Trending beauty tips after Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Key Takeaways
Victoria’s Secret 2024 fashion show brought a broader representation of body types, subtly shifting beauty ideals from the brand’s historically rigid standards.
Minimally invasive “tweakments” are trending, such as low-viscosity fillers, micro-Botox, and skin boosters, replacing heavy cosmetic work.
In opposition to times’ past, supermodels (and their fans) are focusing on balanced eating and resistance training over extreme diets and cardio-only routines.
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made a comeback this year after a 6-year break, stirring up both excitement and controversy. The hiatus followed years of backlash over the brand’s narrow beauty ideals. This year, the brand featured a wider range of models, including plus-sized and trans individuals. But were these changes a sincere shift or just an afterthought?
Regardless of intent, a lot goes into perfecting these runway looks—involving a team of fitness trainers, diet experts, makeup artists, and even dermatologists and plastic surgeons, who work to perfect each look.
This comeback is a good time for physicians, working in esthetics and beyond, to look into the latest trends shaping current beauty ideals.
Less is more
With esthetic procedures becoming more accessible and affordable, we're seeing a shift from surgical makeovers to minimally invasive "tweakments." Overfilled lips and exaggerated features are out. The current trend is about precise and subtle enhancements.
"I think in general, a lot of the supermodels and models are reluctant to do big procedures just before an event," Aaron Gilson, DO, a plastic surgeon from Portland, shares with MDLinx. "Though likely many of them are consistently getting laser peels, hydro facials, and working with a specific skin care regimen that a dermatologist or plastic surgeon often prescribes."
Dermatologists agree that hyaluronic acid-based fillers with lower viscosity and elasticity (low G-values) are preferred for subtle enhancements. They are softer, less stiff, and preserve facial movement.
One under-the-radar spot that's trending is the temples. A little filler here can restore fullness and support the skin without making any obvious changes. In fact, Juvederm Voluma XC recently became the first hyaluronic acid filler approved by the FDA specifically for moderate to severe temple hollowing, with effects lasting up to 13 months.[]
Botox is being used more strategically, too. Microdoses can relax muscles around the eyes, lifting the brows slightly and opening the eye area without that "frozen" look. "Depending on the brand and their contract, the models may be using Botox and filler to augment or enhance natural facial features," says Dr. Gilson.
In a viral TikTok video, plastic surgeon Dr. Prem Tripathi describes this shift as "the time in esthetics that we’ve all hoped for and waited for, where the procedures that people are having done to their face are not detectable," noting today’s clients want results that look entirely natural—no heavy work, just healthy skin.
@drpremtripathi The latest and greatest won’t be posted everywhere #drpremtripathi #facialplasticsurgery ♬ original sound - Dr. Prem Tripathi
Celebrities are becoming more open about these tweakments, too. In an interview, Victoria’s Secret supermodel Isabeli Fontana shared: "A little bit of Botox is not bad. [...] Botox can change your face a lot, so it has to be very subtle, but if you don’t do it, age will mark your skin, and I don’t like that at all."[]
Skin boosters
Skin boosters are also in high demand for that “no-makeup” look. These hydrating injectables use hyaluronic acid to boost skin texture and elasticity. Unlike traditional fillers, they don’t add volume; instead, they contain a high concentration of stabilized, non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid that can be spread uniformly within the dermal layers.
They bio-remodel the skin by promoting endogenous collagen and elastin production, improving skin elasticity and hydration rather than volumizing. And in a 2022 split-face study, skin boosters Profhilo and Belotero Revive were found to improve skin moisturization and quality.[]
‘Eye-opening’ procedures
Eyes are often the first place to show aging, so it’s no surprise there’s renewed interest in treatments to refresh this area. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin from the upper or lower eyelids, addressing droopiness and giving a more alert look.
It's a straightforward surgery with a relatively quick recovery and visible results. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, blepharoplasty was one of America's top-five most sought-after plastic surgeries in 2023.[]
For those who aren’t quite ready for surgical intervention, injecting botulinum toxin around the eyes is a well-tolerated alternative. It can temporarily relax the orbicularis oculi and depressor muscles, providing mild elevation of the lateral brow and increasing eye exposure.
Fat grafting
“There’s been a rise in fat grafting, where fat from liposuction is transferred to areas like the breast or gluteal region,” says Dr. Gilson. “It’s a great choice for women who want subtle enhancement without implants.”
This technique, often called the “ballerina breast” for its natural shape, can augment the bust by half to a full cup size without an implant, Dr. Gilson says.
Exercise regimen
Joe Holder, a well-known trainer who has worked with models like Bella Hadid, Romee Strijd, Barbara Palvin, and Georgia Fowler, has shared that these supermodels regularly follow cardio and strength training.[]
But models are not just hitting the gym for toned bodies; they’re also working to support their skin. A 2023 study reported that while both cardio and resistance training improves skin elasticity, only resistance training thickens the dermis.[]
Per the research, resistance training, like lifting weights, reduces specific inflammatory markers—namely CCL28, CXCL4, and N,N-dimethylglycine—linked to degradation of the skin's structural integrity. Resistance training also boosts the expression of biglycan, a dermal collagen-supporting protein.[]
Diet regimen
It’s no secret that the pressures around body image in the modeling world have been intense—and sometimes even over-the-top. Research from Boston University School of Medicine[] shows that while the average American woman’s waist size has increased, Victoria’s Secret models have gotten even thinner over the years, setting some pretty unrealistic—and potentially unhealthy—standards.
Some models in the past have followed extreme diets, like all-liquid regimens and intense workouts before shows,[] which sparked plenty of talk about the pressures they face. But now, we’re seeing a shift. For instance, Barbara Palvin mentioned backstage that during the last show in 2018, she wasn't eating healthy; this time around, she was “listening to [her] body,” eating what she wanted, and feeling better than ever.
@entertainmenttonight Dylan Sprouse made signs to hold up for Barbara Palvin during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show! 🥰 #barbarapalvin #dylansprouse#vsfs#victoriassecret#victoriassecretfashionshow ♬ original sound - Entertainment Tonight
Small, sustainable diet changes can do wonders for the skin, it’s true. Cutting back on processed foods and sugar is one of the biggest improvements. Sugar accelerates skin aging through glycation, where it binds with proteins like collagen, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that weaken skin structure and elasticity, causing wrinkles. High-sugar diets raise AGEs in the body, and frying increases AGEs externally, both contributing to skin laxity.[]
Antioxidant-rich foods—berries, leafy greens, fish—can help counteract glycation’s effects. In doing so, they promote skin resilience and decelerate skin aging.[]
What this means for you
This year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is proof that the beauty world’s shifting—people want health-focused, subtle changes that don’t scream “work done.” For physicians working in esthetics, it’s a great time to lean into treatments like gentle tweakments and skin boosters—things that give patients real results without looking overdone.