It used to be that photos of celebrities without makeup were the stuff of gossip rags like the National Enquirer, Star Magazine and Us Weekly, which paraded them as banners of shame. Paparazzi would fetch upward of $15,000 for snaps of women sans their usual armor of foundation, blush, mascara, lipstick and so forth. But in recent times, the conversation has changed. Celebs — and brands like Dove and People magazine — have turned makeup-free moments into acts of rebellion, vulnerability and self-acceptance.
In a world where being a female celebrity — or, for that matter, female — seemingly invites unwanted appraisals of your appearance, A-listers now regularly choose to go barefaced. Particularly on their Instagram accounts. Some, like the iconic Jennifer Lopez, accompany these no-makeup moments with raw confessionals. “So this is what it’s like before the show,” shared the singer in a post preceding one of her recent Vegas performances. “I sit here, no hair, no makeup, no nothing, just trying to get mentally prepared to give you all I have.”
Others use the attention-grabbing photos to highlight the artifice of makeup — and dated societal beauty standards. “Its (sic) exhausting to be told what beauty should look like,” Cara Delevingne captioned a barefaced paparazzi snap of herself taken this past May, just after she’d shaved her head for a role. “Strip away the clothes, wipe off the make up (sic), cut off the hair … Who are we? How are we defining beauty? What do we see as beautiful?”
Still others don’t even acknowledge their lack of makeup to emphasize that this is normal (still an act of feminism, though less overt). But captions aside, when these women display their natural beauty and show they’re comfortable with how they look and lend their spectacular photo-framing skills to the task, the resulting photos are definitely worth seeing. Click through the slideshow above for 34 stunning Instagrams of celebrities without makeup that more than prove this point. Prepare to feel awed and seriously inspired to join the come-as-you-are beauty movement.
A post shared by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne) on
Celebrities Without Makeup
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Gal Gadot
Lack-of-sleep-induced dark circles notwithstanding, Wonder Woman star and new mom Gal Gadot stuns in this stripped-down photo taken by her "other sleepy half."
Image: @gal_gadot
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Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz's beauty tips:
1. Don't be a white supremacist.
2. A fresh, makeup-free face calls for multiple hoop earrings.
Image: @zoeisabellakravitz
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Hilary Duff
Younger star Hilary Duff is blessed with incredible skin and the knowledge that makeup is naught but a transparent cloak. "Didn't wear make up (sic) today ... felt so good," she wrote on July 4, 2017.
Image: @hilaryduff
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Priyanka Chopra
It's true: the stunning Priyanka Chopra does do normal people things like "wake up way before [she's] supposed to" — and pass on the services of an all-star glam team.
Image: @priyankachopra
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Bella Hadid
Needless to say, Bella Hadid looks extraordinary even in her silent, post-shower, no-makeup moments.
Image: @bellahadid
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Lily Collins
Lily Collins — To the Bone actress, daughter of Phil — is blessed with amazing eyebrows and she regularly shows off those amazing eyebrows in makeup-free Instagram snaps.
Image: @lilyjcollins
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Ashley Graham
A helpful reminder from supermodel/body-positive activist Ashley Graham: healthy, glowing skin beats out elaborate camouflage every.single.time.
Image: @theashleygraham
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Adriana Lima
Adriana Lima, poster child of the benefits of avocado smoothie drinking (and good genes).
Image: @adrianalima
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Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato captioned this no-makeup selfie "freckles on point." We wholeheartedly agree.
Image: @ddlovato
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Chrissy Teigen
Again, the photographer put it best: "No filter necessary," affirmed Chrissy Teigen's doting husband John Legend.
Image: @johnlegend
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Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union, founder of hair care brand Flawless, wants "women with textured hair to have great hair days." (Like the one pictured here.)
Image: @gabunion
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Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is unafraid to face the world as she really is: a beautiful, trans black woman. As she told Access Hollywood, she doesn't even bother with a full face of makeup on the first few dates. She finds it pointless.
Image: @lavernecox
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Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps
It’s been nearly two decades since Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps met on Dawson’s Creek — and they've been BFF goals ever since. Who needs makeup when you've got a hetero life partner as your confidence booster?
Image: @busyphilipps
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Gwyneth Paltrow
Tired from a week of promo-ing her latest Goop endeavor, a makeup-free Gwyneth Paltrow snapped a selfie to show her followers that underneath it all "multi-millionaire lifestyle gurus, they're just like us."
Image: @gwynethpaltrow
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Nicole Richie
In celebration of Dove's 60th anniversary, Nicole Richie has vowed to #RaiseTheBeautyBar — by, among other things, flaunting her beautiful bare face.
Image: @nicolerichie
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Amanda Seyfried
The actress/singer/animal lover's infectious smile and much-discussed "anime" eyes need no embellishment.
Image: @mingey
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Kylie Jenner
We almost prefer Kylie Jenner with no makeup, letting her freckles shine through.
Image: @kyliejenner
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Cindy Crawford
Natural beauty is best preserved through beauty rest (preferably on monogrammed linens).
Image: @cindycrawford
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Alicia Keys
Since she first detailed her decision to go without makeup in a Lenny Letter, Alicia Keys has gone barefaced on countless occasions. Her (semi-)newly tangerine hair definitely highlights her cause.
Image: @aliciakeys
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Victoria Beckham
In a recent mommy-and-me selfie, Estée Lauder spokeswoman Victoria Beckham eschewed makeup save for lengthy lashes and maybe a touch of lip balm. For the makeup maven, that's essentially a bare face.
Image: @victoriabeckham
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Adele
Forget her signature feline flick — Adele could take the stage barefaced and no one would bat an eye.
Image: @adele
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Lily Aldridge
Here's Lily Aldridge slaying on a Bahamian beach wearing not so much as a stitch of mascara. Relaxed summer vibes FTW.
Image: @lilyaldridge
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Laura Harrier
Another water-adjacent, celebrity-without-makeup sighting, this one courtesy of Spider-Man: Homecoming star Laura Harrier. Doesn't she seem to glow from within?
Image: @lauraharrier
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Hailey Baldwin
Hailey Baldwin's beachy blond waves are the perfect complement to her clear complexion and naturally full pout. Sigh. Drybar appointment, anyone?
Image: @haileybaldwin
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Carolyn Murphy
Winter has its share of makeup-free moments, too. (Then, it's all about the moisturizer.)
Image: @carolynmurphy
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Zendaya
Self-acceptance champ Zendaya stuns in this atmospheric no-makeup photo, blemishes and all.
Image: @zendaya
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January Jones
In keeping with her DGAF attitude, many of January Jones' wittily captioned Instagram photos spotlight her bare, beautiful face. "In need of a vacation after our 'vacation,'" read the text of this one.
Image: @januaryjones
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Drew Barrymore
Glowing skin plus golden hour lighting equals winning makeup-free selfie. Take it from natural beauty expert Drew Barrymore.
Image: @drewbarrymore
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Lady Gaga
"It is not how many followers you have, how skinny or beautiful by other peoples (sic) standards that matters. Truly it's the best parts of you on the inside that you choose generously to share with your sister or brother that makes you beautiful. That's what counts. That is your legacy. That is how you leave your mark. Transferring your positive energy to those around you, and watching it multiply." -Lady Gaga
Image: @ladygaga
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Diane Kruger
Makeup, like an Instagram filter, can be a shield. Diane Kruger fares outstandingly well without the first — we're ready for her to lose the second.
Image: @dianekruger
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Salma Hayek
In a thoughtful act of feminism, Salma Hayek flaunted her naked skin and youthful bangs.
Image: @salmahayek
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Lorde
To think Lorde once got body-shamed for her (perfect, almond-shaped, arrestingly green) "far-apart eyes." Trolls truly lack vision.
Image: @lordemusic
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Emmy Rossum
We'll spare you a Shameless pun. Emmy Rossum, an outspoken critic of Hollywood's closed-door sexism, makes a habit of forgoing makeup on Instagram — and always looks gorgeous.
Image: @emmyrossum
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Vanessa Hudgens
Despite being a shameless EcoTools plug, this no-makeup snap of Vanessa Hudgens is one for the books. Just look at those brows.
Image: @vanessahudgens
