From ‘state of the art injectables' to ‘water peeling' – pro reveals the £13k secrets behind Mariah Carey's ageless face
MARIAH Carey burst onto the scene at just 19 years old, and ever since, she's been dazzling us with her pristine image and iconic golden locks.
Now, at 56, the Queen of Christmas is yet another star who seems to have defied the ageing process, looking as though she's turned back time.
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While her enviable genetics certainly play a part, experts believe Mariah looks far younger than her years - and fans couldn't agree more.
Her Instagram is constantly flooded with admiration for her stunning looks. One fan wrote, 'Always beautiful,' another gushed, 'Whoaaaa! So beautiful,' and a third chimed in, 'Slay mama.'
The hitmaker credits her age-defying appearance to 15 hours of sleep every night whilst surrounded by 20 humidifiers, a disciplined diet, and a dedicated skincare routine.
However, some experts suggest there may be more to it.
Surgeons familiar with celebrity treatments believe a touch of cosmetic enhancement could also be part of the equation.
'Mariah's refreshed, luminous, and sculpted appearance however suggests a variety of expertly executed treatments that may have made her look more youthful than is typically seen at 56,' says Dr Aamer Khan, co-founder and Medical Lead at Harley Street Skin Clinic.
'By their fifties most people, and in particular women, will show noticeable changes in facial volume, skin elasticity, and bone structure.
'Aside from fine lines and wrinkles, the usual concerns relate to a loss of definition in the jawline, droopy jowls, deepening nasolabial folds, marionette lines, under-eye hollowing, and sagging of the upper eyelids.
'As we age, the skin becomes thinner and drier, pigmentation and sun damage become 'more apparent, while collagen levels decline by up to 30% from the age of 40.
'The face can appear tired, drawn, or uneven in tone. The world of aesthetics has moved on enormously in recent years.
Mariah Carey shares behind the scenes video showing moments before her 'angelic' AMAs performance
'Given Mariah's global status, she will have access to some of the best cosmetic doctors and surgeons in the world who offer the most advanced and refined treatments and procedures.
'These professionals can deliver natural results without the tell-tale signs of work.'
Here, Dr Aamer Khan takes a closer look at Mariah's face and reveals the popular treatments he believes the A-lister has had done.
State-of-the-art injectables
£300 - £700 per area
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Dr Aamer has noted the absence of expression lines around her face.
He says: 'Today there are injectables so advanced that they can almost mimic the results of surgery.
'Products developed by companies like ABG Lab are at the cutting edge of this space.
'We use new-generation fillers and biostimulators to replicate the lifting and tightening effects of procedures like upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), reduce under-eye hollowing, and even enhance jawline definition without going under the knife.
'These injectable treatments work not only by restoring volume, but also by stimulating collagen production and improving skin quality offering long-term anti-ageing benefits.
'Mariah's youthful jawline and lifted eye area may very well be the result of these state-of-the-art treatments.'
At home treatments
£100 - £500 for premium skincare ranges
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And it won't just be Mariah heading out to her local cosmetic salon, all the work is done at home and will be on her beauty counter.
Dr Aamer says: 'Celebrities like Mariah will also be introduced to the most advanced cosmeceuticals on the market.
'These latest at-home skincare products play a vital role in maintaining results between treatments.
'For example, we have access to a skincare range, which includes clinically formulated products designed to support skin regeneration, improve hydration, and reduce oxidative stress.
'One standout is a Micropeptide Needle Power Serum, a breakthrough formula containing microscopic hyaluronic acid crystals that mimic the effects of microneedling by creating tiny channels in the skin.
'This allows powerful ingredients like Bakuchiol and an exclusive PowerPeptide-5 complex to penetrate the skin more deeply, boosting collagen, refining texture, and improving elasticity.'
Fillers
£250 - £750 per syringe
He also believes the smoothness of Mariah's forehead would suggest that she's had anti-wrinkle injections such as Botox.
'While the youthful volume of her face - especially around the cheeks and mouth, may have been maintained by the use of dermal fillers which will have helped to restore the natural contours of her face otherwise partially lost with age.
'Her lips have also remained plump and she may have had subtle filler work avoiding that all too familiar overdone look.'
Advanced Treatments
£500 - £2,500 per session depending on the procedure
Mariah's skin remains radiant, firm and evenly toned.
He says: 'This points to advanced rejuvenation treatments such as water peeling, fractional laser, and microneedling like Morpheus 8, NAD +, and even regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or exosome-based treatments.
'These therapies stimulate collagen and elastin, improve skin texture, reduce pigmentation and help to lift and tighten the skin.'
Bodyworks
£2,000 - £8,000 depending on the procedure
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Dr Aamer has also seen a marked change in Mariah's body shape over the years.
He says: 'It has been reported that she may have had a gastric sleeve in 2017.
'It is also possible that she may have had body contouring procedures such as CoolSculpting, EMSculpt, liposuction or bodytite to help to define her waist, abdomen and arms after weight loss.
'She may also have had breast augmentation with implants or fat grafting.'
The High Life
Priceless
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Mariah has lived a lifestyle that has helped preserve her good looks.
Dr Aamer says: 'We've read about her famous sleep schedule, bathing rituals - bathing in milk - and highly disciplined diet centred on anti-inflammatory foods.
'When combined with the latest surgical and non-surgical cosmetic interventions, this approach can help someone look great for their years while still looking like themselves.
'Mariah Carey is the gold standard - she's refreshed, youthful, and sophisticated, not overdone, it's that balance that we strive to achieve on behalf of our patients at Harley Street Skin Clinic.'
Biggest beauty mistakes
Fabulous' Beauty Editor Tara Ledden has shared the do's and don'ts when it comes to beauty.
"No matter how much time and money you spend on your beauty routine, if you're not getting the basics right, the rest is wasted.
"There aren't many non-negotiables, but these are the biggest beauty mistakes sabotaging your regime."
Not wearing SPF: Sun-damage is the main cause of premature skin ageing, so if you want to keep your skin looking plump and glowing, sun cream is vital.
Using expired products: Best case, they're ineffective and don't deliver the results they promise, worst case they cause irritation and infection. The shelf life of beauty products differ - for example, mascara is usually good for 3-6 months while lipstick can last for 9-18 months. Check the 'POA' symbol on the packaging (it looks like a jar and will have a number inside for how many months it's safe once opened. If you can't remember when you opened your product, throw it away and start again, marking the month and year with a permanent marker on the packaging.
Not knowing your undertones: If you're using make-up with the wrong undertones, it'll never look natural no matter how much you blend it! An easy trick to work out whether you have cool, warm or neutral undertones is to check the veins on your wrist - if they look blue, you have cool undertones, if they're green, you have warm and if they're a mix you have neutral.
Skipping heat protector: It might feel unnecessary, but much like sun damage on the skin, excess heat is the most common cause of hair damage. So, if you want shiny, healthy hair, or you're trying to grow it longer, using a heat protection product is key.
Not washing your face before bed: it's as simple as this, if you're not washing your face before you go to sleep, everything that's been on your skin during the day is sitting there for even longer, clogging your pores and drying out the surface. Any skincare applied on top isn't going to be effective with a layer of dirt underneath, and you're probably going to end up with dirty pillows too - yuck!
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