Celebrities Without Makeup Make You Wonder Why They Bother Wearing It At All
Celebrities owe a lot to their trusted team of makeup artists (and sometimes Photoshop). Rarely do we see them without a full face of makeup on and their hair coiffed to perfection. But all of these stars are still human, so they can't always keep it together 24/7. Beneath the foundation, mascara, and lipstick, many of these celebrities would be completely unrecognizable on the street! While stars like Chelsea Handler and Kate Upton have been spotted by paparazzi in their natural states, others like Priyanka Chopra and Gwyneth Paltrow have been bold enough to share bare-faced selfies on their own.
Chelsea Handler
Based on her upfront humor and outspoken personality, Chelsea Handler seems like a no-holds-barred type of gal, but of course, she does it all with a trusty hair and makeup crew backstage. As the host of her own show, Handler has to look her best but after spending so much time in the makeup chair, it's understandable that she'd want to dress it down on her time off.
Handler was seen stepping out in Beverly Hills looking nearly unrecognizable with her hair pulled back and no makeup, yet she still appears as confident as ever while waving at the paparazzi.
Tyra Banks
When former supermodel Tyra Banks began hosting America's Next Top Model, she taught all of her contestants the importance of "smizing," or smiling with your eyes. After all, makeup can do a lot to transform a person's face, which is why it is all the more important to make yourself stand out if you can capture someone's gaze with your eyes.
Despite having to be made-up to host her show, Banks has shown no shame in sharing her own no-makeup selfies, smizing with confidence and revealing that beauty clearly comes from within.
Kylie Jenner
As the CEO of a cosmetics empire, Kylie Jenner always has a full face of makeup on, often opting to wear her own products to showcase her merchandise. But in the few moments that she shares a makeup-free selfie, Jenner reveals a full face of freckles instead.
Despite being known for Kylie Cosmetics (and the famous family she comes from), Jenner isn't one to shy away from going out without her face done. Granted, she never looks completely undone with eyelash extensions and lip fillers but even the youngest sister of the Kardashian-Jenner clan knows when to let her skin breathe.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga made a name for herself with her eccentric outfits and eye-catching makeup to match. At the beginning of her career, Gaga did whatever she could to stand out as an individual, all while shocking everyone with what she wore on the red carpet and in her music videos.
Gaga has certainly toned things down in recent years but often steps out with bold eye makeup, as we see on the right. But underneath all that makeup is the beautiful bare face of one Stefani Germanotta (Gaga's real name).
Caitlyn Jenner
Retired decathlon gold medalist and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner has undergone numerous surgeries to change her appearance. Now 70-years-old, Jenner elected to have a facial feminization procedure in 2015 that cost around $70,000, Page Six estimates.
Jenner took her time at addressing rumors of her transition, waiting until she completed the surgery and healed before officially making any announcements. Before her official reveal, however, People magazine chose to run a story speculating her transition after rumors leaked from Jenner and Kardashian households in early 2015.
Jennifer Lopez
Now 50-years-old, actress and musical artist Jennifer Lopez is still in incredible shape. Engaged to former MLB star Alex Rodriguez, the couple tackles workouts designed for professional athletes, making it appear as though they've found the fountain of youth with their timeless bods. But what about other signs of aging?
Lopez isn't shy, she has posted several no-makeup selfies on her Instagram account boasting 119 million followers. One of her fans commented, "Thanks for sharing your "real" self, extraordinary beauty."
Adele
Adele can be recognized by her amazing voice alone, so if you only heard the voice of the person on the left, you'd automatically know who they are. We mostly see Adele in the media with her impeccable winged eyeliner, so it's kind of surprising to see her with a bare face.
Adele posted a video of her natural self to Twitter, apologizing to fans for missing out on a concert when she had a terrible cold. It's clear that this powerhouse singer has the confidence to take on the world, regardless of what is or isn't on her face.
Gwen Stefani
It's hard to imagine Gwen Stefani without her bold red lipstick since it's rare that she steps out without it. The former No Doubt frontwoman is one of those celebrities who hardly seems to age. So when Stefani posted this rare no-makeup selfie of herself, fans were caught off-guard by how true that actually was.
Even without all her makeup, Stefani's skin looks as flawless as it did when she came onto the scene back in the '90s. Stefani still comes out with a few songs here and there, but what people really want are the secrets to her skincare routine.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian when to the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week in 2016, wearing nothing on her face but some moisturizer. This happened at a time when plenty of celebrities were opting for the no-makeup look, encouraging others to do the same.
It's not every day that we see someone like Kim K without her full glam on. Without her makeup, Kardashian reveals some dark circles and lines that her infamous contouring tricks do a great job at hiding. While many believe she's had some plastic surgery since becoming famous, it doesn't disprove that she's a natural beauty underneath the makeup.
Kate Upton
As a Sports Illustrated cover model, Kate Upton is obviously coveted for her looks. Upton's hair and makeup are always perfectly done to accentuate her voluptuous beauty. But on several occasions, this model-actress has been seen out and about sporting a natural face and it is usually at an airport.
It's no surprise that Upton would want to go au naturel at the airport. After all, the recycled air on airplanes is detrimental to the skin, so caking on layers of makeup would only make matters worse. Upton looks great regardless, but we bet hardly anyone notices her without the makeup.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara is naturally beautiful from head to toe and that's a quality she plays into with her role on Modern Family. But even so, she is always fully glammed up with a red lip and mascara. When she shared the no-makeup selfie on the left back in 2017, her fans were surprised to see that she looks even younger than she actually is.
Although it looks like Vergara wears blush in the makeup-free photo, it's actually just redness caused by a 102-degree fever she got from shooting in the rain.
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana is another natural beauty, made obvious by the fact that she doesn't look too different whether or not she is wearing makeup. But with big roles in huge blockbuster movies like Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, we usually see her in blue or green so it's easy to forget what she looks like in real life.
Because she looks no different comparing these two photos side-by-side, it's clear that Saldana likely has a stellar skincare routine going on. Like the roles that made her famous, some might say Saldana's beauty is out of this world.
Naomi Watts
When Naomi Watts shared a selfie of herself getting ready for the Oscars back in 2016, she looked nearly unrecognizable with the exception of her piercing blue eyes. The versatile English actress is always commended for her roles, with talent that far exceeds any makeup she clearly doesn't need.
Now in her 50's, Watts is doing an excellent job of caring for her skin. It's probably why she virtually looks to be the same age in pretty much every role she's taken on both in film and on television.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra stunned her fans when she posted this bare-faced selfie on her Instagram account, proving that she's just as ravishing regardless of whether or not she has a bold lip and a smokey eye on her face. It's no wonder she was crowned Miss World in 2000 and went on to have a successful acting career in the U.S.
The flawless actress married singer-actor Nick Jonas in an extremely lavish ceremony at the end of 2018, on the heels of the premiere of Isn't It Romantic, in which she co-starred in February 2019.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood may think she is a "sweaty mess" in this selfie that she posted but it also only goes to show what a confident beauty she is without makeup. As one of the most successful country music stars today, Underwood most likely doesn't have any insecurities about her makeup-free look anyway.
Regardless, her skin looks just as flawless as it does when she actually does have makeup on. She probably takes great care of her skin when she removes her makeup after a night on the red carpet at the CMT Awards.
Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank was a top-billed actress at the turn of the century, having won two Academy Awards for her roles in 1999's Boys Don't Cry and 2004's Million Dollar Baby. If you've seen Swank in Boys Don't Cry, a role for which she chopped off her hair, then it's obvious that Swank puts her talent above her looks.
Regardless, Swank's natural beauty seems to have stayed with her throughout the entirety of her career. Swank regularly posts makeup-free selfies of herself on social media, revealing ageless skin and confidence no matter what.
Salma Hayek
At the beginning of her career, Salma Hayek's beauty has often been the centerpiece of her roles in films like 1995's Desperado, 1996's From Dusk till Dawn, and 1999's Wild Wild West. Of course, her breakthrough role came with 2002's Frida, in which she thrived as Mexican painter Frida Kahlo – complete with those infamous brows.
It wouldn't be far off to assume that Hayek's confidence has helped boost her career, rendering makeup useless. She often posts selfies of herself in her natural state, even pointing out her own white hairs in photos rather than dyeing them black.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston has always been one of those effortless beauties, but even a Hollywood A-lister like her has had help from a trusty makeup team. That's why Aniston was thrilled to star in the 2014 indie flick Cake, in which she played the victim of a car crash who suffers from chronic pain.
Aniston went completely make-up free for the role, telling media that it felt "so fabulous – so dreamy and empowering and liberating." Aniston clearly didn't need makeup to help her snag nominations for the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.
Meghan Markle
Before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry and became a member of the British royal family, she was an actress who was very down-to-earth. A yogi who loved nothing more than to spend time with her best friends and dogs, Markle wasn't shy to show her natural side.
Back in those days, she snapped a no makeup selfie that she shared on her Instagram account. Without makeup she looks much more like the girl next door than a dolled-up Duchess!
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts will forever have the words "Pretty Woman" attached to her name. Not only did she star in the 1990 romantic comedy of the same name, but she is indeed one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood!
Roberts may not have any makeup on in the candid shot on the left but it's clear that her face doesn't need it. After all, she looks essentially the same in the photo on the right, with the exception of her heavy eye makeup. The 51-year-old actress is still going strong with her career and apparently her beauty too.
Kaley Cuoco
Most famous for her role as the pretty and popular Penny on The Big Bang Theory, actress Kaley Cuoco has an outgoing personality in real life, too. Cuoco keeps busy filming both TV and movies, including her latest romantic comedy, Meet Cute where she costars alongside Pete Davidson.
Cuoco isn't afraid to be caught cruising around LA or the Big Apple without makeup on. Most of the time, she'll flash a goofy grin for the paparazzi! In 2021, Cuoco confirmed that she and her husband Karl Cook decided to part ways. But even with the breakup in the news, Cuoco will put on a brave face no matter what.
Kirstie Alley
Since seeing her career takeoff in the late '80s, particularly with her role as Rebecca Howe on Cheers, Kirstie Alley has seemingly been through a lot. Aside from an alleged cocaine addiction and becoming a Scientologist, Kirstie Alley has mostly remained on tabloid covers for her fluctuating weight. She's at least made the most of the situation playing a fictionalized version of herself on Fat Actress.
Considering all of that, it's no surprise Alley looks the way she does without makeup, which actually isn't all that bad for someone who is nearing 70.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis isn't a celebrity we usually see with heavy makeup on. If anything, she wears winged eyeliner and plenty of mascara. But because of her minimal makeup routine, she doesn't look any different when she goes out with a bare face!
The actress has come a long way since her days on That '70s Show, with career-boosting roles on Black Swan and Friends With Benefits. Now a mother of two with her husband (and former on-screen beau) Ashton Kutcher, Kunis' career is keeping steady and she never needs makeup to keep things that way.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow rose to prominence in the late '90s for roles films like Emma and Shakespeare in Love, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award. Though she is now best known for her role as Pepper Potts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Paltrow has also fashioned herself a lifestyle guru with her company, Goop.
Through Goop, Paltrow shares her skincare secrets and products, which is ostensibly why her skin continues to look ageless. Now in her late 40's, Paltrow has no qualms about going out in public with a bare face.
Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger is known for her roles in 2004's Troy and 2009's Inglorious Basterds but before she was an actress, Kruger started out as a model. It's no wonder that the German-born actress is known for her looks but even without makeup, she remains just as beautiful as Helen of Troy.
Now in her early 40's, Kruger previously posted this make-up free selfie saying, "I don't know why I still look like a teenager sometimes.." Um, perhaps it's because of your stellar skincare routine, Diane! This beauty is going to remain ageless for years to come.
Céline Dion
Céline Dion started out singing French songs as a teenager before she learned to speak English. With hits like "The Power of Love" and "My Heart Will Go On," Dion's voice will live on in our memories regardless of what her face looks like.
As you can see, Dion clearly doesn't even need makeup since she looks virtually the same in both of these photos. This only goes to show that the 51-year-old Canadian songstress is a timeless natural beauty whose age hardly shows on her face.
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba's career really took off in the early 2000s with films like Fantastic Four, Good Luck Chuck, The Eye, and Valentine's Day. The actress is a frequent collaborator with Robert Rodriguez, having starred in his films like Machete and Sin City.
If you had to guess how old Alba is based on these two photos, we bet you'd say somewhere around her 20s or maybe even her early 30s. Quite the contrary, Alba is 38 years old but her bare face doesn't give that away at all. Perhaps she has her Honest Company skincare line to thank.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson may be 34 but in her no-makeup photo on the left she looks like she could be fresh out of high school! Okay, that might be a stretch but the actress does look at least ten years younger than she actually is when there is nothing on her face.
In 2014, Johansson posed with a natural face for Vanity Fair's 2014 Hollywood Portfolio. Indeed, by then she was an A-list actress known for her work in films like Lost in Translation and for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Heather Locklear
After a successful eight-year stint playing Sammy Jo Carrington on the '80s soap opera Dynasty, Heather Locklear went on to solidify her place on prime time television when she started playing Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place.
Living in Hollywood, Locklear has likely met some stellar aestheticians because her skin looks as flawless as it did on T.J. Hooker. We'd even venture to say that Locklear looks better in her makeup-less photo, since it shows off her ageless skin. You wouldn't think that this actress is already 57!
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is one of Hollywood's favorite blonde bombshells. The South African actress came onto the scene with films like The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules, but it wasn't until she starred in 2003's Monster that she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Theron played real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos and the actress was made up to look just like her, wearing very little makeup and having bleached eyebrows. They must've added special effects makeup to her for Monster because, without makeup in the photo on the left, she still looks like the gorgeous actress we all know her to be.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman wowed us throughout the '90s with roles in films like Eyes Wide Shut and Far and Away. It all really started coming together for her when she received two consecutive nominations for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for Moulin Rouge! and The Hours.
Of course, those nominations were well deserved considering Kidman's immense talent but we're sure the Academy was also impressed by Kidman's natural beauty. Even today, the 51-year-old radiates grace and sophistication and she doesn't need a drop of foundation in order to do so!
Kesha
In January 2019, Kesha posted a no-makeup selfie on Twitter and said: "this year my resolution is to love myself... And to let my freckles liiiiiiiive." Afterward, Kesha's fans couldn't get enough of the "Tik Tok" singer's bare face!
It's clear that Kesha had something to hide whenever she put makeup on but many of us are now wondering why she even bothered. She looks just as beautiful with a face full of freckles as she does in all her music videos. We're so used to seeing Kesha made up completely that no one knew she had freckles until she posted this photo.
Kate Beckinsale
English actress Kate Beckinsale came to the U.S. in the late '90s to advance her acting career and finally hit it big with films like Pearl Harbor, Serendipity, The Aviator, and Click. Beckinsale is best known for her recurring role as Selene in the Underworld film series, as well as other action films like Van Helsing and Total Recall.
We have to ask Beckinsale what her skincare regimen is because clearly, she doesn't even need makeup! She may be 45 years old but she doesn't look a day over 30.
Shakira
Shakira's hips don't lie and her skin doesn't either. The photo on the left is actually what the Colombian singer looks like without makeup. She looks relatively the same whether she has any makeup on or not, which only goes to prove that Shakira is truly a natural beauty.
The "Whenever, Wherever" singer has three Grammy Awards and seven Billboard Music Awards. She can certainly dance and she can definitely sing, but we think the true talent lies in whatever she does to keep her skin looking as fresh as it did in 2002.
Rihanna
Rihanna is a pop icon who at this point needs no introduction but if you must know, she entered our lives in the early 2000s with hits like "Pon de Replay" and "Umbrella." Since then, Rihanna's career skyrocketed and she has become a nine-time Grammy Award winner.
She also knows a thing or two about makeup, considering her own line of cosmetics called Fenty Beauty. Even with her own line of makeup, Rihanna could stand to go without it. She's a natural beauty whose features are only intensified with the help of makeup.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore came from a family of actors and started her career at just seven years old when she starred in 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Fast-forwarding through her troubled adolescence marked by alcohol and drug abuse, she put her career back on track as an adult throughout the '90s.
With hits like Never Been Kissed and Charlie's Angels, Barrymore has proven that she has the acting chops and the natural beauty to stay relevant in such a fickle industry. She doesn't wear makeup in bed apparently and she doesn't need to anywhere else.
Alicia Keys
It was actually harder to find a picture of Alicia Keys wearing makeup because the singer hardly every wears any anymore! Back in 2016, the "Fallin'" singer stopped going out in public with a full face of makeup and had a very good reason for doing so.
"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," Keys wrote for Lenny Letter. Clearly, it's Keys's newfound confidence that makes her beauty stand out.
Gal Gadot
Israeli actress Gal Gadot rose to American consciousness when she took on the role of Wonder Woman in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. She was so fantastic in the role that it was only right she received her own standalone film in 2017.
For someone who was crowned Miss Israel in 2004 when she was just 18 years old, it's no surprise that she knows how to look great with makeup on. But Gadot's secret weapon isn't so much in the makeup brush as it is in her natural beauty and flawless skin.
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon is best known for her films like Legally Blond and Sweet Home Alabama. While the 43-year-old actress has continued with her career in front of the camera since then, she's done so much more including starting a book club and her own production company.
The mother of three looks nearly the same as she did when she played Tracy Flick in Election, which only proves that this actress doesn't need to cover up with makeup. In fact, she went completely makeup free when she starred in the 2014 film Wild.
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles, otherwise known as RePaul, obviously puts on a full face of impeccable makeup when he goes out in drag. While his drag look is likely what people think of when they hear his name, RuPaul has been known to go out with no makeup (and no wig) on more than one occasion.
He must be doing something amazing to his skin because he doesn't look too different from his made-up look! While RuPaul has appeared in a number of films, he's more recently known for his show RuPaul's Drag Race.
Marilyn Mason
Marilyn Manson is one of those celebrities who became famous for their unique looks. Of course, Manson's chosen look was extremely goth. Still, the singer, whose real name is Brian Hugh Warner, has been seen without his signature look and he looks worlds away from his famous persona.
As an actor, Manson has made cameo appearances on shows like Sons of Anarchy. Whenever he does appear in these roles, he looks unrecognizable and you'd likely wouldn't know that it was him unless someone told you.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has come a long way since her days on Barney & Friends. She later went on to become a Disney Channel starlet leading her own shows and movies like Sonny with a Chance and Camp Rock. After ditching Disney, Lovato came into her own as a pop star.
While she always looks fabulous on the red carpet with her various looks, we'd say that she is just as darling with a bare face, as you can see in the photo on the left. Her pup certainly seems to think so!
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen debuted as the cover model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2010 and things have looked up for the model ever since. The mother of two has other career pursuits as well, including a successful line of cookbooks and a stint as the host of Lip Sync Battle.
Being in the public eye, Teigen obviously gets some touch ups here and there from makeup professionals. But based on the photo on the left, she really doesn't need it. It was actually her husband John Legend that posted the photo and made that point to fans.
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner broke away from her sisters and forged her own career as a supermodel. It's clear that she can get by on her looks because she doesn't even need makeup to give the camera that signature smoldering eye.
Like her sisters Kylie and Kim on this list, she appears to be wearing eyelash extensions in her makeup-less photo. These sisters are obviously doing something right to take care of their skin. They should probably share those secrets with the world on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
