Max Duggan Silver Gown

Who hasn’t dreamt at least once about sweeping majestically down the red carpet at the Academy Awards in a ludicrously expensive haute couture plus-size evening gowns, looking years younger than you really are, of course, the envy of every eye? I know I have! But that 5-minute parade is only the grand finale of a process that takes hours, sometimes even days, to accomplish.

Even if you don’t have your very own glam squad, though, you can still fool the world into thinking you do with a few insider tricks from celebrities themselves. Google “How Celebrities Look Young,” and you will discover enough articles to keep reading long into your next life, but there are some tricks that pop up again and again.

Age-Defying Creams and Serums

LaMer Cream

First, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. There is no substitute for well-hydrated skin. From creams to serums, there are many over the counter as well as luxury skincare lines to keep mature skin supple. For over-the-counter, try Neutrogena Hydra Boost (I swear by their eye serum), Oil of Olay ProX, and R.O.C. Retinol. Luxury brands include La Mer, Lancome Premium Day Cream, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, and SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter. Look for ingredients that contain Hyaluronic Acid, which retains water to keep your skin moist.

Second, maintain a killer plus-size evening gowns outfit. You never know when that special occasion will occur when you need to wear something extra special. Consider these designs and retailers for red-carpet-worthy looks.

Red Carpet Worthy Plus Size Dresses

Carolina Herrera Dress

Max Duggal Emerald Gown

Plath Dress

A plus-size evening gowns outfit is not without shoes. For sizes up to 14, I recommend Nordstrom. However, you don’t have to wear stilettos to look great. There are great options in kitten heels. Check out my Kitten Heels post HERE.

Jewel Badgley Mischka – Women’s Robles Evening Pumps

Wear Sunscreen

Third, remember to wear sunscreen! No matter your skin complexion, overexposure to the sun can damage the skin. It’s frightening how even moderate sun exposure can wreak havoc on your complexion, and it sometimes takes years for the effects to surface. For morbid curiosity, ask your dermatologist to put your face under a U.V. camera to get a glimpse into your future (note: this is not recommended unless you are fully prepared for a shock)! But it’s not too late! Daily sun protection is essential at any age and choosing the right SPF for you is less daunting than it sounds. For the best coverage, find an SPF of at least 30 with a combination of both physical (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) and chemical (Octylcrylene, Avobenzone, Helioplex, and Mexoryl) sunscreens. See https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/choose-the-right-sunscreen.html for more information. Insider tip: if you have a darker skin tone and want to avoid that annoying whitish cast from SPF, warm it up in your hands first and then apply.

Remember that the creamier a product is, the better. As we age, our skin loses its ability to hold onto precious moisture so choosing creamy formulations in both skincare and makeup products is a must.

What Do Your Brows Say?

Fourth, make sure your brows fit your face. Eyebrow care is essential and can literally make or break a red carpet (or every day, for that matter) look because they are the frame for the entire face. Throughout our lives, our face shapes change and our brows must change with them. This is why I would do not recommend permanent eyebrows! If yours are sparse, it’s extremely easy to fill them in and change them as you need with makeup. Watch the video to show you how.

Balanced Diet and Exercise

Fifth, maintain a balanced diet and exercise routine. Sorry, but there’s simply no way around this! Even if you don’t have time or energy to work out for 8 hours a day like some celebrities do, any exercise is better than nothing. Try incorporating even small amounts of exercise into your routine that can only take about 10 minutes at a time, like walking. You may start to see results after only a few weeks.

The word “diet” is a 4-letter word in more ways than one but it does not have to be extreme. Simple changes like drinking one more glass of water than normal every day and cutting out one glass of soda will have a dramatic effect on your skin, bringing you one step closer to that coveted red carpet glow.

Get Your Sleep

Sixth, get more sleep! Sure, stars have insanely busy schedules but the successful ones all manage to make time to squeeze in their Zzzzs. Your skin will thank you for turning out the lights even just 30 minutes earlier than normal.

Seek Professional Advice for Customized Style

Last, but certainly not least, for skincare and clothing fit, seek professional advice! There’s a reason why beauty industry professionals exist and they can be your best friends in the battle against looking more mature than you want. The key is finding the right ones for you; there is no “best” product or service because everyone has different skin types, concerns, genetics, lifestyles, etc, so be prepared for some trial and error. For truly unbiased recommendations, I’d recommend going to a store like Sephora (https://www.sephora.com/) where the employees are not on commission and are thoroughly trained in multiple skincare and makeup brands. Keep a good seamstress on hand for the best fitting clothes.

See you on the red carpet!

Until Next Time…

The Cultured Curves Team