“Pamela Anderson Paves the Way for Women Embracing the Makeup-Free Movement”
“Pamela Anderson Paves the Way for Women Embracing the Makeup-Free Movement”
Pamela Anderson has nothing against makeup. It’s just that she’s been there, done that in her younger years. That’s why now, at 58, she’s attending fashion shows and film premieres with a blissfully bare face.
It’s a look, especially for older women, that serves to plague and perplex. Do we chase youth (and relevancy) with a full face, or do we foster radiant skin and march on makeup free?
“I’m not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room,” Anderson told Vogue ahead of a recent show she attended during Paris Fashion Week. “I feel like it’s just freedom. It’s like a relief.”
Down here in the non-celebrity world, is it just as easy and comfortable to go makeup free? Some proponents of the look, along with style and beauty experts, weigh in.
Going makeup free on the job
Women, particularly older women, are not universally giving up makeup, but Anderson, Alicia Keys and other celebrities who have publicly shown off bare faces have certainly inspired some to cast it off.
Working women, however, acknowledge difficulties doing that on the job — especially in traditional, less creative work spaces.
“I do still think that there are some politics associated with it. More around feeling and looking polished,” said Deborah Borg, the chief of human resources for a creative-leaning company that has roughly 25,000 employees.
She said she’s seen more women come into work makeup-free since COVID, and thinks the pandemic significantly altered the workplace dynamic.
Borg, 49, gave up makeup four years ago, save an occasional swipe of her bold, signature red lipstick. At Dalya, a cozy clothing shop in New York’s trendy Soho neighborhood, she lent herself as a model to demonstrate how to help one’s bare skin glow and how to use attire and accessories to accentuate the look.
Skin prep for a no-makeup lifestyle
Makeup artist Rebecca Robles counseled Borg and others with mature skin to think hydration when choosing products to make the most of their bare faces.
Robles recommends a five-step workday routine: A gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin; a vitamin C serum to brighten and mitigate fine lines; a moisturizer with sun protection; a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen for an extra boost (don’t forget to apply that to the ears); and a glossy lip balm for a bit of added polish.
No mascara? No problem. Use a lash curler to offer a bit of pop to the eye, Robles said. And gently brush brows into place to complete the look.
Find products with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, Robles suggests, and always swipe up with skincare products. Minimize tugging and pulling on the skin.
“When your skin is glowing, one thing that’s really fun to keep in mind is that light reflects off that moisture in the skin and can help blur out any fine lines or enlarged pores. So it’s win-win,” Robles said.
She advised that each product should sit for a minute or two before the next step is applied.
Borg emphasized the ease of her morning routine since going makeup free. She used to spend about 30 minutes just on makeup. Now, she does hair and face in half that time.
Make color in clothes sing
Natalie Tincher, a personal stylist and founder of Bu Style, praised Anderson, Keys and other celebrities who have gone without makeup both publicly and on social media.
