Pamela Anderson Leads Makeup-Free Move for Women, Inspiring Fashion and Workplace Confidence

NEW YORK — Pamela Anderson has nothing against makeup, but after decades in the public eye, she is choosing to attend fashion shows and film premieres with a bare face. At 58, she has embraced makeup-free looks as a statement and a personal choice rather than a rejection of beauty standards. The look has sparked debate about whether to chase youth with makeup or to celebrate radiant, natural skin in public life.

Across the broader workforce, makeup-free mornings are not universal, but the trend has influenced attitudes in some workplaces, particularly in creative fields. Deborah Borg, 49, chief HR officer at a company with about 25,000 employees, notes politics around looking polished and says the pandemic shifted workplace norms; more women are coming in makeup-free since COVID. She stopped wearing makeup four years ago, saving time and reducing routine. At Dalya, a cozy shop in New York's Soho, she modeled how to keep skin healthy and how attire and accessories can add polish without makeup. Makeup artist Rebecca Robles outlined a five-step routine for a workday: a gentle cleanser, a vitamin C serum, a moisturizer with SPF, a second sunscreen for extra coverage (applied to ears), and a glossy lip balm. To enhance eyes without mascara, she suggested a lash curler and well-brushed brows, with attention to hydrating formulas containing hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and to allow each product to settle before applying the next.

Borg noted the morning routine has become simpler: she used to spend about 30 minutes on makeup; now the time is halved, freeing time for hair and skincare.

Natalie Tincher, a personal stylist and founder of Bu Style, praised Anderson, Keys and other celebrities who publicly embrace makeup-free looks. She described a practical approach for clients: start with clothing choices to create a color-rich filter, vary textures to influence light, and finish with accessories that project polish. She emphasizes thinking of the outfit as the overall presence in a room rather than focusing on one element.

Colleen Gehoski Steinman, who lives near Lansing, Michigan, shifted from public relations to professional sewing during the pandemic, stopped coloring her hair, and gradually stopped wearing makeup. At 59, she remains flexible about makeup if lighting would wash her out, and she believes authenticity matters: this is who we really are, beauty that exists in natural appearance.

Cate Chapman, a bagel shop manager near Greenville, South Carolina, has been makeup-free since the early 1990s, after deciding makeup was expensive and time-consuming in a world with pay disparity. She occasionally uses mascara for occasions. She argues that makeup can feel like prison but can be chosen if desired; she encourages others to let go if it feels like a burden.

While not universal, the trend reflects a broader shift in beauty culture and professional expectations as people age in public life. The ABC News report shows makeup-free looks expanding from fashion shows into daily workplaces, with individuals weighing comfort, cost, and professional norms as they navigate aging in the public eye.