Celebs Who Look Totally Different With No Makeup

No matter what they're doing, it seems most A-list stars don't go anywhere without their glam team. Kim Kardashian is very well-known for always having her trusted hair and makeup pros right by her side, whether it's to get ready to walk the red carpet for the premiere of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" or posing for another flawless Instagram selfie. She's even thanked these talented artists who make her look drop-dead gorgeous on Instagram, sharing in 2015, "I love my glam squad!!!!! Without them all of this isn't possible!"

However, even Kardashian has occasionally jumped on the bandwagon of celebrities who've opted to ditch their mascara and lipstick for a more natural look (more on this below). A-listers are becoming more relatable to their fans by forgoing heavy makeup and letting their natural beauty shine. We've seen stars like Gabrielle Union happily sharing a no-makeup look on social media and songstress Alicia Keys famously ditching makeup for years. In 2022, the "Girl on Fire" hitmaker explained her evolving relationship to makeup to People, saying that whether she's glammed up or not, "I get to determine what's beauty to me. Nobody gets to tell me what that is, and I can't tell anybody what that is either."

As many more celebs follow the no-makeup trend, some fans might be surprised to see how their favorite stars really look. We love to see these celebrities feel comfortable in their skin and prove that they are just like us, blemishes and all! 

James Charles first became an Internet sensation in 2016 when his high school graduation photos went viral thanks to his impressive makeup application. He explained on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" that November that he woke up early to do his makeup for the photos, which ended up catching the attention of CoverGirl, who in turn made him the first male ambassador for the brand. "CoverGirl has always embraced diversity and pushed the boundaries," Charles told ABC News at the time. "Makeup is kind of becoming a more genderless concept, which is so cool and something that I'm all for."

While Charles would go on to become a popular albeit controversial YouTuber through his makeup tutorials — as well as a beauty line mogul through his Sisters Apparel clothing line and his 2023 makeup line called Painted — he hasn't always worn makeup. The YouTuber told DeGeneres that he started wearing makeup just a year before his graduation photos caught traction online. The following year, Charles shared a bare-faced photo on Instagram that's way different from his usual glam look.

In fact, as Charles expressed to Teen Vogue back in 2016, "I hope to inspire others to be confident in their own skin and to love themselves with makeup or without."

Some celebs are notoriously private with their offscreen lives. Chrissy Teigen is not one of those stars. She's extremely open with her life, often sharing things on Twitter and Instagram that sometimes we honestly could go without hearing (like this graphic tidbit about the birth of her son, Miles). 

But thanks to her oversharing, Teigen's Instagram feed gives us hope and reminds us that Sports Illustrated swimsuit models have a little help from the makeup department to make them look so flawless, and that they even struggle with the effects of dehydration from time to time. In 2018, Teigen shared a makeup-less selfie of herself looking flushed while watching the Met Gala, writing, "I was gonna do a makeup breakdown but I'm honestly just very jealous I'm not there. Also I need to drink water." In 2022, the model shared a selfie of her makeup done on just half of her face, simply captioning it with, "No-makeup makeup."

Teigen's also known to share her go-to beauty and skincare routine products — including those that help to keep her acne at bay. And while she admitted that some of these items can be pricey on Instagram in 2020, Teigen also explained, "I kind of use whatever is closest."

Jenna Dewan first stole our hearts in the 2006 movie "Step Up." Since then, she's continuously made our jaws drop with her natural beauty. In fact, she's so beautiful and seemingly perfect that Harper's Bazaar writer Margaret Wappler commented on it in the outlet's 2018 interview with Dewan. "There is not one imperfection, not one micro-dimple from a cupcake she ate seven years ago," Wappler wrote. "This woman ... doesn't need Photoshop."

It's true — but it's clearly not the makeup that makes Dewan so stunning. She showed off her natural beauty that February, when she shared a makeup-free photo on Instagram just a couple months before she and her ex, Channing Tatum, announced their split. The "World of Dance" host, who shares daughter Everly with Tatum and son Callum with fiancé Steve Kazee, also opened up to People in 2014 about how her makeup and skincare routine evolved after becoming a proud mom. 

Later sharing her low maintenance, 10-minute routine in a YouTube video, the dancer-actor told her fans, "I have to say, because I'm so fortunate to work with a lot of makeup artists that are really amazing [for when I] dance in different shows and events, that I don't actually do my own makeup that often. I used to do it all the time, but now I've sort of come down to this really minimal, everyday makeup look."

Unlike many reality TV stars who disappear after a while, J-Woww, whose real name is Jenni Farley, has managed to make a thriving career out of her role on MTV's "Jersey Shore." J-Woww's always been a stunner, but over the years her appearance has earned some scrutiny from people who've claimed that she's had invasive surgery on her face — claims that Farley, who revealed she got breast augmentation surgery at age 18, has denied. "I take it as a compliment because I don't want to look like the girl that was 25 walking into the 'Jersey Shore' house anymore with no knowledge on makeup," she explained to Entertainment Tonight back in 2016, but added of going under the knife, "I'm always the one that says, 'Do it for the right reasons. Do it because it's like truly what you want to make yourself happy.'"

Of course, Farley definitely has makeup knowledge these days, and even launched her own cosmetics line in 2016. However, that doesn't stop her from flaunting her natural beauty every now and then. "I love the way I look and am totally honest and open with it," she told ET. Fast forward to 2021, when the reality star shared a makeup-less selfie on Instagram side-by-side with a selfie using a pretty intense editing filter. "Seriously, don't do this crap to your pics... love yourself," Farley advised her followers alongside heart emojis. 

Zendaya's natural beauty paired with her ever-changing hairstyles and relatableness earned her an ambassadorship with CoverGirl in 2016. The best part about Zendaya's makeup looks? She often applies them herself! "There were a lot of times people would do my makeup and it would be awful, and I would be orange. Nothing matched," she told Byrdie back in 2015. "So then you learn how to do your own makeup." According to Teen Vogue, Zendaya sometimes includes as many as 10 shades of foundation at once.

She doesn't always wear makeup, though, and has been open about sharing her fresh-faced photos with her fans on Instagram, such as this one from 2018. And the "Euphoria" star is all about being true to herself when it does come to her beauty routine. "I honestly don't believe in beauty trends. I stick with what I'm feeling in the moment," Zendaya told Glamour in 2020, adding, "Similar to trends, I think beauty rules in general are BS! Do what you want and do what makes you feel best. That's my beauty motto." We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Kerry Washington is perhaps best known for "handling" things as Olivia Pope on "Scandal" and for having gorgeous style while doing so. In 2018, the same year "Scandal" wrapped, Washington took an entrepreneurial line from Pope's book and launched a makeup collection with Neutrogena. "I wanted to create a palette that would be an easy, go-to toolkit that you can use no matter where you are, and no matter what you're doing," she told Marie Claire at the time. "Neutrogena really is about bringing the best version of yourself forward, both when you're wearing makeup and when you're taking it off."

As for the "taking it off" part, Washington — who's known for sometimes going makeup-free on Instagram — looks just as stunning when she does so! Back in 2014, she appeared on the cover of Allure without makeup — well, kind of. "It is a no makeup look, so I do have some makeup on," she revealed in an appearance on "The View" (via E! News). "I'm going to be honest because I think it's unfair when we tell women they should look like something that's not real," Washington added.

The ever-glamorous Mila Kunis doesn't have her own official social media accounts. In a 2011 appearance on "The Late Late Show," she told then-host Craig Ferguson that things like Twitter weren't really her thing. And while now-husband Ashton Kutcher occasionally shares pics of his former "That '70s Show" co-star on his own Instagram feed, without an oft-updated behind-the-scenes look at Kunis' life on social media, we're much more used to seeing her all dressed up at Hollywood events or made up by professional makeup artists for magazine covers.

However, in July 2016, Kunis appeared on the cover of Glamour sans her usual smokey eye, and she revealed that when she's not on camera, makeup isn't really her thing. "I don't wear makeup. I don't wash my hair every day. It's not something that I associate with myself," Kunis explained. "I commend women who wake up 30, 40 minutes early to put on eyeliner. I think it's beautiful. I'm just not that person."

Ada Vox made "American Idol" history when the celeb became the first drag queen to make it to the Top 10 of the show in the first season of the reality series' reboot on ABC. While it was technically Vox's first go at the show, the man behind the makeup, Adam Sanders, was on his 13th audition. "When I discovered this dream of singing, I wanted to change people's lives and make a difference," Vox told Billboard in 2018. "I started auditioning as soon as I turned 16, and I obviously kept going until I can't go back." Prior to "Idol," Vox told the outlet, "I was 21, I actually started performing in drag, and I haven't stopped since then."

Of course, this performer doesn't go about every normal day in drag. Ada Vox's Instagram page reveals photos of the star both in and out of drag, such as this before-and-after side-by-side snapshot shared in July 2023. The drag singer, who teased an "America's Got Talent" audition that March, even shared what goes into Adam Sanders' transformation into Ada Vox with Allure in late 2022.

Since her days as the frontwoman of the iconic band No Doubt, Gwen Stefani has been synonymous with bold makeup looks. In 2016, the celeb told Marie Claire that her signature heavy eye makeup and red lipstick started all the way back in her high school days thanks to the influences of ska music and Old Hollywood.

Over the years, Stefani's love for makeup has earned her ambassadorships for brands like Revlon, which "The Voice" judge stated was pretty much her dream in 2017. "I'm probably the most excited person about makeup that you could ever choose and it genuinely is my passion. It's something that I've been obsessed with for as long as I can remember," Stefani told InStyle. "It's art. It's self expression. It's transformation. It's confidence."

While it's true we've seen Stefani without that bold lip in recent years, it's rare that she's without any makeup at all. "All day long — whether it's on stage, photo shoots, or just my everyday routine — I get up and put tons of makeup on because I like it, and I like doing it, and I think I'm good at it," she added to InStyle. That's why fans were so taken aback when she uploaded a nearly makeup-free selfie to Instagram in 2018. And yep, you guessed it: She's just as gorgeous as ever!

Bella Thorne has always kept it honest with her fans, especially regarding her skin. The former Disney star uses her social media to talk to her fans about her struggles with acne. 

Though her Instagram is filled with stunning modeling shots, she's also posted photos of her skin under all that makeup. In 2017, Thorne shared an Instagram snap with no makeup and embraced her blemishes, sharing, "When you are sick as a dog and your acne is on fleek." That same year, the "Time Is Up" actor posted a photo of herself without any foundation covering her skin, declaring that she wouldn't hide her appearance. She added, "I'm very self conscious and constantly feeling bad about myself. BUT I shouldn't feel bad. It is normal to have acne. EVERY1 does! It's only our society and social media outlets like this one that tells us we have 'perfect skin' to be considered socially acceptable. I'm here to tell you rn F*** THAT."

In May 2023, Thorne updated her followers on her clear skin journey by posting a series of photos and a video of herself makeup free. In her video, she shared, "I just woke up and my skin, yas, yas skin — you better work for me."

Lady Gaga is well known for her many extravagant outfits, often paired with just as over-the-top makeup. However, despite having her own beauty line called Haus Labs, fans have seen the songstress tone it down with her looks.

Fans saw a completely different side of Lady Gaga when she starred in the 2018 film "A Star Is Born" opposite Bradley Cooper. In fact, the singer revealed that Cooper, who also directed the movie, asked her to take off her makeup during her screen test for the role of Ally. Telling the Los Angeles Times that it was challenging to go makeup-free, Lady Gaga shared, "It put me in the right place I needed to be, because when my character talks about how ugly she feels — that was real. I'm so insecure. I like to preach, but I don't always practice what I preach."

At the 2023 Oscars, Lady Gaga made headlines when she performed "Hold My Hand" from the "Top Gun: Maverick" soundtrack without makeup. Before she hit the stage, she was walking the red carpet with full-on glam.

Adele may be known for her singing chops, but she's also known for her signature cat-eye makeup look. So, it was pretty shocking when the "Easy On Me" singer posted photos of herself on Instagram going makeup free. 

In 2015, Adele posted her Rolling Stone cover on Instagram, which showed the singer without her bold winged liner and appearing to look like she just got out of the shower. The following year, Adele posted two black-and-white photos with no makeup on. One image showed the star relaxing with a glass of wine, while the other showed Adele bare-faced with a messy topknot. In August 2016, Adele shared a photo of herself removing her famous signature cat-eye with a cotton round. A second photo on Instagram showed the singer without her iconic look and staring straight into the camera. Even without her famous wings, we can't help but envy her flawless skin!

"I'd say it's at least two hours. Sometimes it can creep up to three," Adele told NikkieTutorials in 2021 of how long it takes to complete her fully glammed-up look, adding that she loves "a good contoured eye." However, she admitted she wasn't a pro at doing her makeup herself, particularly to her lips and eyelashes. So when Adele's living her day-to-day life out of the spotlight, the Brit tends to stick with the basics, noting, "I think a brow and a nail, and you're ready to go."

Cardi B isn't afraid to take risks. Remember when she wore a bright green catsuit with a matching bonnet in Paris? How about when she showed up to a courthouse wearing an over-the-top feathered jacket with a long train in 2019? And who else changes into four different looks at the Met Gala? Cardi B did just that while appearing at the prestigious event in May 2023.

Looking at Cardi B's Instagram, she's clearly living her best life. Despite being known for her head-to-toe glam, she's also very comfortable in her skin. Unfortunately, when photos emerged of the rapper with no makeup on, she received a lot of backlash. Alongside a 2021 video on Instagram, where she was makeup-free and wearing a simple black t-shirt, Cardi B wrote, "This is my face after wakin up 20 minutes ago, no filter, hair not brushed, lip chap all that. I never been afraid to show my real self. When YOU ON TOP the miserable and the ugly love to screenshot pictures while you in motion then criticize your face."

Proving she isn't afraid to rock a no-makeup look, Cardi B showed off her radiant skin again in April 2023. On her Instagram Stories, the rapper shared up-close videos of her face at different angles and said, "My hubby said take a video like this. No makeup. No filter."

Kesha entered the music scene in 2009 with her debut single "Tik Tok." The singer showed off her carefree lifestyle, unique sense of fashion, and love for glitter in the following years. In an interview for Entertainment Weekly, she even described her style as "garbage-can chic," noting, "You don't have to give it all away: it's really all about confidence." At the time, her fashion inspiration was listed as Keith Richards — however, Kesha has since put her wild side behind her and reinvented herself. 

We first saw a completely different side to Kesha when she posted a makeup-free photo of herself on Twitter in 2019. Showing off her full face of freckles, she captioned it, "this year my resolution is to love myself... just as I am, all f***ed up and imperfect and whatever else. And to let my freckles liiiiiiiive."

Over on Instagram, Kesha continued showing off a more natural appearance while promoting her 2023 album "Gag Order." While there's a lot less glitter on her feed, she's seemingly happily embracing the skin she's in.

Beverley Mitchell is best known for her role as Lucy Camden in the television series "7th Heaven." Although her acting career has slowed down, she's still very much active in the entertainment industry, working on a couple of projects almost every year since "7th Heaven" concluded in 2007.

When she's not working on a television movie, fans can see Mitchell showcasing her daily life as a married mom of three on Instagram. The actor has been extremely open and honest with her followers about motherhood, mental health, and beauty. For example, while most celebrities shy away from showing off their imperfections, Mitchell embraces them. In 2019, she posted a series of photos without makeup and spoke about her struggles with acne, sharing, "Thank you for giving me a space to share my struggle! I choose to share because I think it's time we give ourselves a break. This is real. This is me!" Mitchell added, "Perfect skin probably isn't in my future and that's cool, so I take my good days and I power through my bad but always at the end of the day this is me and I am cool with that."

In another post on Instagram shared in November 2022, Mitchell shared a video of how she would look if her face were filtered. She captioned her post, "Being in an industry that is based on looks I have always prided myself on staying true to who I am!"

Marilyn Manson, whose real name is Brian Hugh Warner, is one of the most polarizing figures in music. Usually dressed in eccentric clothing and outlandish makeup, the heavy metal musician has faced a ton of criticism since coming onto the music scene in the '90s. However, fans saw a different side to Manson when he took up acting roles that required the rocker to wipe away all of his stage makeup. "I wear makeup because it's the way I like to look. More like why a woman wears makeup: not in terms of looking feminine but just to look a specific way," Manson told Fader in 2015. "... Makeup gives me the ability to transform quite easily."

Seeing Manson without his signature white foundation and dark red lips, then, is shocking. One of Manson's first acting roles was a cameo alongside ex-girlfriend Rose McGowan in 1999's "Jawbreaker," where he looked utterly unrecognizable while donning a suit and mustache. Though he later appeared on "Californication" looking like his usual self, his short stint in the comedy series "Eastbound and Down" in 2013 surprised fans. With not an ounce of makeup on and his hair appearing full and in a light brown color, Manson was probably going to do anything to get a chance to be on the show after E! News reported that he was a massive fan of the series.

Fans also saw Manson dressed in a prison jumpsuit in six episodes of "Sons of Anarchy," as well as having a recurring role in the supernatural series "Salem."

We've rarely seen model Blac Chyna, whose real name is Angela Renée White, step out without makeup. However, Robert Kardashian's ex made a huge life change when she decided to have surgery to reverse many of her cosmetic procedures. In a series of videos on Instagram shared in March 2023, while makeup free and at a doctor's office, Blac Chyna shared, "As ya'll know, I've been changing my life and changing my ways." In addition, the model revealed that she was removing silicone from her behind, getting a breast reduction, and removing fillers in her face. 

In a follow-up video on Instagram, Blac Chyna told her followers that she was on her way to remove fillers from her cheeks and jawline. "Enough is enough, it all has to come out," she shared. While recording herself getting ready to get her fillers dissolved by a doctor, she added, "I'm just tired of the look, and it's just not flattering. It's not what I look like. It like totally changed my face, and I'm ready to get back to Angela."

Speaking about her massive life change with Forbes and revealing that she no longer wants to be known by her stage name, the model shared, "Mostly, just for me, it's like getting back to myself, because being in the entertainment field, everybody always calls me like, 'Hey, Blac Chyna, Chyna, Chyna.' Nobody ever really calls me Angela. So sometimes I would kind of forget who I am, because it's always about the brand, brand, brand, but not about the person."

During quarantine, fans saw plenty of celebrities rock a no-makeup look. There was actor Dakota Fanning who went bare-faced while checking her temperature in an Instagram video, Gabrielle Union enjoyed social distancing with her husband, Dwyane Wade, with not a touch of makeup on, and Kelly Clarkson sported a fresh face while singing in her bathroom.

Even Katy Perry, who we usually see in glamorous looks, let her skin breathe while social distancing. In March 2020, the songstress posted photos on Instagram of herself before quarantine and during the lockdown. Her first photo showed the star all dolled up and rocking her signature red lip while in Hawaii for a taping of "American Idol." Her second photo showed her in real time, relaxing in bed with a bathrobe and no makeup. While she was praised in the comments for her glowing skin, she later added in the comment section, "Blackheads and all baby."

While we rarely see Perry without makeup, fans might remember a pretty unfavorable photo of the "Roar" singer taken by her then-husband, Russell Brand. In 2010, the comedian tweeted a picture of Perry's face, in which she appeared to be waking up in bed without any makeup. According to the New York Post, the photo was later removed. We're guessing that was Perry's doing.

We all know that Kim Kardashian has a team of people by her side to make her look her best, as previously mentioned. Her makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, has worked with the Skims founder since 2008, while celebrity hairstylists Jen Atkin and Chris Appleton are seemingly always at her beckoning. Kardashian has had many looks over the years, but sometimes the reality star gives her glam squad a much-needed break, allowing her fans to see her au natural.

On her Instagram, fans can see Kardashian rocking a no-makeup look at the dentist. Other photos show the reality TV star in bed and taking adorable selfies with her children. Kardashian has even shown her followers her nighttime routine using her Skims beauty products. Keeping it very real with her fans in 2019, Kardashian shared a photo of a psoriasis flare-up on her face. "The Kardashians" star has been extremely open about how the skin disease, which causes itchy, dry patches, has affected her, and opted to share photos of her face up close on her Instagram Stories revealing small patches on her cheeks.

Despite having to put out an image of perfection, it's nice to see Kardashian opening up to her fans about her skin condition.

2023 started with a whole lot of Pamela Anderson as the "Baywatch" star debuted her memoir "Love, Pamela" and the Netflix documentary "Pamela: A Love Story" to finally let everyone know that it was time she started narrating her life. And while revealing the true Pamela, the pop culture icon was also donning a lot less makeup and showcasing her natural beauty.

Celebrating what appeared to be a new look on life, Anderson graced the cover of the February 2023 issue of Women's Wear Daily makeup-free and with a diamond tiara. With no foundation on, the actor's freckles were on full display. She told the mag, "I really feel powerful right now when everything's very pared down. I like to see my freckles. I like when my hair isn't done. I like just a really fresh face." In addition, Anderson said that she was looking forward to aging gracefully. "I don't like those injections, and that doesn't work on me," she explained. "I want to see what's going to happen." 

Shying away from her once scantily clad outfits of the '90s, Anderson added that her go-to wardrobe consisted of "a beautiful blouse and some trousers, and always a heel."

Taylor Momsen put her "Gossip Girl" days behind her when she began focusing on her rock band The Pretty Reckless. Of course, what's a rock and roll star without black ensembles, shaggy hair, and a grunge smokey eye? Although most people might have found her new look to be a severe change, Momsen finally allowed herself to be who she really was.

When speaking about her new look to Teen Vogue in 2009, she said, "I had long, pretty hair, and it didn't fit me. I'm pretty, but I'm not like, a 'pretty girl.' So I pulled a bunch of photos of Joan Jett and said, 'Do that to my hair.' There was a distinct change in my wardrobe, too, and I know people were a little, um, taken aback. But it wasn't me that changed — it was just that I decided to start being myself." Since then, fans wouldn't catch Momsen on stage without her signature rockstar appearance.

So, it might come as a surprise when Momsen strips off all the makeup that resonates with the star. On Instagram, fans see Momsen regularly posting fresh-faced selfies without her usual black eyeshadow look. It definitely takes us back to Momsen's Jenny Humphrey days.

Tyra Banks taught us to "smize" and love our natural beauty. The "America's Next Top Model" star has always been honest with her fans, especially regarding body image, so it didn't come as a shock when she posted this unfiltered and makeup-free look to her Instagram in 2015. 

With her hair pulled back and staring straight into the camera, Banks explained that she doubted posting her unedited selfie but decided to go for it, because why not? Banks was met with tons of praise in her comments section after captioning her post with, "You know how people say #nofilter but you know there's a freakin filter on their pic? Or maybe there's a smidge of retouching going on but they're lying and saying it's all raw & real? Well, this morn, I decided to give you a taste of the really real me."

The model has since posted numerous selfies without makeup, including one from 2022 where she's doing what she does best: smizing for the camera.

Fans saw a totally different side to Christina Aguilera when she posed for Paper magazine without an ounce of makeup. Revealing that she has freckles and beautiful skin, it was a completely new look for Aguilera, who's become known for undergoing several transformations with her style and makeup looks throughout her decades-long career.

In the March 2018 issue, Aguilera shared that she was learning to love herself without all the glam. "I've always been someone that obviously loves to experiment, loves theatrics, loves to create a storyline and play a character in a video or through stage," the "Beautiful" singer expressed. "I'm a performer, that's who I am by nature. But I'm at the place, even musically, where it's a liberating feeling to be able to strip it all back and appreciate who you are and your raw beauty."

However, fans won't always see Aguilera rocking her natural glow. The pop star loves her makeup, sharing in the same interview, "I mean, I'm a girl that likes a beat face, let's not get it twisted."