Lights, camera, action. The Oscars are on the horizon and as the stars enjoy the spotlight, we've uncovered their sneaky tricks to picture perfection that they prefer to keep in the dark.
Sustainance
Perhaps it's not the most obvious (or healthy!) pre-ceremony ritual, but Beyoncé has been known to munch a McDonald's meal before hitting the red carpet. Whether rumour or reality, it's clear from her toned body that she prepares weeks in advance to look her best.
Arm toning
Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu all focus their work-out on their arms before a red-carpet event. "It's the most visible part of a women when she's wearing a gown," says their trainer, Teddy Bass. And let's face it, no-one want to have their batwings wobbling as they wave to fans.
Carb ban
Before a red-carpet event, Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Biell eliminate starchy carbs, get the junk food out of their houses and do circuit and interval training. It's a sure-fire way to streamline the waist for a figure-hugging gown.
Brow perfection
Jennifer Lopez and Madonna know that the brows frame the face and can make or break a great photograph. These stars reportedly carry an eyebrow pencil and a clear eyebrow gel in their bags for touch-ups.
Added fibre
Demi Moore and Sharon Stone stay "regular" and get into shape for an awards show by eating prunes. It prevents bloating on your big night out.
Cardio cruch
Two to three weeks before an event personal trainer to celebrities Jenna Phillips gets her male star clients, such as Ben Stiller, to do a "Mission Possible" workout. The work-outs are conducted six days a week for 45 minutes in the morning and at night, including cardio and weight training.
Skin plumping
Facialist to the stars, Sonya Dakar, gets her clients — including Drew Barrymore and Gwyneth Paltrow — to eat dark or brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and drink water. This helps detoxify the skin tissue and helps plump and hydrate the skin from within.
Go green
Cameron Diaz eats lettuce, cabbage and other green leafy vegetables before hitting the red carpet. It fills the tummy and turns off the hunger signals to the brain.
Fake bake
The tanorexic Victoria Beckham never leaves for a red-carpet event without looking tanned.
Skin polish
Queen Latifah uses her grandmother's old homespun trick to make her skin shine for the red carpet, using baking soda as an exfoliant.
VPL alert
Forget Neil Lane Jewellery, Heidi Klum wears her own line on the red carpet: The Heidi Klum Collection. And if she ever wears a low-cut dress she wears the strapless strap-on Victoria's Secret bra or Victoria's Secret nipple covers.
Beauty
sleep Gunnar Peterson, trainer to stars such as Penélope Cruz and JLo, gets his clients to have an eight-hour sleep before a red-carpet event and do to one hour or cardio and weights in the morning.
Botox fix
Finally the big Botox secret is out. While Lisa Rinna and Vanessa Williams are two red-carpet celebrities willing to dish the Botox dirt, Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr Stuart Kaplan says most celebrities get their Botox injections three weeks before walking the red carpet and it's not just crow's feet and frown lines.
Wait for it: Botox injections are now being used for the balls of the feet for comfort in stiletto heels; for under the arms when they're accepting their award and they don't want it to be sweating; and for the backs of their hands so when they're accepting their award it looks plump and youthful, not old and wrinkled.
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