These 3 Products Are the Reason That Celebs Always Have Expensive-Looking Skin

With award season drawing to a close, I've taken a minute to stop watching that Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper performance at the Oscars to reflect on what exactly it is that means celebrities always look so damn good. Not just on the red carpet but in everyday life too. What precisely is it that sets them apart from us everyday folk and gives them that otherworldly glow? Could it be… money? Yes, sure, absolutely. But besides the kind of inner radiance that can only be acquired with the security of a bank account that never veers toward the red, there's something else—their skin.

Pick a celeb, any celeb, and I can guarantee that whatever beauty look they might be wearing—a green smokey eye, the best hair accessories in the business or a bold coral lip—it's their perfectly prepped skin and seamless base that take their look to the next level.

So in my quest to get some of that A-list skin for myself, I went on the hunt to find out what products celebrities always use to prep, prime and even out their complexions. There were three products that came up time and time again. Keep scrolling to find out what they are.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

After cleansing, a good moisturiser is key for getting the kind of expensive-looking skin—and, unfortunately, sometimes you have to pay for the best results. Coming in at just shy of £50 for a 30ml pot, Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream isn't the pricest moisturiser out there, but it's definitely one of the best. Originally created to combat tired-looking skin backstage at fashion week, this glow-boosting cream has since gone on to become something of a cult skincare item.

Emma Roberts, Amy Adams and Shanina Shaik all relied on this moisturiser as the first step in their makeup routines during award season this year while Amal Clooney and Zendaya are also longtime fans. Tilbury believes that the secret to a glowing complexion starts with the skin, which is why this magic pot contains hyaluronic acid, shea butter and rosehip oil—providing skin with long-lasting moisture and a dewy finish.

Lancôme Prep & Matte Primer

If I'm totally honest, a primer is one of those makeup steps that I often forgo in favour of staying in bed for a couple of minutes longer—or taking yet another quick scroll through Instagram in the morning. However, on days that I really want my makeup to last or on evenings out, I'll be sure to apply one. Why? Well, primers really do work.

Both Lupita Nyong'o and Julia Roberts swear by the Lancôme Prep & Matte Primer. For Nyong'o's beautiful Academy Awards makeup look, it was applied just to her T-zone to keep oil at bay on her forehead and nose while letting her natural radiance shine through on her cheeks. Roberts applied it all over her face for a velvety-matte finish that would keep the rest of her makeup in place all night.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation

Ah, foundation. As someone who's constantly trying to disguise a breakout or 10, foundation is the one product type that I'm always testing and trialling. Too dewy and I'll be left looking like an oil slick by lunchtime. Too dry and even the highest of coverages will cling to dry blemishes—undoing the hard work to disguise them. I was recently sent the new Hourglass Vanish Liquid Foundation to try and I can safely say that it was love at first application. High coverage, long-wearing and with a natural-looking satin finish.

It would appear that I'm in good company too. Jessica Alba is known to be a fan of Hourglass while Holly Willoughby has been known to regularly use the classic stick formula for her TV appearances. With Kate Moss and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also on board, I think it's safe to say that this is good skin in a bottle.

Next up, forget Gaga's diamonds—here are 20 affordable pieces from the Oscars red carpet.