24 February 2008

Beauty at Any Price

The gorgeous and glittering set traipsing down the red carpet on Oscars night each carry about £12,000 worth of preparation:
Botox underarm injections £750

[Because] "Antiperspirant is so last century..."

Botox facial injections £950
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Lip injections £200
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Spa treatments £1,000

Lots of stars go for a Beverly Hills spa package including facials "body polishing", a hydro-massage mud treatment, detox seaweed wrap and contouring clay wrap.
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Spray tan £250

A must these days. Jimmy Snyder, Hollywood's top "body-colourist will be on standby tonight with his spray gun and "emergency wipes" to touch up the tans of the likes of Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Paula Abdul and Jennifer Garner - who will have had full sprays two days ago. He says: "I have seen more Hollywood stars naked than anyone else in the world."

Manicure and pedicure £500

Gina Eppoli to is known in Hollywood as Dr Nails. Stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Gisele Bundchen, Uma Thurman and Nicole Kidman flock to her before the awards. This year's hot Oscar style is, she says, "nude".
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Hair colour and highlights £2,500

The Oscars rules are clear. One week before - colour. Two days before - condition. Day before - wash. British hairdressing duo Neil Weisberg and Amanda George are so in demand, they have been block-booked by Sienna Miller and Reese Witherspoon. Neil says: "Stars have got to look good. Their roots are really important as the flashbulbs on the red carpet are unforgiving."

Brow shaping £175

James Fox, who runs swank make-up firm Valerie Beverly Hills says: "...I do home visits as stars don't want to be seen having their hairy brows plucked."

Hairstylist for the day £3,000

A star needs a personal stylist. Chris McMillan, who invented Jennifer Aniston's "Rachel" haircut for Friends, will wash and blow-dry her hair the day before the ceremony and give it the full style using tongs, straighteners and curlers on the day. He will also go with her to the ceremony for any last-minute vital adjustments. He says: "Hair is your most important accessory."

Make-up artist for the day £3,000

It costs top dollar for the full personal service. The make-up artist goes to the star's home to get her ready and in the car to make sure she looks great as she gets out. They will even wait as she slips from party to party touching up her make-up as she goes. The fee also includes consultations in the run-up to the big day to make sure her make-up choice matches her clothes.

TOTAL: £12,325

EXTRAS

The golden rule is: Free to those that can afford it, very expensive to those who can't.

DRESS

£0 to £20,000

Designers are desperate to see a big name in one of their high-price creations - so if you are a serious star you can have your gown for free. It has to be an exclusive deal though. Nicole Kidman wears Chanel, Renee Zellweger wears Carolina Herrera and Julia Roberts Valentino. The finest gowns cost up to £20,000.

SHOES

£0 to £3,000

Christian Louboutin is the favoured cobbler and his £900 satin slingbacks will show off the daintiest of feet. Designer Isaac Mizrahi says: "As Cate Blanchett is pregnant, I've heard she's going to wear a pair of flats - jewel-encrusted and worth £3,000. But, in the main, I would expect elegant high heels showing off perfectly-manicured toes."

JEWELS

£0 to £2million.

Glittering gems are the No 1 way to announce serious star-quality. Designer Martin Katz, who supplies Sharon Stone, Kate Winslett, Sandra Bullock, Angelica Houston, Kim Basinger and Minnie Driver, says this year one star will be dazzling everyone with a £2million ring.
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PARTY

£0 to £1,000

[T]he premier event is the post-Oscars Governors Ball, where 1,500 VIP guests will tuck into a £1,000-a-head dinner of Kumamoto oysters, French Valrhona chocolate and vintage Laurent Perrier champagne.