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By Alexis Farah
"Celebrities have great skin, but it takes a lot of work," says Jessica Wu, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at USC Medical School and a dermatologist in Los Angeles. "In fact, most of them have a team of beauty pros that travel with them and get them ready for the camera. But you can look your best at home by stealing some of their secrets." We asked the beauty pros to share the skin care tips they use to make sure the most gorgeous celebrities always have healthy, glowing skin from head to toe.
Celebrity Secrets to Healthy, Glowing Skin
Dewy, Even Complexion(01 of06)
"Everyone sees your face before they get to know you or speak with you -- it's your first impression," says Jeannette Graf, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.And these A-listers make a beautiful impression. Julianne Moore, Penélope Cruz, and Renée Zellweger have skin so dewy and fresh they've become complexion icons. The key here is that they don't have sun damage, says Francesca Fusco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "Sunscreen 24/7 is a must, even when indoors, in cars, and on planes where UVA comes through the windows."Celebs fight blocked pores and acne with in-office treatments like microdermabrasion, facials, and peels, and by keeping their hands off their flawless faces. "Don't cup your chin, and keep your hair out of your face, especially since styling products are a major aggravator of acne," says Dr. Graf. "And swab your phone regularly with an alcohol pad to clean off oil and makeup, since bacteria can be transferred to the skin." (credit:FilmMagic)
Spotless Décolleté(02 of06)
It's no surprise that Eva Longoria and Uma Thurman are often sporting low-cut or V-neck gowns at red-carpet events. Their décolleté has a radiant glow that creates the appearance of healthy, vibrant skin. Ward off sun spots from the start like Uma and Eva with a daily application of SPF of 30 or higher.This area is thinner and more prone to sun spots and wrinkles, so these ladies are probably using facial anti-aging creams. "Look for creams with ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, coffeeberry, and peptides to keep the skin on the chest area youthful," says Dr. Fusco. (credit:Getty Images)
Unblemished Shoulders(03 of06)
Kate Winslet and Jessica Biel stand tall with perfect posture and healthy, blemish-free shoulders. "Beautiful, toned shoulders can make an outfit look spectacular," says Dr. Graf. "Skin care for this area should involve routine exfoliation of dead skin and lots of moisturizer."Opt for rich moisturizers with ceramides or glycerin, since the skin is a bit thicker on your shoulders. Try Dr. Fusco's healthy skin tip for keeping the area ultrahydrated: Apply a generous amount of warmed moisturizer to your shoulders, then put on a cotton T-shirt and wear it overnight.These experts agree these ladies aren't doing any heavy lifting that could cause shoulder marks. Avoid constricting clothing like straps and shoulder bags, which can cause dents, chafing, and redness. "If you have a heavy bag, it is better to divide the load into two separate bags, and carry one on each side," adds Dr. Graf. (credit:Getty Images)
Bump-Free Arms(04 of06)
Michelle Obama and Jennifer Aniston have more in common than their fashion icon status -- they both have flawless and impressively defined arms. "Arms require a lot of maintenance, and I'm sure these women put a lot of energy into their arms," says Dr. Fusco.Keratosis pilaris, a condition in which excess dead skin clogs follicles and causes red bumps on the backs of the arms, plagues 40 percent of adults (even some celebs) and can make healthy skin look flawed. The condition is not curable but can be minimized. Exfoliate the area first, then use a moisturizer with pore-cleansing ingredients like urea and AHAs (alpha hydroxyl acids), or see your doctor for more aggressive treatments.Elbows tend to look dark and flaky, but Jennifer and Michelle likely keep theirs soft with exfoliation and lotions with rich emollients like petroleum, ceramides, or glycerin, which locks moisture into the skin. (credit:Getty Images)
Flawless Back(05 of06)
Ever notice how Maria Menounos and Heidi Klum like to turn their backs to the camera? Their smooth, clear skin makes a good case for putting one's backside forward. Since the back is a challenge to reach, these celebs and their teams must come up with clever ways to keep the area red-carpet-worthy. You can, too, by treating bacne (acne breakouts on your back) with new and advanced formulas designed for the area. Dr. Fusco recommends the new benzoyl peroxide foams (like Benz-E-Foam).Something else you can use a hand with: "Ask someone to help you apply an at-home peel system to your back to further smooth and even out tone," says Dr. Fusco. Of course, celebs may reach for spray sunscreens, self-tanners, and moisturizers like dry oil spray if they opt for a DIY process. (credit:Getty Images)
Smooth Legs(06 of06)
Jennifer Lopez and Blake Lively own the "best legs" category for their smooth, lean, and perfectly sculpted specimens. They're on their feet shooting for hours, so these celebs may use a supplement like horse chestnut extract to keep vein walls intact and prevent the appearance of varicose veins, says Dr. Fusco. You can pick up horse chestnut extract at your local health food store.To develop Blake's and Jennifer's enviable leg muscle tone, doing cardio, squats, lunges and calf raises (several sets each), is the way to go, Dr. Graf suggests.The last step to keeping your legs photo ready is moisture. Avoid long, hot showers, which can suck hydration out of your skin, and smooth on a quenching lotion twice a day, paying special attention to ultradry spots like knees, ankles, and Achilles tendon. (credit:Getty Images)