'Stepford Skin' is why all your fave celebs look the same as they did 20 years ago.

If it feels like you've walked into some weird time warp, where all your favourite celebrities look the same as they did 20 years ago, please take a seat.

It's not just you.

Watch: Speaking of celebrities, here's Myah on dating a celebrity as a non-famous person. Post continues below.

We're in a brand-new aesthetic era — and we're witnessing the birth of a 'new look'. And it can be spotted on the faces of almost every celebrity you follow.

Dubbed by beauty reporter and critic Jessica DeFino (the New York Times, the Sunday Times, Vice) in her substack The Review of Beauty as 'Stepford Skin' — it's a movement that reflects the changing landscape of cosmetic trends but also technological advancements in the aesthetics industry.

As described by DeFino in her recent post on 2025 beauty trend predictions (you can read it here), 'Stepford Skin' is "Instagram Face meets dollcore beauty meets tradwife ideology", which DeFino sees as "a continuation of cyborgian beauty standards with a can't-quite-put-my-finger-on-what's-weird-here vibe (think: Megan Fox as an AI assistant in the new film Subservience, no prosthetics needed; Lindsay Lohan's new face).

Megan Fox in Subservience.

She writes, "When the female body is viewed as a machine, it's fine if it wasn't pre-programmed with the perfect features — it can be reprogrammed with the perfect features! Advancing technology makes for undetectable if uncanny cosmetic work, with a focus on symmetry, smoothness, and agelessness. (Robots don't wrinkle.)."

For the uninitiated, the 2016 'Instagram Face' is that heavily filtered look that somehow became the norm in the world of cosmetic surgery for the past seven years or so, particularly through the use of injectables. Plump, pillowy lips. Small, perfectly pointed noses. Full, chipmunk-looking cheeks and smooth under eyes.

However, in 2025, people (celebrities) are recognising that good work is mostly invisible. It's quiet. Subtle. Unnoticeable.

In a viral TikTok by US plastic surgeon Dr Prem Tripathi, it's described as 'the undetectable era', where he revealed the shift in procedures people having done to their face.

"This is a huge change from five years ago when we saw lots of filler being done — everyone could sort of tell what you had done, and if they couldn't tell what you had done, they knew something was different. But remember, aesthetics follows other beauty trends and right now there is a push for a natural, normal look," he said in the TikTok.When it comes to what people are actually doing right now, Dr Tripathi said there's been a huge rise in growth factors — both topical and injected — to improve the quality of the skin. "Fillers are not gone but people are using biostimulators like Sculpture to build a little bit of collagen in conjunction with things like lasers, peels and microneedling top improve texture, fine lines and wrinkles," he added."I think there's going to be a push away from these non-surgical or minimally invasive things for the face and neck — people are opting for more surgery. Because surgery is taking people away from that sort of unnatural look.""Skincare is also getting more advanced. People are using actives a lot more and being smart with what they use on their skin — and exosomes and other things are starting to enter skincare."

@drpremtripathi

The latest and greatest won’t be posted everywhere #drpremtripathi #facialplasticsurgery

♬ original sound - Dr. Prem Tripathi

But back to the celebrities. Starting with 62-year-old Demi Moore, who looked at least 20 years younger on the recent Golden Globes red carpet. She literally looks like she's ageing backwards.

I mean, can we just:

Image: Instagram/@demimoore.

In a viral video by cosmetic surgeon Dr Jonny Betteridge from JB Aesthetics, the expert compared recent images of Moore with images of the actress from 2019 to show her transformation.

He attributed her rejuvenated appearance to a "deep plane face and neck-lift" — a facial surgery technique that goes into the skin's deeper layers for more natural-looking results — and blepharoplasty. See the video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr Jonny Betteridge (@drjb.aesthetics)

One comment read: "I think I want the number of her surgeon."

Someone else said: "Amazing work ..we aren't ugly/old just poor."

There was also that recent viral photo of Donatella Versace, who was spotted looking very… different… at 'The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical' premiere in London.

Image: X (@thetitanbaddie).

The 69-year-old looks fresh. Glowing. Youthful. Like she's maybe fired her old surgeon and is now ageing in reverse.

Over on Instagram, the people wanted answers. "Did you find Lindsay Lohan's doc, Donatella?" wrote someone.

Whether or not it's a case of impeccable new cosmetic work, some really good editing or a bit of both — we can all agree she looks undeniably different.

But it's not just our friend Donatella.

There's also that video of Christina Aguilera that went viral recently.

The singer, who was dressed in Cosplay for a performance in Osaka, showed off a high, slicked-back ponytail and perfectly flawless makeup. At 43, she didn't just look "good for her age". She looked… impossibly younger.

And the speculation in the comment section BLEW UP. Is it real? Is it AI? Some kind of DNA cosmetic procedure? The salmon sperm! Must be the salmon sperm.

One comment read: "What year is it."

Another said, "Wait what am I back in 2002."

"Okay so are we in a time capsule?" wrote someone else.

People wanted to know if she'd been on Ozempic, what she did to her face, but most importantly — who her surgeon was and just how they did it.

Because while the relationship between celebrities and cosmetic surgery is not news, this is. It's not just injectables or a face lift — it's a full physical aesthetic transformation.

Image: Instagram/@xtina.

Then there's Lindsay Lohan.

After recently attending New York Fashion Week, the actress garnered a wave of attention for her appearance. She looked stunning. And fans couldn't help but be curious about what procedures she's had to look this good.

On Reddit, fans speculated what kind of cosmetic treatments she'd undergone, with one comment ringing true: "She ... looks really good. Whatever she did, it was done tastefully."

Image: Instagram/@lindsaylohan.

And what about Matt Damon? If you recently spotted him on Toronto International Film Festival red carpet, you would've noticed just how… fresh he looks. With a smooth-looking forehead and minimal lines, the actor looked like a youthful, rejuvenated version of himself. But nowhere near 52.

There's also other celebrities like Christie Brinkley and Gisele Bundchen — youthful, refreshed faces that make it tricky to pinpoint what's actually changed. Scroll through these celebrities Instagram feeds and you'll read comments like: "the surgeon deserves a Nobel Peace Prize."

And according to surgeons, there's a good reason celebrity faces look different. Apparently, we're in the midst of what's been dubbed an 'undetectable era', where the telltale signs of cosmetic surgery are almost blurred. While we're used to spotting overfilled lips, frozen faces and that very recognisable 'done' look, these days cosmetic work is almost devoid of the signs we're so used to seeing — but that's the goal, right?

Whether you want to thank the revolution of weight loss drugs or the cutting-edge procedures and advancements in the aesthetics industry (using your own fat to fill! Using your own blood to rejuvenate!), we're seeing an entirely new 'look' that's very different to what we're used to. In fact, it makes it increasingly harder to put your finger on what is actually… different about someone.

Mamamia spoke with Sydney cosmetic doctor Dr Yalda Jamali from Epios Cosmetic Clinic, who shared what she's observed when it comes to celebrity faces.

"Some celebs have always had subtle treatments — a great example is Kate Middleton. However, many celebs who previously have gone for the 'done' look or have potentially taken it a bit too far previously are trying to undo this image and going towards a more natural cosmetic look," she told us.

"It is really hard to have 'undetectable' cosmetic surgery. Surgery is permanent, leaves scarring and usually can be noticed, especially in those that are constantly in the eye of the public."

Meaning? Everything you see on social media might not tell the full story.

However, another factor that might play into it is when people are actually opting to go down the cosmetic surgery route — the demographic, Dr Jamali said, is trending younger.

"Those that seek cosmetic surgery are turning to it as an option slightly younger. You are more likely to see much more subtle results in someone who doesn't have extensive signs of ageing. A surgical brow lift in someone who is in their 30s will look more subtle than a full surgical face lift in someone who is 60," Dr Jamali said.

As we mentioned before, there's also the change in aesthetics.

After the rise of the Kardashian-fuelled 'Instagram Face' a few years ago, people are now gravitating towards a natural look more than ever in all aspects of beauty — from skincare to makeup and now, aesthetics.

"People are noticing that the 'frozen' look actually isn't nice or natural," said Dr Jamali.

Instead, it's all about subtle 'facial rejuvenation,' using technical advancements and of course a shift of focus towards skincare, with game-changing procedures and treatments focusing on the health of your skin.

Read: It's less about filling your face and more about working with what you've got.

"Cosmetic medicine as a field has also massively enhanced in the last 10 to 15 years and we have so many more options when it comes to treatments than ever. A lot of these treatments focus on skin quality rather than changing how you look which is promoting the more natural and 'quieter' cosmetic look. Energy-based devices are far more advanced and popular, and many non-surgical cosmetic treatments stimulate our own natural collagen and elastin rather than volumising or freezing the face."

Sharing what's she seeing in her own clinic, Dr Jamali said patients "rarely enter my clinic wanting to change how they look but mainly to improve their skin quality and prevent premature signs of ageing."

"I am also seeing that patients are happy to follow along on a long-term skin plan rather than a one-off treatment that may augment their features. Patients are also understanding that one-off quick treatments cannot possibly improve skin quality and it is a long-term commitment with both in=clinic treatments and at-home extensive skincare." 

When it comes to celebrities like Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan and Matt Damon — and the exact treatments they've undergone — Dr Jamali told us, "It is hard to comment on what individuals have had (and not right to do so) if you aren't the treating doctor." However, in general, she said many celebrities use a combination of different treatments, turning to both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Again, it's also about skincare — and celebrities just happen to have access to some of the best treatments and devices in the world, right at their fingertips.

"It is also important to note that many are focusing on their skin quality and would have access and the funds for continuous skin treatments which does not necessarily change how you look but improves your skin quality. These will include energy-based devices such as lasers," she said.

In a now viral clip, the Blonde Files host Arielle Lorre invited hosts of Gloss Angeles, beauty journalists Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan, to share the most common 'undetectable' procedures people are doing in LA.

Johnson said, "Blephs are the buzzword. Everyone is getting their eyes done. Obviously it's a surgery but it's not super invasive, like a lateral brow lift. I think a lot of people are into it to refresh their eye area."

"Also, I think we're in this world where fillers and neuromodulators are a part of people's beauty routines at this point. Once the [injectables] stop working in certain areas around their eyes, they're like, 'What's next? What else can be done?'" she shared.

"If you notice somebody looks really good and you can't put your finger on it, chances are they've had a rhinoplasty."

Tan chimed in, "Something that people notice but they can't put their finger on are the veneers."

"Taylor [Swift] has amazing veneers. Whoever she's going to now, nailed it," Lorre added.

Specific procedures and treatments aside, what does this all mean for us mere mortals? Because whatever beauty standards are running the show in the elite social circles of Hollywood, eventually trickle-down into the public, right? (Ozempic, we didn't see you walk in).

So, is this new era of beauty a good thing?

"This new era of aesthetics is slightly more positive," Dr Jamali told us.

"I hope the new era celebrates the signs of ageing, especially in women. Ageing is inevitable and you're always going to look much better as a glowing 40-year-old compared to a 40-year-old that's trying to look 30. I do think the new era unfortunately promotes surgery in younger patients (under 30) and this will have implications long term."

Ultimately, women's expectations of how they want to look as they age have changed. But is this just another unattainable pillar of 'beauty' we're trying to uphold? Because make no mistake — the pursuit of perfection is certainly not dead.

What do you think of the above? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Instagram/@lindsaylohan, @demimoore. Subservience.