Glam Slam: The Friday Five — Red Carpet Tricks For Real Life

The Oscars are a week away and all the stars are working on getting red carpet ready. You may not be red carpet bound, but who doesn’t want to look fabulous, whether it’s for a simple date night or an elegant wedding you’re attending.

InStyle reveals red carpet beauty tricks that work in real life.

1. Glow For It: 4-12 Weeks Before
If you’re breakout-prone, start a serious skin-care regimen 3 months in advance; otherwise, 1 month ahead is fine. Use an antioxidant-rich moisturizer with peptides to boost collagen nightly and be sure to exfoliate twice a week, says facial expert Kate Somerville whose clients include Debra Messing, Lea Michele and Renee Zellweger.

2. Boost Your Color: 1 Week Before
Color needs time to set, so do it at least 1 week before a big event, says colorist Lorri Goddard-Clark of Prive Salon in L.A., whose clients include Jennifer Garner, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. If you’re coloring at home, do a test strand first. End result too dark? Mix 1 cup baby shampoo and 2 tbs. baking soda; apply to your hair for 5 minutes. About 80 percent of the color should come out when you rinse.

3. Earn the Bronze: 2-5 Days Before
Work your whole body with exfoliating gloves or a loofah, but avoid moisturizing before you apply a fake tan, advises spray-tan guru Jimmy Coco, who has worked with Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and the Victoria’s Secret Angels. DHA, the chemical that changes your skin’s pigment, adheres better to dry, clean skin, he says.

4. Nail It: 1 Day Before
Matching your fingers and toes when choosing polish is a bit out-dated, “like matching your shoes to your handbag,” says manicurist Ashlie Johnson, whose clients include Megan Fox, Kate Hudson and Eva Mendes. A more modern combination: nude fingers and crimson toes. “Chanel’s Dragon is a classic red. It looks good on everybody!”

5. Put Your Best Face Forward: 1 Hour Before
For a big night out, it’s critical to start with primer. “It’s my secret weapon,” says makeup pro Kate Lee, who swears by Laura Mercier’s oil-free gel. “It removes shine and fills in pores.” The best part? It helps foundation glide on smoothly and last all night, says Lee whose clients include Kate Bosworth, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley.

For more red carpet beauty tips, check out the March issue of InStyle on newsstands now and www.InStyle.com.