shoe pads into their sky high stilettos for comfy foot cushioning. This also helps when the shoes are a tad too big and ladies are still dying to wear them.
Smart, right?
Smile…it’s Vaseline!
This must be one of the silliest things I have ever heard, but apparently there are celebrities who do it!
In order to hold a smile throughout the big day they dab Vaseline on their gums, sonot to get a dry mouth, especially when they need to be in interviews and photo shoots.
The taste of Vaseline is actually so nasty that no one wants to close their lips and feel it. So they just keep smiling. No comment.
Hold on to that Dryer Sheet!
Celebs dread static cling!
You know, when hair gets all frizzy and flyaways start going right and left.
That is why they sometimes rub dryer sheets on their hair (and clothes) in order to get rid of static frizz and tame their manes.
How weird is this stuff? But admit it, right now you are tempted to use at least one of these red carpet tricks and feel a bit of a diva! After finishing this article I am heading to buy my first pair of spanx ever. Planning on wearing a super-tight dress in a couple of months. Now I know I will rock it!
So, are these red carpet tricks Yay or Nay for you? Show me your true colours, ladies!
They need to invent a proper face antiperspirant! Sounds weird and kinda gross but I always get too hot and sweaty in summer and half my face melts off leaving me with that dreaded white mo!