With the Academy Awards just days away, it's party season here in Los Angeles. Every high falutin' celeb type is in town for a series of award shows and galas leading up to the big night with Oscar (and Alec and Steve) on March 7.

Living vicariously through red carpet pics well of this shindig and that bash is a guilty pleasure of mine and I absolutely thrill to behold some of the train wreck looks like the ones in this photo gallery. Seeking signs of plastic surgery run amuck is always fun too -- so you can just imagine my glee when I saw Nicole Kidman's face at last month's Golden Globes. Girlfriend had apparently been hitting the Botox a little too hard leading up to the event.

But, given how many aging actresses there are in the industry, those full on catastrophes are few and far between -- and that's not because everyone here just ages well. It's because when they want to look less tired, or wrinkly, or hollow, they go to surgeons and dermatologists who know what they're doing with the scalpel or injectable filler.

For us mere mortals though deciding on an "anti-aging" plan can be utterly confusing. How're we supposed to know a Juvederm from a rhinoplasty from a hippopotamus?

Well, for starters we can heed expert advice. Kathy Fields, co-founder of skin care brand Rodan & Fields says that "The new world of fillers is tremendous for the consumer. [With them], we refresh faces, removing hollows, sags, dents and lines. We can't make anyone a 20-year-old again but we can make people look great for their age." 


Ok, but what exactly are fillers? Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane are hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. HA is a natural sugar compound found in all living organisms that provides volume and fullness to the skin. When injected, the HA molecules draw in water and cause the tissue underneath to swell. They're made of biodegradable non-animal HA and, unlike collagen, pose no risk of allergic reaction or being rejected by the body. Find out more about Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane and whether they're right for YOU.

• If you'd prefer to stay away from needles for a while, here's a list of Seven Anti-Aging Products That Really Work and a compilation of the best Anti-Aging Serums.

• It also never hurts to follow expert advice like these skin care tips from top dermatologists on what supplements they take, the skin care products they slather on and lots more …

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