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    Make-up free: Is it trendy to give up on cosmetics all together?

    Julia Werner

    Alicia Keys does it. Pamela Anderson too. Going make-up-free is fashionable, yet Céline Dion is going the opposite way...

    At the moment, it feels like there are two philosophies when it comes to make-up – either you’re all-in or all-out. Countless influencers are showing us how to apply contouring make-up, highlighter, and eye-shadow. This aggressive form of instruction was pioneered by Charlotte Tilbury, the queen of make-up artists. 

    For her, more make-up means more confidence, and therefore, more success. Since 2020, after selling her beauty empire, she’s become at least half a billion pounds richer, proving her point. It’s not just her – her customers also seem to feel very good using her products. But is there something more important than lathering on the layers?

    The progressive counter-movement argues that women should finally stop wasting their time in front of the mirror and fully embrace their natural selves. Could this be a frustration over their own lack of skill, or a feminist principle? Probably a bit of both. Beautiful celebrities like Alicia Keys show us how easy it is to appear in public make-up-free, and Pamela Anderson even did it this year at the Paris Fashion Week Shows. Yes, it’s certainly trending. But let’s not forget – it’s a curated look, complete with beautiful outfits, blow-dried hair, and facial massages. Are such women morally allowed to look down on all the supposedly “weak” make-up junkies?

    Speaking of curation, Céline Dion famously sang at the opening of the Paris Olympics, high up on the Eiffel Tower. She shone – partly because it was a triumphant comeback after years of illness, but also because of her Charlotte Tilbury make-up. Just a few weeks earlier, the documentary I am Céline Dion premiered on Prime, showing the singer, who suffers from Stiff-Person Syndrome, completely bare-faced. We see her feeding the dog, crying, singing, and even experiencing a spasm. She looks exhausted throughout the film, except in flashbacks to her glorious stage days.

    And that’s the difference between the staged “I’m so progressive because I don’t wear make-up” appearances and genuine vulnerability. You can only tip your hat to that. At the same time, I’ve never been happier to see a perfectly executed show performance than hers, glowing on the Eiffel Tower. Did she feel as strong as she looked? We don’t know, but that’s precisely the purpose of make-up. 

    So, should you feel bad for covering your morning fatigue with concealer? Should you always be readable to everyone like an open book? I don’t think so.

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