Pamela Anderson's bold no-makeup look and the 'natural beauty revolution'
Pamela Anderson has joined the ranks of celebrity women embracing no-makeup looks − and Jamie Lee Curtis says there's a lot we can learn from her.
Curtis, 64, shouted out Anderson, 56, on Instagram Sunday, sharing a photo of the former "Baywatch" star showing off her natural beauty at the Isabel Marant Spring/Summer 2024 womenswear fashion show in late September.
"THE NATURAL BEAUTY REVOLUTION HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!" Curtis wrote, tagging Anderson. "this woman showed up and claimed her seat at the table with nothing on her face. I am so impressed and floored by this act of courage and rebellion."
Anderson opened up about not wearing makeup to Paris Fashion Week events in an interview with Vogue France, saying she doesn't "want to compete with the clothes."
“I’m not into the makeup look right now," she added. "My mom always told me, ‘At some point in your life, you’re not going to want to wear makeup on your skin,’ and she’s right. You kind of have to challenge beauty sometimes.”
Anderson said she hopes that by not wearing makeup she can help model the multitude of ways women can express themselves.
"I'm not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room," she said. "I feel like it's just freedom. It's a relief."
Anderson's not the only public figure who's embraced a natural look recently. In August 2020, Kelly Ripa poked fun at her gray roots, and, in March 2021, Katie Couric went makeup-free for a People magazine spread, saying the experience made her feel "liberated and vulnerable." Justine Bateman opened up in April to "60 Minutes Australia" that she thinks she looks "rad" aging naturally, despite online commentary over her looks.
"I like feeling that I am a different person now than I was when I was 20," Bateman said. "I like looking in the mirror and seeing that evidence. ... I think my face represents who I am. I like it.”
'Men seem to thrive more when they age... It should be the same for women'
Susan Yara, founder of Naturium Skincare and the YouTube channel Mixed Makeup, previously told USA TODAY Couric's headline-making People spread pushed back against the norm "that women disappear into the background as we age."
"Men seem to thrive more when they age," she said. "It should be the same for women. We’re more confident and self-assured, and we bring wisdom that you can only get with age."
Cassandra Bankson, a medical esthetician and YouTube skin care personality, added "being able to age is a privilege" and "we should embrace how our skin takes care of us and the stories it tells."
Bateman seemed to share this sentiment as she explained her motivation for rejecting cosmetic procedures to "60 Minutes Australia," saying that she thinks they "would erase" the authority she's gained through the years.
Justine Bateman is embracing aging How to feel beautiful and accept getting older
Tips on how to embrace your natural look
If you have complicated feelings about seeing yourself without makeup or showing signs of getting older, experts offer the following guidance:
◾ Curate your social media: Dr. Michael Keyes, a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Louisville, encourages people to follow influencers who post unfiltered and raw photos. He added it's important to keep in mind that celebrities "often use filters and photo editing apps to minimize skin discoloration, wrinkles and extra fat in unwanted places. It's important from a wellness standpoint to recognize what's real and what's not."
◾ Adjust your makeup routine: Aging is inevitable, but you can still take steps to look and feel good. Dr. Heidi Goodarzi, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology, suggested replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen for a wash of glow that won't conceal your natural features.
◾ Be kind to yourself: Yara reminds us that as we age, we should be proud of our bodies for the experiences it has gone through. "My confidence is truly my secret weapon, and I gained it through years of experience and becoming comfortable with myself," she said.
Contributing: Jenna Ryu
More: Katie Couric poses without makeup: How to feel beautiful and embrace aging
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis and the 'natural beauty revolution'