Anne Hathaway has shared her top beauty secret that will give you an instant facelift - and it turns out that it's a little-known Hollywood secret that dates all the way back to the 1940s.
Hathaway, 43, uploaded her behind-the-scenes beauty prep for the 2026 Oscars to Instagram on Monday, showing what really went into her taut face, flawless makeup and stunning updo.
The star arrived at the Academy Awards in a black strapless gown by Valentino that was adorned with metallic floral embellishments, along with a pair of black opera gloves and glittering Bvlgari diamond earrings and necklace.
Now, she's let viewers in on how she achieves her flawless look, revealing that her hairdresser makes two small braids on the side of her head, and then pulls them together at the back to create that sculpted and lifted look.
'You look a little bit more awake, that's the trick,' Hathaway laughed into the camera.
And according to Lauren Paglionico, master colorist and founder of Lrn Beauty in New York City, the trick is one that absolutely works.
'This hair hack actually works. It's a trick that dates back to the old Hollywood days,' Paglionico told the Daily Mail.
'When you tie two braids, it puts light tension at the temples. As they are pulled back, it slightly lifts and opens up the eye area,' she explained.
Anne Hathaway has shared her top beauty secret that will give you an instant facelift
The star arrived at the Academy Awards in a black strapless gown by Valentino that was adorned with metallic floral embellishments
She revealed that her hairdresser makes two small braids on the side of her head, and then brings them together in the back to create that sculpted and lifted look
And, while they may not have called it a 'facelift' look all those years ago, Paglionico said that stars like Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren likely used this trick with hidden pins underneath their own signature hairstyles.
Celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago seconded Paglionico, explaining that the trick is 'tried and true' in Hollywood.
'It works because the hair is pulled taught and lifts the skin around the eyes and face,' Santiago told the Daily Mail.
It's an easy enough hack to attempt yourself, too.
'Placement is everything,' Paglionico advised.
'When wearing an updo of any kind, brush and direct the hair up and back. Focus on the temple area, starting behind the ear,' she said.
But braiding your hair isn't the only way to get that 'facelift' look. Paglionico also had some other tricks up her sleeve to help you achieve that model-esque visage.
'Other versions you can try include twists instead of braids,' Paglionico said.
'You look a little bit more awake, that's the trick,' Hathaway laughed
In a full-circle moment, Hathaway took the stage at the Oscars with the real Anna, who jokingly offered a frosty appraisal of her Valentino dress onstage
'If you want to wear your hair down, lift up the top half of your hair. Then, underneath you'll make a half-up, half-down style using two sections of hair (keeping it skinny) and a tiny elastic band,' she said.
'Lay the hair on top and style as usual.'
Santiago also revealed that you can even use face tape to give a little lift to the face.
Over the past few months, Hathaway has been busily promoting The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sequel to her classic 2006 comedy The Devil Wears Prada, which was based on a roman à clef by a former assistant to the famous Anna Wintour at Vogue.
In a full-circle moment, Hathaway took the stage at the Oscars with the real Anna, who jokingly offered a frosty appraisal of her Valentino dress onstage.
But it was her taut face that sent Oscars viewers into a huge tailspin.
'What did Anne Hathaway do to her face and why,' wondered a fan on X, formerly Twitter, where another wrote: 'Anne Hathaway debuting her new face.'
One fan reacted to the sight of her by joking: 'The new face of Anne Hathaway is the mixture of the face of the young Renee Zellweger and Katherine Heigl.'
Over the past few months, Hathaway has been busily promoting The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sequel to her classic 2006 comedy The Devil Wears Prada, which was based on a roman à clef by a former assistant to the famous Anna Wintour at Vogue
It's not the first time the actress has sparked speculation over her lifted expression - as a cosmetics expert previously revealed to the Daily Mail how the star perhaps achieved her ageless look.
Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics, told the Daily Mail: 'Anne Hathaway's recent appearances have sparked a huge wave of admiration, and curiosity, about how she manages to look so radiant and refreshed in her 40s.
'While she has never publicly confirmed specific treatments, there are a number of realistic, subtle aesthetic options that could help explain her smooth skin, lifted features, and natural glow, all without looking overdone.'
The expert suggested that Anne has had small, 'strategically placed doses of Botox', which soften lines, especially around the forehead and eyes.
'A vast number of celebrities use this preventative approach to maintain smoothness without freezing the face,' explained Dr Ross.
He continued: 'Dermal fillers can restore volume where it's gently lost with age, particularly the cheeks, mid‑face, and jawline.
'This can create a softly contoured yet natural silhouette, enhancing bone structure without dramatic change, which is likely what we're seeing with Anne in these recent photos.'
The expert also suggested that the actress was a fan of 'advanced non‑surgical options' like laser resurfacing, microneedling, or biostimulatory injectables, cosmetic treatments that stimulate collagen and improve 'texture and tone.'
Dr Ross also suggested that Anne had perhaps undergone a 'mild brow lift [non‑surgical or surgical]' that can 'lift the upper face while still looking beautifully natural'.
He added: 'I can't say for certain if Anne has had that, as in equal measures she undoubtedly has excellent genes and is ageing very well. There is no doubt that Anne looks after her skin and sees a dermatologist regularly.
'Great skin always starts with fundamentals, daily SPF, hydration, antioxidants, and a strong home routine can make a big difference in how skin looks and ages. Anne has long spoken about taking care of her skin and health over the long term.
'Anne doesn't look too overdone, she has enhanced what's already there rather than transforming it, and the work she's had done has been done carefully and is very subtle,' concluded the expert.
The Daily Mail contacted Anne Hathaway's representatives for comment.
