Like every industry, the pendulum swings back and forth in beauty. In 2014, we all showed up to Thanksgiving dinner with mauve cut creases and chrome cheekbones. Then, as the skincare industry erupted, we tossed our Morphe palettes aside and replaced them with exfoliating toners, essences, and clean, dewy skin. So many brands and products were born out of the skincare boom, and it’s partly because of this over-saturation that consumers got brand fatigue.
Lately, I’ve been noticing a vibe shift. Now, I’m by no means saying skincare is “over”—people still love skincare—but I have sensed a decreased interest in at-home products and a growing obsession with in-clinic treatments amongst friends, colleagues, and clients. Here’s what I think happened: everyone became a citizen scientist during covid, trying and testing every product under the sun. Through this process, we were able to discover what products work for us. But we were also able to manage our expectations as to what skincare is capable of. Will my routine help me with my acne? Yes. But is this serum an elixir of the gods that will stop aging in its tracks? No.
We are now well-versed enough to watch a beauty tutorial with such-and-such celebrity and recognize every product in their bathroom. We own all the same products as these celebrities, but we sure don’t look like them. …So what else are they doing?
The public is desperately craving information on Hollywood’s beauty secrets—their injectables, lasers, and microneedling treatments—the truth behind why they look so good. We’re pissed off they won’t share (insert “you’re not ugly, just poor!” meme), but we also punish them when they do tell us. Kylie is the only Kardashian that’s loudly admitted to getting work done, and everyone is constantly throwing tomatoes in her comments, yelling, “Fake! Classless!” I’m not a Kardashian defender by any means, but I do find it interesting.
My point is, I can’t blame people for being secretive about it, but I really wish they wouldn’t be. Because the truth is, when it comes to skin, aside from straight-up genetics, in-clinic treatments are very often the reason why people’s skin looks so absurdly good.
Fortunately for you all, my curiosity knows no bounds—especially when it comes to beauty. So, with a bit of shamelessness, I reached out to several people, many of whom embody that Hollywood-adjacent allure, and asked them directly about the procedures and treatments they've tried. Perhaps it was my candid approach or their comfort in knowing that, as a beauty industry professional, I held no judgment, but they were all remarkably open. I got their permission to share my findings with Fun Little Treat, assuring them that their responses would remain completely anonymous and untraceable. And I have to say, I got some incredibly fascinating—and unexpected!—responses.
This is obviously not a list urging you to pursue any specific procedures. Instead, my hope is to enlighten you about the various options available at skin clinics and to provide some reassurance that many people are exploring treatments you might not even be aware of behind closed doors. Consider this an informative peek into the beauty world. So, sit back and enjoy this detailed list of treatments that the stunning people I know have undergone.
Forehead and eyebrow Botox
“Botox is something that actually, truly makes a huge difference for me. Having spent long stretches without it while pregnant and breastfeeding, I have really seen how much it can change my face. I do it on my forehead to smooth out wrinkles. What people don’t realize is that a more taut, smooth surface gives this glass skin effect, so all of a sudden your skin looks glowier and brighter than ever.”
“I do Botox between and around my brows to even them out because they have a slightly different height, so it evens them out while also raising them a bit for that lifted look.”
“All I can afford is Botox, so that’s what I do. I love doing Botox in the forehead and eyes because it makes my entire eye area look tightened, brighter, and awake.”
Jaw and chin filler
“I got jaw filler before my wedding, and it was what gave me the most instantaneous gratification and confidence boost. I’d used every NuFace, Gua Sha, jaw mask under the sun, and jaw filler gave me the immediate definition I had always been looking for. I also feel like it just gave this lift to the rest of my face that I was not expecting.”
“I get one singular syringe of Voluma filler, shared between my chin and the top of my cheeks. I think chin filler is better than jaw filler for definition because with the chin filler, the neck appears further away from the chin and therefore es it. It’s undetectable, but I get tons of compliments after I do it. You really only need to do it once a year.”
Non-surgical nose jobs
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