When Pamela Anderson went to Paris Vogue Week with none make-up final October, the web freaked out. Seeing the wonder icon forgo basis and eyeliner in entrance of so many cameras—with an enormous smile on her face—was refreshing, to say the least. You don’t see many bare-faced ladies celebs normally, and particularly not ones over 50.
This minimalist angle is making a buzz exterior of Hollywood, too. On TikTok, for instance, #nomakeup has greater than 1.6M posts. In fact, many of those movies (satirically) contain placing lots of effort (and cash) into attaining the “no-makeup make-up” look or “clear woman aesthetic.” However there are additionally loads of posts from individuals of all ages proudly displaying off their pure pores and skin—no mascara, no blush, no filters.
To put on—or not put on—make-up is totally as much as private desire and luxury, and the explanations behind both selection are totally different for everybody. Right here, 17 former make-up fans inform SELF what impressed them to ditch their beloved cosmetics.
I bought so used to seeing myself with out make-up in the course of the pandemic, that it simply turned the brand new regular.
I used to at all times put on make-up each time I went exterior. However whereas I used to be quarantining throughout COVID, I didn’t must, since I wasn’t seeing anybody or going anyplace. The extra I went about my day with my naked face, the extra I bought used to the way in which I regarded with out basis, mascara, under-eye concealer, and eyeliner. —Katrina Huang, 24
Always worrying about how my face regarded added pointless stress.
Courtesy of Jiamie Pyles
It’s the identical cause I additionally stopped doing my hair: I simply don’t have time, nor do I contemplate it a precedence. After I did have make-up on, I’d consistently must watch out about not touching my eyes in a approach that will smear my mascara, or not cleansing it off correctly on the finish of the night time. All that additional stress could possibly be averted by merely not placing any on within the first place. —Jiamie Pyles, 44
My daughter impressed me to embrace my naked face.
Courtesy of Marissa Kelley
I finished carrying make-up after admiring my daughter and her pure magnificence. I used to be type of in limbo on the time, as a result of I’d simply reduce my lengthy hair off and was fighting my private picture. As soon as I seen that I turned depending on carrying make-up throughout this stage, I noticed that it didn’t really feel pure, so I began to give attention to what’s lovely to me. —Marissa Kelley, 32
It was so irritating for my eyes.
Courtesy of Holly Ross
I by no means actually took to carrying correct make-up on a regular basis, however in the previous few years, I’ve given it up fully. My pores and skin (and my eyes particularly) are simply far too delicate. Plus, what am I attempting to cover? That is my true pores and skin, wrinkles and all. I’m 5 years youthful than Pamela Anderson, and I feel she appears superb. I applaud her for taking a stand and showing as herself. —Holly Ross, 52
Someplace alongside the way in which, I noticed I shouldn’t put on make-up for exterior validation.
Rising up, I at all times cherished enjoying with make-up, and I wore not less than somewhat day-after-day from center college till my junior 12 months of faculty (when the pandemic began). Since I used to be staying residence for probably the most half, I did not really feel the necessity to put on make-up, however as soon as I began seeing individuals once more, I seen that I used to be motivated by exterior causes (specifically, to enchantment to males).
My preliminary break from make-up jogged my memory that it was presupposed to be enjoyable and for my very own enjoyment—to not impress others—and that wake-up name helped me really feel assured in my pores and skin once more. I nonetheless love a glam second for particular events like birthdays and Halloween, although, the place I can experiment and get again to the enjoyable of all of it! —Simone Afriye, 24
I wished to look—and really feel—like my genuine self.
Courtesy of Virginia Peacock
I noticed I like the sensation of fresh, clear pores and skin versus carrying make-up. At this stage in my life, the principle thought is to look wholesome. And naturally, there are occasions once I really feel pressured to put on eye make-up with lipstick. However once I do, I remind myself that the aim is to overwhelm others with my grace and mind. —Virginia Peacock, 65
I used to be sick of getting to put on a lot as a former dancer and cheerleader.
Courtesy of Sydney Charles
For therefore a few years, I needed to put on tons of blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and basis for dance recitals and cheerleading competitions. The appears had been fairly dramatic—to the purpose the place I may barely acknowledge myself. So once I stopped doing dance and cheer years later, I used to be lastly in a position to embrace my naked face, which made me really feel extra snug in my very own pores and skin. —Sydney Charles, 24
I didn’t wish to adhere to sexist magnificence requirements.
Courtesy of Anna Shkolnikov
For me, make-up is not any totally different than getting charged extra for pink razors catered to ladies. It’s one thing society expects us to maintain paying for and placing up with, and I noticed males aren’t obligated to keep up their appears in the identical approach. That—and possibly I’m too lazy for the maintenance that will be required. —Anna Shkolnikov, 46
To follow self-acceptance, I made a decision to cease overlaying my zits.
Courtesy of Pooja Tanjore
I initially bought into make-up as a result of I used to be insecure about my cystic zits. I simply wished to cowl up the breakouts, however I noticed I used to be utilizing make-up as a crutch: I couldn’t depart the home with out it, and I didn’t really feel lovely both.