What 43 actresses look like without makeup
- On occasion, actresses share photos of themselves wearing little to no makeup.
- Stars like Gal Gadot and Drew Barrymore have posted such images to Instagram.
- Others like Elle Fanning and Camila Mendes have shared barefaced selfies to speak out about skin conditions.
Actresses are progressively using their platforms to project their natural beauty to the world.
While we may be mesmerized by their glamorous red carpet beauty looks or their transformative makeup for movie roles, it's the real moments behind the scenes that people can relate to: no makeup and no filters.
Below, see what 43 actresses — including Zendaya, Sofia Vergara, and Gal Gadot — look like when they've gone makeup-free.
Brenna Opelka contributed to an earlier version of this article.
Back in 2013, Cameron Diaz seemingly ditched foundation, lipstick, and other beauty products to show off a book she wrote.
The movie star took a break from her busy acting career to focus on herself, which is evident in her beaming Instagram photo from December 2013.
Megan Fox's first Instagram selfie, posted in July 2014, was taken without makeup.
Fox's look hit all the check marks for an empowering first Instagram selfie. In her caption, she wrote "Early morning✔️no makeup ✔️filter✔️✔️."
The following year, Jaime King looked stunning without makeup.
The actress, who started her career as a major model, told Byrdie that she keeps her skin in tune with a very basic routine: washing her face and always moisturizing.
From the looks of her October 2015 Instagram post, her routine clearly seems to work.
At the start of 2016, Zoe Saldana posted a no-filter selfie on Instagram.
A fresh face, as shown on Instagram, isn't the only natural beauty trick the "Guardians of the Galaxy" actress practices.
Saldana previously revealed that she gives herself a natural ombré hair color by putting rum on her strands and letting the sun do the rest of the work.
Diane Kruger was the next celebrity to take part in the trend.
The actress called this Instagram picture from January 2016 an honest no-makeup selfie with the hashtag, "#startingthenewyearwithanhonestnomakeupselfie."
Camila Mendes then used a fresh-face photo to discuss a skin condition she experiences.
Mendes openly acknowledged her hyperpigmentation in an Instagram post from September 2016, and said the condition was "in style" that fall.
Amy Schumer went completely natural for a November 2016 photo.
Schumer posed on Instagram with air-dried hair and no makeup.
One month later, Eva Longoria ditched cosmetics to pose with a bottle of wine.
The "Desperate Housewives" actress posted this glowing photo in December 2016.
Drew Barrymore took her barefaced selfie while in the middle of exercising.
According to her Instagram post from December 2016, Barrymore embarked on a power workout sans makeup. The actress recently credited an affordable three-step K-beauty mask as a life-changing addition to her routine.
Zendaya played in the snow while not wearing makeup at the start of 2017.
"The Greatest Showman" actress wore her curls loose and her skin bare in this January 2017 Instagram post.
Brie Larson then followed in her footsteps.
Not only did Larson forgo beauty products in this Instagram picture from January 2017, but she also refrained from washing her hair for a few days.
Gabrielle Union captioned a barefaced selfie as "Just me ❤."
The "Bring it On" star's natural glow in this Instagram photo from March 2017 may be a result of her healthy eating habits and dedication to fitness.
Sofia Vergara displayed flushed cheeks and full brows on social media.
Even with a fever, the "Modern Family" star couldn't abandon her comedic roots. She captioned the April 2017 post: "Hm..I just realised that 102 fever gives u the perfect shades of pink."
Gina Rodriguez also wore no makeup in a video filmed by her friend.
In her Instagram post from May 2017, the "Jane the Virgin" star described the "freedom and acceptance" of seeing herself "bare and exposed" without makeup.
Gwyneth Paltrow is keen on clean beauty and fresh skin.
Despite having received criticism for her wellness company, Goop, Paltrow's personal health routine has left her skin radiant, as seen in this May 2017 selfie.
Gal Gadot took this fresh-faced photo after a "sleepless night" spent with her child.
Whether she's wearing nothing on her super-glowy skin or she's rocking a gorgeous drugstore lipstick on the red carpet, the "Wonder Woman" star has us wondering about her beauty secrets. She posted this photo in June 2017.
Jessica Alba's natural skin glowed while exercising.
Alba likes to keep things real on her Instagram account. In September 2017, she shared this post-workout shot, where she's seemingly wearing no makeup.
Bella Thorne celebrated her changing skin with a selfie in October 2017.
Thorne, among other Hollywood stars, often openly addresses her acne on social media.
Jenna Dewan did the same that month.
The actress and dancer revealed that she went "mostly makeup free" in October 2017 after successfully managing her melasma.
Lily Collins completely changed up her look a few months later.
Collins wore a toned-down makeup-free beauty look to debut her lighter hair on Instagram in December of that year.
Hilary Duff celebrated the 4th of July that year with no makeup on.
In an inspirational Instagram post from July 2017, the "Younger" actress said it "felt so good" to not wear makeup for an entire day.
Lea Michele went barefaced in January 2018.
Michele was "ready for the new year" with no makeup, according to her Instagram post.
Katie Holmes paired her no-makeup look with a wrapped headband.
Holmes used the selfie to wish her followers a "Happy Friday" in January 2018.
Union posted a similar selfie a few weeks later.
She confirmed that no makeup or filters made the cut for her gorgeous post from January 2018.
Nathalie Emmanuel wrote "this is my face" alongside her radiant, no-makeup photo.
Her beautiful, makeup-free Instagram post from January 2018 was taken with a Leica camera, according to the actress.
Leighton Meester also shared a glowing selfie that month.
Meester's skin looked dewy and hydrated without the addition of makeup in her January 2018 Instagram photo.
Mindy Kaling, on the other hand, shined without makeup while spending time with friends.
In a "mom night out" Instagram post from February 2018, Mindy Kaling gave her face a break from makeup.
The next month, Helen Mirren showed what she looked like the night before the Oscars.
The 75-year-old followed her fresh-faced Instagram selfie in March 2018 with photos of her final look at the awards ceremony.
Thorne took another break from makeup in April 2018.
Thorne focused her Instagram post on her new "peanut butter brown" hair color, but all anyone could focus on was her luminous skin.
Hilary Duff returned to a makeup-free look while sitting in a car.
Duff proves to be a fan of giving her skin some air, this time using her Instagram stories in April 2018 to join in on the "No Makeup Monday" bandwagon.
Penélope Cruz took this casual shot while in Dubai.
Cruz pursed her lips in a duck face for her fun Instagram post in May 2018.
Brooklyn Decker, on the other hand, used a no-makeup selfie to show off her hair.
The model and actress also displayed her natural freckles in the May 2018 Instagram post.
Yara Shahidi rocked glowing skin and flowers in her hair with this photo from June 2018.
The "Grown-ish" actress looked stunning in her Instagram post, featuring very little makeup.
Sarah Hyland shared her "Monday mantra" alongside her side profile.
The "Modern Family" actress posted her makeup-free photo in July 2018 with a caption reminding her followers to "be kind."
Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz ditched makeup together.
The close friends went makeup-free yet again, and Barrymore shared a selfie of the moment with her Instagram followers in July 2018.
Salma Hayek also shared a natural selfie in July 2018.
The actress posted her makeup-free selfie after being woken up by her adorable dog.
Anna Paquin followed with her own fresh photo less than a month later.
She shared the snap on Instagram in September 2018 to let her followers know about her love of the 30-minute HydraFacial.
Lena Headey got real about her skin at the start of 2019.
Lena Headey shared a makeup-free video to Instagram in February 2019. The "Game of Thrones" star later responded to a critic in the comments section who commented on her no-makeup appearance.
Kate Beckinsale did the same in April of that year.
Before sharing her seemingly makeup-free selfie, the actress posted on Instagram about getting the popular "Hollywood EFG Facial."
"Riverdale" star Marisol Nichols went makeup-free to show off her skin-care routine.
"Clean and fresh no make up confidence," she captioned the Instagram post from June 2019.
Kaley Cuoco hugged her dog while not wearing makeup in March 2020.
She's since posted numerous barefaced photos on Instagram while social distancing.
Dakota Fanning encouraged people to stay home while taking her temperature.
In addition to her March 2020 video, Fanning also used the caption of her post to encourage others to social distance: "Stay at HOME (if you can) and stay HEALTHY."
Zoë Kravitz also posed with her dog in a natural selfie.
Kravitz included a social-distancing pun in her March 2020 Instagram post, writing: "self(ie) quarantine." She also encouraged her followers to "stay inside" and take things "one day at a time."
And so did Nina Dobrev.
She shared the image to Instagram in March 2020, and wrote "Quarantini 4 lyfe" as the caption.
With yet another barefaced selfie, Helen Mirren raised money for a good cause.
"In return for this pic of me literally first thing in the morning, please donate to the intensive care support," she wrote on Instagram. "Thanks so much."
Salma Hayek has posted numerous makeup-free photos throughout 2020.
In May, for example, she posted one of herself in a pool. In the caption of her photo, she wrote: "Agua #water #nomakeup."
Ariel Winter embraced her freckles with a set of selfies.
In an Instagram post from July 2020, she wrote: "Kindness is not that hard!!!!! Also...quarantine is bringing out my freckles?!????" She shared the photos just days after revealing that she had gone blonde.
Jennifer Lopez woke up, put on a robe, and then shared a photo of her morning look in August 2020.
After saying good morning to her fans on Instagram, Lopez described her minimal-makeup look as her "#MorningFace."
Elle Fanning used Instagram to open up about having eczema on her face.
In September 2020, the "Maleficent" star shared three selfies in which she's seemingly wearing no makeup. The actress hinted with her
Her eyelids, however, are a pink color in the photos, making it seem as though she had eye shadow on.
"Eczema but make it eye shadow " Fanning wrote in her post.
- Read more:
- 16 photos of celebrities embracing their natural hair, from gray strands to dark roots
- Celebrities are ditching makeup while social distancing, and they look amazing
- 23 times celebrities ditched their natural hair color and turned to bold dye
- Elle Fanning opened up about having eczema by sharing a no-makeup selfie
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