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 barefaced girls celebs typically, 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. After all, many of those movies (mockingly) contain placing numerous 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 exhibiting 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 choice and luxury, and the explanations behind both selection are totally different for everybody. Right here, 17 former make-up fanatics inform SELF what impressed them to ditch their beloved cosmetics.
I bought so used to seeing myself with out make-up through the pandemic, that it simply grew to become the brand new regular.
I used to at all times put on make-up every time I went exterior. However whereas I used to be quarantining throughout COVID I didn’t have to, 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, undereye concealer, and eyeliner. —Katrina Huang, 24
Consistently worrying about how my face regarded added pointless stress.
It’s the identical motive I additionally stopped doing my hair: I simply don’t have time, nor do I contemplate it a precedence. Once I did have make-up on, I’d continuously 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 evening. All that further 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.
I finished sporting 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 lower my lengthy hair off and was battling my private picture. As soon as I observed that I grew to become depending on sporting make-up throughout this stage, I spotted that it didn’t really feel pure, so I began to give attention to what’s stunning to me. —Marissa Kelley, 32
It was so irritating for my eyes.
I by no means actually took to sporting correct make-up on a regular basis, however in the previous few years I’ve given it up utterly. 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 believe she appears wonderful. I applaud her for taking a stand and showing as herself. —Holly Ross, 52
Someplace alongside the way in which, I spotted I shouldn’t put on make-up for exterior validation.
Rising up, I at all times liked enjoying with make-up, and I wore at the least a little bit daily from center college till my junior yr of faculty (when the pandemic began). Since I used to be staying dwelling for essentially the most half, I didn’t really feel the necessity to put on make-up, however as soon as I began seeing individuals once more I observed that I used to be motivated by exterior causes (particularly, to attraction to males).
My preliminary break from make-up jogged my memory that it was purported 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 needed to look—and really feel—like my genuine self.
I spotted I like the sensation of fresh, clear pores and skin versus sporting make-up. At this stage in my life, the primary concept 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.
For thus a few years, I needed to put on tons of blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and basis for dance recitals and cheerleading competitions. The appears have 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 capable of embrace my naked face, which made me really feel extra comfy in my very own pores and skin. —Sydney Charles, 24
I didn’t need to adhere to sexist magnificence requirements.
For me, make-up isn’t any totally different than getting charged extra for pink razors catered to girls. It’s one thing society expects us to maintain paying for and placing up with, and I spotted males aren’t obligated to take care of their appears in the identical approach. That and perhaps I’m too lazy for the maintenance that will be required. —Anna Shkolnikov, 46
To apply self-acceptance, I made a decision to cease overlaying my zits.
I initially bought into make-up as a result of I used to be insecure about my cystic zits. I simply needed to cowl up the breakouts, however I spotted 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 stunning both.