How To Do the Met Gala “Lift, Sculpt & Slap” Facial Celebs Swear By

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Inside the Celeb-Loved “Lift, Sculpt & Slap” Facial Used for the Met Gala & How To Do It at HomeCourtesy of NuFACE

Have you ever wondered what goes into a Met Gala-level facial? Skin prep for this level of event doesn't start the day of with their makeup artist.

Celebrities go to their favorite facialist, aesthetician, and dermatologist days, weeks, and even months before the big fashion moment to get their skin plump, fresh, and ready for their look. 

We were curious about what goes into a facial of this level. That's why we tapped celebrity facialist and aesthetician Edyta Jarosz (previous celebrity clients include Michaela Coel, Lisa Rinna, Adrien Brody, and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) to get all the non-invasive techniques, products, and tools she uses for her Met Gala clientele—and similar products to recreate it at home. 

What Goes Into Your Signature Facial to Prep The Skin for The Met Gala?

There's a lot that goes into a facial for an event as big as the Met Gala. It's all about intention, strategy, and precise timing. Jarosz starts it with reading the skin and its needs: hydration, inflammation, tension, and lymphatic levels. The specific facial she does for her Met Gala celebrity clients is called Lift, Sculpt & Slap. She combines deep sculpting massage, lymphatic drainage, and buccal techniques to relax the jaw, lift cheekbones, and contour the skin. 

"For an event like the Met Gala, skin preparation has to be extremely precise. It needs to look luminous under HD cameras, sculpted in flash photography, and completely natural in motion. My approach is always fully customized, but the philosophy remains the same: sculpt the structure, perfect the surface, and create a luminous, camera-ready finish," she told E!

Other than these massage techniques, Jarosz uses a mix of products custom to her clients' specific skin needs. She uses products that are formulated to be lightweight, deeply hydrating, and refine texture to leave their skin radiant, plump, and "glass-like.

Another important aspect? Timing. "I typically treat clients the day before or the morning of the event, depending on their skin and schedule. In some cases, preparation begins well in advance to ensure the skin is in optimal condition." 

What Types of Skincare Products Do You Use for This Event Facial?

For Jarosz, the skin prep for the Met Gala is less about the specific products and more about the intention behind the facial. Compared to the regular facials Jarosz performs for her clients, these for big Hollywood events aren't too different.  "They’re not necessarily completely different from what I use in regular treatments, but the selection, timing, and combination are far more strategic. Everything has to deliver an immediate, visible result with zero downtime," she told E!

Hydration is key for this facial. "I infuse the skin with targeted serums rich in peptides, hyaluronic acid, and growth factors to plump, smooth, and create that 'glass skin' effect that reads beautifully on camera," Jarosz said. 

Ogee Hyaluronic Acid HA 1.5% Elixir

Jarosz uses products with powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid that have a lightweight texture, absorb quickly into the skin, and deeply hydrate it.  Similarly, this elixir by Ogee is formulated with hyaluronic acid with low and micro-molecular weights to easily penetrate the skin. 

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer

When it comes to moisturizers, look for ones with humectant ingredients. Humectants help draw and retain moisture to the skin’s surface. "[It works] to deeply hydrate and create that fresh, glass-like finish," she said. 

Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum

After hydration, the next step in the facial is all about firming the skin. "Peptides and growth factors to firm and subtly tighten the skin," Jarosz told E!. "I apply them onto slightly damp skin and layer them with precision so they bind moisture effectively, support firmness, and create that plump, smooth finish that reads beautifully on camera."

"Barrier-supporting ingredients to ensure the skin remains calm, balanced, and makeup-ready,"  she said. 

Colorescience Barrier Pro Serum Spray

"A delicate layer of Topical Skin Phyto AOX Facial Oil No. 10 to enhance luminosity without weight," she recommended. It's formulated with the brand's signature blend of hyaluronic acid, acetyl hexapeptide-8, glycosaminoglycans, and panthenol to hydrate and soften your skin. 

Topical Skin Phyto AOX Facial Oil N°10

"A delicate layer of Topical Skin Phyto AOX Facial Oil No. 10 to enhance luminosity without weight," she recommended. It's formulated with the brand's signature blend of hyaluronic acid, acetyl hexapeptide-8, glycosaminoglycans, and panthenol to hydrate and soften your skin. 

"I swear by finishing the skin with a light layer of oil, gently pressed into the high points of the face. It creates the most beautiful, natural light reflection that's never greasy, just that refined, couture glow," Jarosz told E!

What Skincare Tools & Devices Do You Use for This Event Facial?

To ensure the products are properly absorbed into the skin, Jarosz uses multiple skincare tools and devices. "Tools are where precision really comes to life. My hands are always the foundation, but I layer in tools that enhance and lock in the results," she told E!

"Depending on the skin’s needs, I use microcurrent to re-educate facial muscles, radiofrequency and ultrasound to refine firmness and texture, oxygen infusion to boost cellular energy and luminosity, and LED therapy to calm and strengthen the skin."

NuFACE MINI+ Smart Petite Microcurrent Facial Toning Device Starter Kit

Jarosz uses microcurrent to "lift and re-educate facial muscles while preserving natural expression." When it comes to this skincare technology, you can't go wrong with NuFACE and its bestselling sets. 

Medicube Booster Pro

While there are specific moves you can use with your hands, gua sha stones are a great tool to use at home.

Is it a good facial without a little LED and red light therapy? Jarosz uses LED therapy to "calm, rebalance, and strengthen the skin."

HigherDOSE Red Light Face Mask

You may have a red light face mask already, but you can't go wrong with HigerDOSE's FDA-cleared device that's made with flexible medical-grade silicone and red/near-infrared wavelengths. 

As part of her facial, Jarosz uses lymphatic drainage massages. "By redirecting lymphatic flow, I reduce micro-puffiness and naturally enhance shadows and highlights, allowing the bone structure to appear more defined," she said.

SACHEU Stainless Steel Non-Porous Gua Sha

While there are specific moves you can use with your hands, gua sha stones are a great tool to use at home.

pfefe Cryo Sticks

"In terms of technique, I always use ice or cryotherapy at the end of a treatment. Ice massage, something even Joan Crawford famously swore by, instantly tightens, de-puffs, and locks everything in, giving the skin that fresh, lifted look," Jarosz told E!

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