The Best Red Carpet–Ready Facials From Coast to Coast

While the theme of this year’s Costume Institute exhibition and Monday’s Met Gala, “Manus x Machina,” may have been conceived with fashion in mind, the motif of technology can also be found in the beauty treatments that will prime and prep attendees for their red carpet moments. And whether you’re walking up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art or walking down the aisle this summer, the most cutting-edge pre-event facials can now be found in cities from coast to coast. These skincare gurus, cult facialists, and dermatologists advocate high-tech machines including infrared LED light, radio frequency, and microcurrent devices—often in combination with classic massage techniques—for an event-worthy glow. Here, a guide to the top experts nationwide for radiant big-night-out skin.

 

NEW YORK CITY

 

David Colbert, M.D.
The Illumino Lift Facial from New York City dermatologist Dr. David Colbert, M.D., takes his signature three-step, no-downtime Triad Facial to new heights with the addition of radio frequency, his Illumino Anti-Aging Brightening Mask, and an infrared light massage. “Makeup goes on flawlessly afterward,” he promises. “And the skin reflects light better for perfect photography on the red carpet.” After a quick power nap on his Collagen Bed—during which full-body red light therapy plumps and firms the skin—followed by an application of Illumino Body oil over the arms, legs, and décolletage, you’ll be primed to party until dawn.
119 Fifth Avenue, 4th floor; nydermatologygroup.com

Heyday Pop-Up at Tenoverten
Pressed for time? Go straight from the office to the ball with a quick pit stop at Heyday’s pop-up (open through Memorial Day) at Tenoverten’s Financial District location. Quickie 30-minute appointments forego extractions to avoid irritation and focus instead on refreshing and plumping, leaving plenty of time for an add-on Phototherapy Red Light enhancement to banish dark under-eye circles—and a Tenoverten polish change. With bookings available via the app and services running until 8:00 p.m., think of it as a working girl’s Cinderella service.
121 Fulton Street, 2nd floor; thinkheyday.com

Joanna Vargas
An “instant facelift” is how skincare guru Joanna Vargas describes her Forever Facial. “The results are as close as you can get without going under the knife,” she says of the treatment, which combines radio frequency with vitamin-infused oxygen. For a flawless complexion from head to toe, Vargas recommends full-body microdermabrasion using a state-of-the-art diamond-tipped wand followed by a raw coconut rub to infuse the skin with omega-3 fatty acids for a preternatural glow.
501 Fifth Avenue; joannavargas.com

 

LOS ANGELES

 

RPK at Lancer Dermatology
RamPrakash Khalsa—or RPK, as she’s known to her devoted clientele—has inspired a cultlike following, thanks to her unique hippie-meets-high-tech philosophy. A regimen of olive oil facial cleansing, a leafy green–heavy diet, and daily yoga practice coexists peacefully alongside SilkPeel Dermalinfusions, LED lights, microcurrent treatments, medical-grade vitamin serums, and stem cell masks. With a deft hand at exfoliation, RPK has everyone from the Hollywood awards season crowd to L.A.’s burgeoning tribe of wellness influencers ditching the foundation for a beatific inner glow after just a couple of sessions.
440 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills; lancerskincare.com

Yolanda Mata
Industry insiders have this under-the-radar esthetician on speed dial due to her meticulous attention to detail—the skin on your hands, neck, elbows, and even inside of the ears is given the same attention as the face—and her super-gentle extractions that allow clients to go straight from her treatment table to the red carpet. A devotee of Tatcha’s Japanese-inspired skin-care line, Yolanda Mata ends every treatment with a facial massage using a set of custom-made Akari gold leaf–covered acupressure wands that melt away tension and relax the forehead in a way that Botox can only aspire to.
By appointment only; yomata9@yahoo.com

 

SAN FRANCISCO

 

Kristina Holey
Known for her holistic approach to skin health, bespoke treatment plans, and hand-blended serums and masks, Kristina Holey advocates preparing for several days leading up to a big event. “I put the focus and attention to the internal body and lifestyle,” she says. That means cutting down on sugar and salt, swapping out caffeine and alcohol for warm water with lemon, and getting your eight hours of sleep. “On the day of, I skip masks, as the reaction may be unknown, especially if emotions or nerves are involved,” she explains. Instead, she works on stimulating the skin with massage to increase circulation, promote lymphatic drainage, and create a glow that radiates from the inside out.
864 Post Street; kristinaholey.com

Angelina Umansky at Spa Radiance
Russian-born esthetician and spa owner Angelina Umansky is the go-to for “Pacific Heights ladies who go to events three times a week,” as she puts it. Her Quadruple Lift Facial uses lymphatic massage, Biologique Recherche masks and serums, microcurrents, and a deep-muscle massage technique Umansky learned from her great-grandmother. The Lift Body Treatment—which also uses full-body lymphatic drainage and seaweed to instantly firm and lift—takes off inches in just one session.
3011 Fillmore Street; sparadiance.com

 

DALLAS

 

Joanna Czech
A-list complexion-whisperer Joanna Czech’s pre-party treatment of choice? The Oxylight Facial, which kicks off with diamond microdermabrasion for improved skin texture and tone while also leaving the skin more receptive to LED light waves, ultrasound, microcurrents, oxygen, vitamin exfoliation, and her secret weapon: La Mer’s The Perfecting Treatment. Czech also recommends daily massage using the Biologique Recherche Body Glove in the days leading up to an event. “This evens the skin tone and even helps combat the appearance of dimples,” she says.
2410 Victory Park Lane; joannaczech.com

 

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

 

Melanie Simon
Melanie Simon’s signature Chemistry Facial—which involves three different forms of electricity including Simon’s own hand-held ZIIP device, multiple masks, serums, vitamins, derma rollers, and a collagen mask she spent a decade developing—has a slight mad-scientist quality to it. “I perform this facial the night before an event,” says Simon. “Then I send my clients home with a serum to sleep in and a liquid oxygen to spritz on heavily the next morning. The skin looks absolutely amazing.”
By appointment only; melaniesimon.com

 

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

 

Tammy Fender
Tammy Fender, the favorite facialist of Palm Beach society, scrutinizes every pore during her signature Oscar Night Treatment, which combines ultrasound waves, stimulating light therapy, vitamin-infused oxygen therapy, and a tissue-lifting massage for good measure. For a flawless head-to-toe glow, Fender prescribes an Ayurvedic eating plan, daily body brushing, and her Herbal Poultice Compress Massage with a custom blend of rare and traditional herbal remedies for every client.
711 North Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach; tammyfender.com

 

PHILADELPHIA

 

Danuta Mieloch at Rescue Spa
Polish-born, Paris-trained skin-care guru Danuta Mieloch’s Energy Lift Facial instantly tightens, firms, and lifts, thanks to her unique mix of radio frequency and electric current, which she says “sculpts faces to perfection sans injections or surgery.” Her Lift + Sculpt full-body treatment exfoliates, revitalizes, tones, and firms the body using lactic acid, amino acids, algae powder, and silk extract. Follow up with a face-framing brow shape from in-house threading expert Maria Gulraiz for the finishing touch.
1601 Walnut Street, 3rd floor; rescuespa.net

 

 

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