When Alicia Keys decided to go makeup-free in 2016, it wasn’t a singular decision between Keys and herself; the seemingly simple choice sparked a full-range national discussion. People couldn’t believe that a star as successful and public-facing as Keys would have the audacity to show her face bare. Keys was met with significant backlash, facing claims that her decision was inauthentic and had “gone too far.”
Today, in 2026, it is likely that Keys’ decision to go makeup-free would be embraced. Makeup trends have shifted significantly since 2016. A world once dominated by bold lashes and cut-creases has now been overtaken by sleek brows and glossy lips, a look famously dubbed as “clean girl makeup.” People have started to realize that less is more, and are reflecting this ideal in their makeup looks. This trend isn’t just localized to average consumers – it has been extended to A-list celebrities, a notion that Keys proved was deemed unacceptable by society just a few years ago.
Society’s move to accepting natural beauty amongst female celebrities didn’t happen overnight. Pamela Anderson’s decision to go makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week in 2023 prompted a gradual shift toward societal acceptance. When Anderson opted for a fresh-faced look at a Vivienne Westwood show, people noticed. The reason for this may very well tie into Anderson’s status as a ’90s icon, whose thin brows and dramatic, smoky eyes helped define her signature look. In 2025, however, she shows up as the most authentic version of herself with raw skin and flowy hair. Both styles are beautiful in their own right, but one more closely reflects who she is at her core.
“That was the beginning of me letting go of the image I had always had of myself,” Anderson states. “What is this cartoon character that I’d created? OK, that was fun. But I’m not that person anymore.”
A defining element of the no-makeup trend is that it fails to adhere to the male gaze. For many celebrities who have partaken in this trend, this notion has spread to other facets of their life and careers. For Anderson, this involves releasing a skincare line that focuses on embracing a natural complexion, pushing back against standards of how older faces should be presented in society. As she embraced a more natural look in 2023, she also reclaimed her narrative by publishing her memoir, Love, Pamela, detailing how she has navigated public scrutiny and risen above it all. Anderson’s diversion from the male gaze extends to her professional career as an actress, accepting roles that hold strong themes relating to womanhood, reinvention, and decentering men, like her recent role as a veteran showgirl in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl.
More recently, one up-and-coming celebrity has decided to kick off the press tour for her debut album entirely makeup-free. Addison Rae, who was formerly known as a TikTok sensation, has begun her venture into pop music as the most candid version of herself. While most celebrities might opt for bolder makeup choices to make themselves seen as artists, Rae decided to attend interviews and press events makeup-free.
For Rae, it’s unspoken. She hasn’t come out and directly said that her decision not to wear makeup stems from some rebellious ideal, but she doesn’t need to. Her choices speak for themselves.
As professional makeup artist Michaeline Becker puts it, “She wants her visuals to match the tone of her music. Her music showcases freedom, experimentation, some real life personal moments for her. And she wants her image and whole beauty look to match that.” Similar to Anderson, Rae’s decision to steer away from makeup goes back to a resistance to the male gaze, a theme common in her music and art. Rae’s debut album, Addison, has been lauded by critics and fans alike for its lack of male presence, down to having a female-only team of producers. Instead, the album stays true to its name by strictly being about her – her journey, her life, and her perspective.
What Keys, Anderson, and Rae’s decisions have in common, besides their obvious link to challenging traditional notions of beauty, is that they all send a deeper message about self-love and what it means to live authentically. For women under the spotlight, there is an unspoken expectation of how they should present themselves to society physically. Through this simple act of resistance, these women are sending strong statements about who they are and how they value themselves.
This shift amongst female celebrities to embracing natural beauty is powerful and inspiring. However, it also makes Keys’ situation all the more disconcerting to observe in retrospect. A trend she had pioneered years ago is now being accepted at face value – a situation both uplifting and disappointing. Although it is inspiring to see young female celebrities embrace their natural beauty today, it’s perplexing to see that Keys faced significant backlash for doing the same thing years prior. As Keys so brilliantly puts it, however, the power in this decision isn’t about makeup at all.
“It’s not about makeup or no makeup,” she said. “It’s not about mascara or no mascara. It’s not about lipstick or no lipstick. That’s not what it’s about. What it’s about is, how do you want to express yourself, and what space do you want to claim for yourself. And what boundaries do you want for yourself?”
Anderson has described her decision to go makeup-free as taking off a “mask.” This notion of using makeup as a means to mask rather than embrace is one many women can relate to at one point or another. As society continues to evolve and women continue to break long-standing barriers, we can only hope that soon all women will feel maskless in a world characterized by who wears it best.