Prepping For Your Very Own Red-Carpet Moments

It’s no secret Joanna Czech spends a massive amount of time prepping her superstar clients for major events. And while the awards season leading up to the Oscars in late February or early March is “crunch time” for the A-list esthetician, September is jam-packed, too. With New York Fashion Week followed by the Emmys, Joanna is booked around the clock.

Of course, fall brings a full schedule of special events for you, too. Back in the city after time spent at the beach or in the country, your calendar is filling up. Whether it’s a black-tie wedding or a fundraiser for your favorite philanthropic organization, you’ll want to look great.

And, as always, looking great starts with stellar skin from head to toe.

Here, a roadmap – and Joanna’s favorite products, tips and tricks -- for making the most of your own red-carpet moments.

1. Add these face & body must-haves to your regimen ASAP

 In a perfect world, you’re already consistent with your skincare. If that’s not the case, it’s time to dive into a daily regimen packed with Joanna’s must-haves for face and body.

In addition to the Joanna Czech Skincare essentials found in her signature collection, The Kit (The Toner, The C+ Serum, The Soothing Serum, The Cream, The Balm, The Cleansing Wipes and The Face Mask), Joanna suggests stocking up on the following:

Face Must-Haves:

• Serum powered by the proper form of vitamin A: It’s one of the most powerful skincare ingredients on the market, but vitamin A can be sensitizing. To avoid skin reactivity, stick with vitamin A creams that work their magic (accelerating cell turnover, stimulating collagen production, minimizing lines and wrinkles and brightening hyperpigmentation) without generating redness and irritation. One of Joanna’s favorites? Environ's Vita-Peptide C-Quence Serum 4 Plus. As part of Environ’s Youth EssentiA collection, it contains a high concentration of vitamin A in the form of Retinyl Palmitate. Joanna swears by Retinyl Palmitate because it is the form that is least likely to cause skin reactivity. To learn more about Retinyl Palmitate, go here.

• Targeted masks to address breakouts: Prone to breakouts – especially when you’re under stress for a big event? Stop them in their tracks before they even start. To do this, Joanna recommends Protective Nourishment Pumpkin Peel Mask + Spot Treatment. Fueled by pumpkin and 5% Glycolic Acid, it delivers a one-two punch of exfoliation and enzymatic cell turnover. It can be used as a blemish spot treatment, but make sure to use it in moderation because of its exfoliating and enzymatic power. Additional options for oily, acne-prone complexions include two masks by Biologique Recherche: the lactic acid-enriched Masque Vivant and Masque VIP 02, which taps marine white clay to purify alongside soothing cucumber extract. If you’re struggling with congestion or breakouts, mix the two masks together before applying to regulate excess oil production and redue breakouts. The result will be purified skin.

• DIY micro-current and laser devices: To support pro treatments by your esthetician, be sure to do your part with DIY micro-current and laser tools. Two devices Joanna regularly recommends for her clients: NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device and LYMA Laser.

Body Must-Haves:

• Neck and décolletage treatment: Joanna’s a firm believer that skincare should never stop at the chin. To keep crepey skin, vertical lines and sagging at bay, she suggests Exquisite Face & Body Neck & Decollete Renewing Sheet Masks.
• Cellulite-busting massage gloves: No matter how much we exercise, skin dimples can still crop up on our abdomen and thighs. To help reduce the appearance of cellulite, Joanna suggests a brisk, in-shower rubdown with the Biologique Recherche Massage Glove. The dual-sided silicone glove not only helps loosen accumulated fat, it also preps the skin for the penetration of active ingredients. Which leads us to the next recommendation…
• Post-shower luxe body care: Damp skin is especially receptive to hydration. To maximize this moment, Joanna recommends slathering skin with Environ’s Alpha Hydroxy Derma-Lac Lotion and Vitamin A, C, E body oil as soon as you step out of the shower, using the Biologique Recherche Massage Glove. Not only does this rich formula soften rough, callused elbows, heels and feet, it energizes tired-looking skin, imparting that big-moment radiance you’re seeking.

 2. Step up your wellness and self-care

 While a consistent skincare routine is the cornerstone of looking great for your own personal red-carpet moments, it’s just one piece of the get-gorgeous puzzle.

According to Joanna, big events require stepped-up levels of… 

• Movement: Exercise is a recognized stress-reliever that can help you look your absolute best on your big day by boosting oxygen intake and stimulating lymph drainage. Don’t forget to stimulate vitamin D production to improve your mood. Get twenty minutes of sunlight on your arms and legs without sunscreen. Less stress = more radiance.
• Sleep: Deep, restorative sleep is great for your skin and even better for your mindset. Sleep keeps stress hormones and inflammation under control, to help prevent conditions like acne or eczema from getting worse.
• Hydration: While it may sound counterintuitive, proper hydration both plumps facial skin and has a slimming effect on the body. So yes, make sure you’re getting plenty of H20, but also stock up on water-draining tomatoes, green apples and dandelion tea.

 3. Stick with tried-and-true spa and derm procedures

With a big event looming, it’s only natural to want to sample virtually everything your esthetician has to offer – even treatments you’ve never even considered before.

In a word…don’t.

“Here’s what I warn everyone about prior to a big event: make sure you don’t make any drastic changes,” says Joanna. “This is not the time for lasers, Botox or any dramatic treatments.”

Instead, Joanna advises working with your esthetician to build a treatment menu that focuses on hydration, mild exfoliation and deep tissue facial massage to boost blood flow and subtly shape the contours of the face.

To prep her film and television clients for the Emmys this year, Joanna relied heavily on facials performed with the OxyLight. The futuristic-looking face device, developed by RAJA Medical, delivers a cross-modality mix of oxygen therapy, red and blue LED light therapy, microcurrent and more.

As long as you have plenty of time prior to your own red-carpet event, Joanna urges all clients to consider a treatment with the OxyLight, which is incorporated into every Joanna Czech Studio facial and can really address a multitude of skin issues. Just don’t leave it for the last minute…

4. Plan your “day of” very, very carefully

Got a facial booked for the “day of”? Unbook it right now.

“I don’t like aggressive, last-second treatments – the so-called ‘red carpet facials’ -- the day of for my clients, because very often the skin is heated and makeup artists don’t like it,” says Joanna. “Instead, I touch them gently with a little microcurrent and gels. I don’t massage the face then because it heats up the skin.”

In fact, not only should heat of any kind be avoided, Joanna suggests chilling your favorite sheet mask and deploying that for a much-needed time-out. This a far more de-puffing, soothing – and effective – way to prep the skin for the more elaborate special event makeup to come later.

“Chilled eye patches are also a great idea at this time,” says Joanna. “I love keeping mine in the fridge for an extra pick-me-up.”