Celebrities of all genders use makeup to look and feel their best onstage and on the red carpet. This kind of glam is artistry, whether it's a "no makeup" look or a full, flawless face.
One of the downsides of admiring Hollywood glam as a Regular Joe™ is that you may end up comparing your skin and skills with those of the celebs and their pro makeup artists — even if you know that lighting, filters, and a ton of money go into their looks. That's why it's honestly so refreshing when celebs forgo the complicated cosmetics and step into the spotlight makeup-free.
Of course, many of them still have expensive skincare, dermatologists, cosmetic procedures, etc., at their disposal, which is important to remember before you start comparing your natural skin with theirs.
Here are 17 times celebs went makeup-free at big events, and it was amazing:
1. At the 2023 Oscars, Lady Gaga walked the red carpet in a full face of Haus Labs (her own makeup line), but she wiped away all the glam before taking the stage to perform "Hold My Hand" from Top Gun: Maverick.
Academy Awards executive producer Ricky Kirshner told the Hollywood Reporter, "Thursday [before the Oscars] at four-something, we got a text that she wanted to try something, didn’t have time to put together a big performance, but wanted it to be raw and people to see the real Gaga, and with a voice like that, you don’t need much more than that."
You can watch the full performance below:
View this video on YouTube
2. In 2017, Paris Jackson walked the red carpet at People magazine's "Ones to Watch" party sans makeup.
3. Alicia Keys attended the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards with a bare face and a big smile.
Responding to people who criticized her on Twitter, she said, "Y'all, me choosing to be makeup free doesn't mean I'm anti-makeup. Do you!"
4. She once again walked the red carpet makeup-free at the 2016 BET Awards.
In a Lenny Letter essay, she said, "I don't want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing."
5. During Paris Fashion Week 2016, Kim Kardashian decided to have a no-makeup day.
On Snapchat, she said, "It kinda feels good."
6. While singing "Scars to Your Beautiful" at the 2017 VMAs, Alessia Cara wiped off her makeup after the line, "Cover girls don't cry after their face is made."
She also had dancers help remove her fancy wig, dress, and jewelry, revealing a casual black tank top and leggings.
You can watch the full performance below:
View this video on YouTube
7. At the Telluride Film Festival, Jennifer Garner dressed casually and without makeup.
8. At the same festival, she went for the same vibe the following day.
9. Amanda Seyfried went barefaced at the 15th Annual US Tennis Association's Opening Night Gala.
10. At the 2018 Oscars, Frances McDormand walked the red carpet and took home the award for Best Actress makeup-free.
11. Halsey, who often posts selfies without makeup, went makeup-free during a concert in 2018. Though she didn't share any pictures herself, you can see fans' pictures in the replies to her tweet from after the show.
&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimg-mkr.buzzfeed.com%2Fbuzzfeed-static%2Fstatic%2F2023-03%2F29%2F18%2Fcampaign_images%2Fc9004f23b19f%2F17-makeup-free-pictures-from-celebs-who-stepped-i-3-1678-1680115938-0_dblbig.jpg%3Ftemplate%3Dpinterest-vertical-dots-v1%26title%3DMTcgTWFrZXVwLUZyZWUgUGljdHVyZXMgRnJvbSBDZWxlYnMgV2hvIFN0ZXBwZWQgSW50byBUaGUgU3BvdGxpZ2h0IEJhcmVmYWNlZCAoV3JpbmtsZXMsIEFjbmUgQW5kIEFsbCk%3D%26color1%3Dbluedark){kind=link}
On Twitter, they said, "I stuck to my word and wore no make up & just my fake eyelashes on stage tonight! .......and then peeled them off and showed the camera man because they were melting off lmao. Thank u guys for letting me be the mess that I am. It's liberating. And also fucking sick. Lol."
12. In 2013, America Ferrera seemingly wore no makeup on the red carpet at the Outfest film festival.
13. Ciara went makeup-free for the Makers Conference in 2017.
14. In 2015, Joy Bryant seemingly went makeup-free for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund's 2nd Annual Super Saturday LA.
15. In 2012, Shailene Woodley attended a screening of Red Lights sans makeup.
In 2013, she told Flavorwire, "So a) I don’t really wear makeup that much anyway, so part of it is just a selfish, lazy thing, and b) I want to be me. I do think it’s fun sometimes to dress up for the Oscars or for certain events — I get to be like a 5-year-old again, wearing my Cinderella dress. But for some events where it’s a more casual vibe, I just want to be me."
16. She was also seemingly barefaced at the opening night of The Book of Mormon in 2012.
17. And finally, during the 2019 BRIT Awards, Jess Glynne removed her makeup live onstage while singing "Thursday," which opens with the line, "I won't wear makeup on Thursday / I'm sick of covering up."
She was surrounded by a legion of other women, who wiped off their makeup alongside her.
You can watch the full performance below:
