With the Oscars right around the corner, A-listers are picking out their gowns, working on their acceptance speeches - and making sure their skin looks absolutely flawless for the biggest night of the year in Hollywood.

Red carpet favorites including Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, and Megan Fox rely on Harold Lancer, MD, a Beverly Hills dermatologist and author of "Younger: The Breakthrough Anti-Aging Method for Radiant Skin," to perfect their complexions year-round - but especially leading up to events like the Oscars.

Lancer, who treated 42 celebrities before this year`s Golden Globes, told Everyday Health about four ways he gets the most recognizable faces ready for their close-ups, plus advice on what you can do to get better skin at home.

Lancer`s Red Carpet Facial just might be responsible for your favorite actress`s glow.

"During awards season, once a nomination is announced, celebrities may have this done weekly, for about four to six weeks before the program," says Lancer. "In normal life, they may do it once a month."

And it`s not just limited to the face - they also get the treatment on their necks, chests, shoulders, arms, and hands so they can flash smooth, blemish-free skin in plunging necklines while they chat with Giulana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest.

The facial, which lasts about an hour, starts with a micro-polish containing pumpkin and pomegranate extracts to help remove dead skin cells and brown sea algae to boost collagen production. After rinsing, a marine plant stem cell serum is applied, followed by a rose oil and oxygen mister, and then LED red frequency light.

But if you want brighter, younger-looking skin, you don`t have to shell out on super-pricey weekly facials. Look for skin care products containing a mix of the following potent anti-agers, says Lancer: vitamin C, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and retinol.

Thanks to high definition, everything from the sparkles on a designer dress to pore size has become much more visible, which is why many stars opt for laser treatments before a televised event like the Oscars.

"There are many laser treatments that are performed that are designed to calm down inflammation, even out coloration, and [decrease] excessive blood vessel size and pore size by using various spectrum of light to calm down the offending component of the complexion," explains Lancer.

One laser that`s popular with celebrities during awards season is autofluorescent technology. "AFT is common, and sometimes it`s used as a preemptive strike because somebody will know from experience that physical and emotional stress will trigger a flare," he says.

Lancer is not only responsible for perfecting celebrity patients` skin from the outside - he advises them on what to eat for better skin, too. So while you might not be able to afford expensive laser treatments, here are two easy changes you can make to your diet to see almost-immediate changes in your skin:

Stop eating salt. "When there`s a special event coming up, I tell patients to stop excess salt intake ASAP," says Lancer, who tells them to avoid eating foods that naturally have a lot of salt like sushi and to request that their restaurant meals be made without salt. "It will cause tissue swelling and it`s not flattering."
Reduce your carb intake. "I tell my patients not to exceed 20 percent of their calories in any form of carbohydrate," he says. "It causes tissue to get dehydrated and crepey."


BDST: 1552 HRS, FEB-23, 2014