What It Takes to Look Like a Celeb

Amazing Arms

Celebrities are beauty icons for a reason -- they usually start out blessed to begin with. This is particularly true when it comes to star-quality triceps, cut biceps, and sculpted shoulders: The best way to get them is (sigh) to be born with them. "Some people are just genetically predisposed," says Eileen Daspin, author of The Manhattan Diet: Lose Weight While Living a Fabulous Life.

After having clients do at least half an hour of near-daily cardio, celebrity fitness trainer Tracy Anderson gets them to strap on wrist weights for 15 additional minutes of arm-toning moves.

It also helps to be young: The skin and connective tissue of the upper arms can sag with age, leading to dreaded batwings.

Brachioplasty (or arm-lift) can permanently remove fat and excess skin from the upper arms. But you'll pay a minimum of $3,000 to $4,000 and, as with all surgery, it poses risks, including nerve damage and uneven results.

Diet and exercise can reduce the arm fat that hides muscle definition. Choose activities that tone the upper body, such as rowing, swimming, and dancing, over legs-only activities like cycling.

Wear sleeves. It sounds like a no-brainer, but sleeveless tops aren't flattering on everyone. Stylist Albanese steers even her firmest-limbed clients toward sleeves when they'll be gesturing or applauding: "I know how it's going to look on a talk show when they're waving their arms around."