Celebrities are subject to endless scrutiny ranging from their romantic relationships and clothing choices to, as we recently learned, education decisions they make on behalf of their children. Yet facial appearance—and visible signs of aging in particular—is perhaps the most buzzed-about attribute for male and female stars, and not a day goes by without commentary about an entertainer’s appearance in a bathing suit, or speculation about whether they had something “done.”
Beverly Hills oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Zoumalan happens to work and live in the epicenter of celebrity gossip, and he understands that patients everywhere want to look their best without the tell-tale signs that they’ve had treatments like injectables or plastic surgery. He also knows that the public keeps a close eye on how well (or badly) celebrities are aging—and he believes Charlize Theron and Tom Cruise have done great jobs at maintaining their youthful looks without obvious signs of plastic surgery (at least based on posts by @Celebface on Instagram).
Dr. Zoumalan says, “I can’t know for sure what Theron, Cruise or any other celebrities’ anti-aging secrets are—but I can suggest the skincare and non-surgical essentials that anyone can use to preserve a youthful appearance and delay signs of aging.”
Sunscreen
“Protecting the skin from UV rays is the number-one way to prevent the damage that leads to fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and other indicators of age. Even more, a 2016 study found that daily sunscreen use can actually improve existing signs of aging as well,” Dr. Zoumalan shares. He recommends EltaMD sunscreens for his patients because this brand offers a wide variety of formulations for different skin types and concerns, as well as for use after surgery.
Moisturizer
Sometimes you do get what you pay for, and Dr. Zoumalan stresses the importance of a high-quality moisturizer at any age. “A good formulation generally offers advanced anti-aging ingredients in addition to hydration, as well as technologies that help deliver ingredients to where they need to be in order to make a difference in the skin,” he explains. Senté Dermal Repair Cream is among his favorites for mature and sun-damaged skin, as its unique main ingredient, heparan sulfate analog, has been shown to improve fine lines and wrinkles along with the skin’s texture and firmness.
Serum
Serums usually contain higher levels of meaningful ingredients (as compared to moisturizers) tailored to specific skin concerns. “There are countless serums to choose from, but in many cases a hyaluronic acid-based serum can improve a variety of skin issues simply by giving skin the extra moisture it needs and providing an instant plumping effect,” Dr. Zoumalan shares. His pick is PCA Skin’s Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum because it delivers instant hydration while promoting the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid production for long-term anti-aging results.
Professional skin treatments
In addition to at-home skincare, office-based professional treatments can take your anti-aging efforts to another level. Dr. Zoumalan says, “Chemical peels, microneedling and laser-based resurfacing such as Fraxel are effective ways to keep fresh, healthy cells on the skin’s surface while promoting collagen production. An advantage of these procedures is that their intensity can be controlled, which means patients can opt for light, downtime-free or higher-strength treatments if their lifestyle allows for a few days of recovery.”
Botox
Some patients still worry about a “frozen” appearance after Botox injections, but Dr. Zoumalan emphasizes that this should never be the case. “In the hands of a properly-trained physician, Botox is extremely effective for controllingthe appearance of wrinkles, and the goal should not be to erase them completely.” Ideal for crow’s feet around the eyes, horizontal lines across the brow and vertical furrows between the brows, “Regular injections prevent motion-related wrinkles from becoming etched into the skin, which helps patients maintain a youthful-looking appearance longer,” he says.
Injectable fillers
According to Dr. Zoumalan, the key word when talking about fillers is “conservative.” “Hyaluronic acid injectables are a wonderful way to address age-related changes in the cheeks and under the eyes, but it takes experience as well as an artistic eye to achieve natural-looking results instead of a puffy, over-filled appearance.”
