At Refinery29, we have one rule about makeup: There are none. You do you, however and whatever that may be. Foundation diehard? Allow us to direct you to our favorite ones. More the fiercely fresh-faced type? Here's the skin-care routine that will make your visage glow. We don't ascribe to the mainstream narrative that either one is better, or braver (our least favorite word) than the other.
That said, we've noticed a recent uptick in celebrities who have been jumping on the no-makeup train — currently led by the patron saint of cosmetics-free complexions, Alicia Keys. But that's not to say all of Hollywood is throwing its eyeshadows to the curb. Plenty of celebs still sport bold beauty looks on occasion, and also have their moments of free-facing it. Not only does it keep us guessing, it also shows us all the ways we can use beauty to enhance or highlight our appearances.
Ahead, check out 18 celebs with and without makeup. It's not brave, it's not a reason to gossip, it's not revolutionary — it's just makeup.
Alicia Keys
Keys has worn some glam makeup looks throughout her career — like this one. But this summer, she publicly declared that she was done with makeup. "I don’t want to cover up anymore," she said. "Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing."
Photo: Lars Niki/Corbis/Getty Images.
The singer has stayed true to her word, rocking only a messy topknot and bare (and glowing, we might add) skin since then.
Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic.
Gwyneth Paltrow
A Hollywood veteran — with an acting career that spans more than two decades — Paltrow is no stranger to the makeup chair. In her daily life, she usually opts for a natural, bronze-y look.
Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images.
In celebration of her 44th birthday, the actress recently uploaded this #nomakeupselfie to Instagram. She told us she's been inspired by the no-makeup movement, saying that she likes the message behind it: This is me. This is what I look like. This is where I am in time, and I embrace it.
Photo: Via @gwynethpaltrow/Instagram.
Kim Kardashian
Ah, the queen of contour. Between the K-clan's line of hair and makeup products and her countless headline-garnering looks, Kardashian has certainly made a name for herself in the beauty biz. Further proof she's a makeup wiz: She recently livestreamed her entire a.m. routine — which included a casual 25 products.
Photo: Michael Stewart/WireImage.
That's why, when Kardashian stepped out for the Balenciaga fashion show in Paris without a stitch of makeup on, the entire internet sort of lost it.
Photo: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images.
Gabrielle Union
Let's be real: Gabrielle Union first stole our hearts as the fearless head cheerleader in Bring It On. Since then, she's inspired us time after time with her bold, beautiful red carpet looks.
Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images.
Though Union is known for snapchatting makeup-free selfies often, her latest video gave a nod to fellow fresh-faced star Alicia Keys. In it, she said, "No makeup, head wrap, hey, Alicia Keys, I see you!"
Photo: Via @gabunionwade/Snapchat.
Chrissy Teigen
She's our long-standing favorite person to follow on Twitter (although, as of this week, her account is private), and we love the model's unfiltered approach to everything in life — her beauty routine included.
Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images.
In quite possibly the cutest picture to ever grace the World Wide Web, Teigen shared this moment with baby Luna — with matching baby-soft, makeup-free skin to boot.
Photo: Via @chrissyteigen/Instagram.
Laverne Cox
When it comes to beauty, Cox is our hero. (And not just because she slays a red carpet like no other.)
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
In an Instagram post, she wrote: "As an actress and a woman, I love being able to transform, to switch up my look when I want to with wigs, weaves, and bundles aplenty. I love this, too. It's about choices and options." Amen.
Photo: @lavernecox/Instagram.
Zendaya
In the last two years, the singer, actress, and dancer has won over our hearts with her willingness to take beauty risks — including doing her own makeup for red carpet events.
Photo: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan.
What's even cooler, though, is how she strips down from the glam — and claps back at haters who, well, hate. When user @JaeBasstv recently tweeted that he was "hurt" by how different Zendaya looks without makeup, she quickly responded with a flawless makeup-free selfie, saying, "Terrifying honestly..."
Photo: @Zendaya/Twitter.
Amy Schumer
America's favorite funny girl isn't afraid to have real beauty conversations — in her own comedic way. To wit: her brilliant music video "Girl, You Don't Need Makeup."
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.
And she doesn't — and neither does anybody else.
Photo: Via @amyschumer/Instagram.
Kylie Jenner
Known for her statement-making beauty looks (like countless hair and lip transformations), Jenner has quickly become the face of glamazon makeup.
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images.
In an Instagram post, a fresh-faced Jenner revealed her bare skin — adorable freckles and all — proving that she is just as beautiful sans contour.
Photo: Via @kyliejenner/Instagram.
Beyoncé
In terms of hair and makeup (and, actually, everything else, ever), Queen B can do no wrong. Even other celebrities geek out in her presence, so we'll just leave it at that.
Photo: David Becker/Getty Images.
Okay, okay, technically Bey is wearing some makeup here, but she did ditch all her other products — mascara, eyeliner, shadow — for a super-striking look that lets her gorgeous skin shine. We're calling it the Beyoncé-fied no-makeup selfie. And we are here for it.
Photo: Via @beyonce/Instagram.
Adele
The singer is as known for her signature cat-eye as she is for her gut-wrenching lyrics and a voice that could make angels cry.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage.
But Adele recently ditched the statement eyeliner — and all other makeup — in a series of barefaced snaps posted to Instagram. And we dug it, big time.
Photo: Via @adele/Instagram.
Gwen Stefani
We flip out every time the pop star ditches her classic red lip — and totally lost our shit when she launched a makeup collaboration with Urban Decay — so, yeah, you could say she's a big beauty icon.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.
She snapped her own #wokeuplikethis moment recently, and now we just have one question: What moisturizer do you use, girl?
Photo: @gwenstefani/Instagram.
Eva Longoria
For years, the actress has made her mark in the world of beauty, from her contract with L'Oréal to her Instagram makeup tutorials.
Photo: David Becker/Getty Images.
But when she's out with friends — like in this snap — she's down to rock a bare face, too.
Photo: Via @evalongoria/Instagram.
Rihanna
RiRi knows a thing or two about beauty. Not only does she experiment with every look imaginable — from pink hair to bold lips — she's also coming out with her very own cosmetics line, called Fenty.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
But when she's on vacation, her makeup goes on vacation too. (Can we transport ourselves there now, please?)
Photo: Via @badgalriri/Instagram.
Cara Delevingne
The model is known for her bold-and-not-sorry-'bout-it brows — triggering one hell of a movement that's been going strong for years. And often, she likes to accentuate those brows with bold, cool shadow looks.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage.
But if she weren't a model and actress whose job required spending hours in a makeup chair, Delevingne says, "If I had a choice, I wouldn't wear makeup and I would just jump around in pyjamas all day."
Photo: Via @caradelevingne/Instagram.
Tyra Banks
It's safe to say Banks is pretty familiar with makeup — she even has her own cosmetics line, called Tyra Beauty — and has perfected countless looks throughout her career as a model, businesswoman, and TV host.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
And — one thing's for certain — her signature smize isn't going anywhere, makeup or no makeup. The supermodel recently washed off her cosmetics live with Refinery29 — check it out here.
Photo: Via @tyrabanks/Instagram.
Katie Holmes
She is someone who always exudes natural beauty — and her makeup and fashion choices often give off that girl-next-door vibe, whether she's dolled up or dressed down.
Photo: Paul Bruinooge/Getty Images.
If her latest Instagram posts within the past few weeks are any indication, we'd guess that Holmes isn't afraid of a bare-faced selfie. And people are loving it: One user wrote, "More beautiful without makeup – you cannot improve already-genuine beauty."
Photo: Via @katieholmes212/Instagram.
Ashley Graham
The industry-shifting model once said to us, "Sexy is a state of mind" — and her oft-changing hair and makeup looks prove you can also be sexy plenty different ways.
Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images.
...And that includes an au naturale look. Here, Graham shows off her makeup-free visage (and killer cheekbones) while on vacay.
Photo: Via @theashleygraham/Instagram.
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