Crazy things celebs do to get red carpet-ready

Gross alert: Demi Moore admitted on US television show David Letterman to applying leeches (yes, that’s right) directly to her skin in order to detoxify her blood and get skin glowing for special events. Some plastic surgeons reportedly use a similar procedure on post-surgery patients. Um, we might stick to a healthy diet and exercise regime in order to get the same glow.

An advocate of clean, macrobiotic living, Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has admitted to upping the ante on her healthy regime with a mini juice cleanse. The three-week program, developed by Paltrow’s doctor and detox diet specialist, Dr. Alejandro Junger, consists of mostly vegetable juices and regular colonics, along with plenty of regular exercise. “I feel pure and happy and much lighter (I dropped the extra pounds that I had gained during a majorly fun and delicious “relax and enjoy life phase” about a month ago),” Paltrow said post-detox.

This Victoria’s Secret supermodel made worldwide headlines after revealing the gruelling regime she goes through ahead of appearing in the luxe lingerie show. Her secret? She cuts out all solid foods nine days before she hits the runway, sipping only on protein shakes and small amounts of water. Then two days before hitting the runway she follows a zero-liquids policy. "Sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that," she told The Telegraph in the UK.

Even Hollywood starlets are plagued by the threat of pesky pre-awards-season pimples. So who do they call at the first sign of a breakout? Beutician to the stars Jamie Sherrill. This week Sherrill – who counts Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Love Hewwitt among her clients – has been working overtime to get her famous clients red carpet-ready, including one emergency visit to a stressed-out celeb client, frantic about two raised bumps appearing on her face. “I injected Cortisone into them and also use a bit of laser treatment to take the redness out of it,” Sherrill told The Daily Mail. “I always say red carpet looks are no accidents. They’re the results of well-laid plans,” she said.

They’re touted as one of the best foods to burn fat, but chillis are off the menu for a lot of celebs pre awards season, according to celebrity nutritionist Simone Gloger. “Heat-producing spices such as chipotle, chili and cayenne can cause rosacea flair ups and reddening of the skin – so they’re not so great for your red carpet moment," Gloger explains. Also on Gloger’s do-not-eat list: dairy. "This food group is one of the hardest for the body to digest, [causing] bloating, acne and dark circles under the eyes in a lot of people, leaving you less than camera-ready," she says.

In preparation for past red carpet appearances, Anne Hathaway has admitted to occasionally embarking on a strict two-day detox program, which mostly involves sipping on a lemon-based drink four times a day. It helps her "to lighten it up a little bit," her celebrity trainer David Kirsch said. We only hope Hathaway doesn’t go to such extreme measures at this year’s Oscars or she may topple over – the already petite actress reportedly shed around seven kilos in order to convincingly play the part of Fantine in Les Miserables, cutting back to just 500 calories per day.

Celebrities are no strangers to Botox jabs, but the latest trend doing the rounds on the red carpet circuit offers a shot of a different kind. Vitamin injections, of which Madonna, Brad Pitt and Rhianna are reportedly fans, contain a cocktail of “energy vitamins”, such as magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and antioxidants. While celebs might feel they’re getting an instant boost post post-jab, numerous experts say these vitamins are also easily flushed out of the body.

Speaking of shots, in the days leading up to a big event, Megan Fox reportedly knocks back daily shots of apple cider vinegar to help shed the kilos. It’s said that this vinegar helps the body digest food and break down fat. While some detox devotees might adhere to this method, health expert say there’s no evidence it does anything but leave behind an unpleasant taste.

You’ve got to hand it to Charlize Theron. Apparently the South African stunner’s pre-red carpet diet involves watching her plate, literally, eating miniature fairy-sized portions of her favourite foods. Fortunately Theron still treats herself to her favourite treats, such as pizza, cakes and burgers, but goes for teeny-tiny servings of these instead. Talk about willpower!

It seems stars are willing to go to any lengths to smooth lines and plump up the skin to perfect their look pre-awards season – but smearing bird poop on their faces? That’s one of the kookier skincare treatments celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, are using to fight ageing. The hour-long Geisha Facial, available at New York Day Spa Shizuka involves applying nightingale bird droppings – imported from Japan – directly to the skin. “Dead skin is removed, skin tone is brighter and you're left with a radiant look," salon owner Shizuka Bernstein told Reuters.
RELATED: Check out our Oscars coverage