• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Style
  • Oscars

11 Oscars red carpet fashion and beauty hacks straight from the pros

4:00
How fashion at the Oscars has evolved since the 1930s
GMA Photo Treatment, Getty
ByJacqueline Laurean Yates
February 08, 2020, 9:00 AM

Baby powder? Check. Duct tape? Check. Hairspray? Triple check!

Editor’s Picks

2019 Grammy's red carpet: What celebrities wore on music's biggest night

  • Feb 11, 2019

Oscars fashion through the decades: See top style moments from the 1930s and beyond

  • Feb 28, 2025

Recreate some of the most iconic celebrity Oscars red carpet looks for the daytime

  • Feb 18, 2019

These are just a few of the go-to essentials you might see tucked away in a celebrity stylist's kit during awards season.

Truth be told, while stars shine in all their glory on the red carpet, a lot of the magic happens at the hands of trusted glam teams who know how to pull out all their best tricks in a pinch.

The cool thing is that many of the hacks fashion stylists, makeup artists and hairstylists swear by are actually great takeaways we all can translate into our daily rituals to look and feel our best.

Related Articles

(MORE: 2019 Grammy's red carpet: What celebrities wore on music's biggest night)

"Good Morning America" got ahold of some of the most sought-after celebrity glam masters to reveal their go-to red carpet style hacks. Read ahead to see how to upgrade your style like the pros who know best.

Lupita Nyong'o attend the 87th Annual Academy Awards, Feb. 22, 2015, in Hollywood, Calif.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Win big with waterproof makeup

"Because award shows such as the Oscars can be emotional whether you are listening to powerful speeches or winning awards, you need waterproof makeup that won't budge," says celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff, who has been responsible for being "Empire" star Taraji P. Henson's right-hand makeup artist.

"I use waterproof makeup that includes lip liners, eyeliners, mascaras, concealer, smudge-proof eye, and cheek creams, as well as setting sprays that keep the face locked and loaded regardless of tears," she said.

Kick concealer chaos to the curb

When stepping out on the red carpet, there are plenty of cameras flashing, which can sometimes reveal every inch of makeup you're wearing if it isn't applied carefully.

Sheriff's trick for not getting concealer or highlighter flashback (an unflattering bright cast under the eyes when being photographed) is to mix a translucent powder with a colored powder. "This helps to offset the flashback and still keep the under-eye looking rested and fresh."

Taraji P. Henson attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards, March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, Calif.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Related Articles

(MORE: Recreate some of the most iconic celebrity Oscars red carpet looks for the daytime)

Stay static-free

For the 2019 Grammys, celebrity hairstylist Marcia Hamilton created a gorgeous sleek yet curly ponytail for Alicia Keys. To prevent any unwanted static in her hair, Hamilton sprayed Phytolaque Soie hairspray on her brush before brushing curls out to keep everything bouncy and free of flyaways.

Do use duct tape

It's hard to forget Kim Kardashian West's Instagram post where she revealed that she used duct-tape to keep her red carpet cleavage intact.

Janet Mandell, celebrity stylist and owner of By:Fashionaholic, has dressed big names such as Ariana Grande and Gigi Hadid. She agrees with Kim K's cleavage trick.

"Use duct tape to pull the breasts up instead of pasties," says Mandell. "Duct tape is much stronger, keeps the cleavage natural, and keeps your breasts up and tight all night long."

Sandpaper your shoes

"Walking in heels on any surface can be a recipe for disaster," says Mandell. "Add sandpaper to the bottom of your shoe to provide extra grip."

Ditch deodorant stains

Celebrity stylist Jenny Rodriguez has worked with everyone from red carpet host Giuliana Rancic to actress and reality star Kyle Richards.

She has seen her share of mishaps, but she knows just what to do when it comes to deodorant stains. "I’ve used a nylon sock to remove deodorant stains off dresses and it actually works really well."

Glow the right way

Whether it's on the red carpet or in real life, who doesn't love a radiant glow?

Celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Neil Scibelli has worked with the likes of supermodels Molly Sims and Elle Macpherson, and he recommends adding shine in the right areas of the face rather than all over.

"To keep the cheekbones looking fresh and dewy, I use a translucent powder away from the cheeks and focus on mattifying just on the center of the face -- between the brows, the sides of the nose, the center of the chin," he says. "This helps to bring out the highlights and high points of the face without looking oily during red carpet flashes."

Smile with your eyes

Keeping a gorgeous gaze can up the ante on any red carpet photo moment so why not play up your eye look?

"When clients want a more defined eye, without wearing anything too heavy, I use a chocolate-colored liner just along and slightly outside the lower lash line, says Scibelli. "This helps to define the eye shape and thicken the lash line."

To further give your smize more sparkle, Scibelli advises using light-reflecting eyeshadow shades. "When the camera flash hits a metallic textured pigment, it really lights up the eyes and brightens. We see this look used on the inner corners of the eyes as well, for an amazing 'wide-awake' pop."

Related Topics

  • Oscars

Editor’s Picks

2019 Grammy's red carpet: What celebrities wore on music's biggest night

  • Feb 11, 2019

Oscars fashion through the decades: See top style moments from the 1930s and beyond

  • Feb 28, 2025

Recreate some of the most iconic celebrity Oscars red carpet looks for the daytime

  • Feb 18, 2019

Up Next in Style—

Essential white T-shirts for summer, starting at under $10

July 17, 2025

Heidi Klum challenges new 'Project Runway' contestants to make her a dress

July 17, 2025

Going loco for Labubu: Why adults can't stop buying the collectible plush toy

July 4, 2025

Lululemon sues Costco for allegedly selling dupes of its popular products

July 1, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News