Breaking beauty barriers, these five famous celebrities boldly embraced their natural look, going makeup-free after their 50s and sparking conversations worldwide about aging gracefully in the spotlight.
Getting older as a prominent figure in Hollywood can be daunting. With constant scrutiny from countless fans, it’s no wonder a large number of actors turn to cosmetic surgery to maintain their youthful looks.
However, not every celebrity subscribes to the notion that aging is a bad thing. Andie MacDowell never tried to hide her signs of aging, preferring instead to wear her maturity with pride.
The “St. Elmo’s Fire” star shared a story from when she was 40. At the time, many journalists focused on her age, and they all wanted to know how she felt about growing older. One journalist asked her how she felt about “losing [her] beauty,” and she recalled, “I said, ‘I really don’t feel like I’m losing my beauty. I just feel like it’s a different kind of beauty.’”
As she grew older, MacDowell advocated for accepting natural beauty. Although she never faulted anyone for getting cosmetic surgery, she said she would never get work done on herself. She believes growing older naturally is a beautiful process. “I don’t care. I want to be old,” the actress said once about her appearance.
The actress admitted to trying Botox once but despised it and decided never to do it again. She also shared that she consulted a plastic surgeon once and left the office after a brief chat, knowing she would never go back.
MacDowell tries to care for her skin by getting facials and looking after herself instead of getting plastic surgery. The actress mentioned that she has accepted herself and who she has become over the years.
Throughout her career, MacDowell has worked as a spokesperson for the cosmetics company L’Oréal. She shared that working for popular brand has been fantastic since they have always supported her and allowed her to welcome aging, “I think one of the reasons I stayed with L’Oréal is it was important to them to carry that message that … aging is not about losing your beauty.”
Over the years, MacDowell had to make peace with the fact that she is getting older, but she has come to see that aging isn’t life-ending as people think it is. The actress learned to wear her age with pride.
MacDowell decided to make a bold statement by refusing to color her hair as she aged. She opened up about the decision and said her daughters largely inspired it.
MacDowell explained that she started going grey at the start of the lockdown. During the quarantine, she saw her children often, since they lived next to her, and as her hair started going grey, her kids constantly encouraged her. She shared, “Every time my kids would see me, they kept telling me I looked badass with my gray hair.”
With the inspiring words of her children to boost her confidence, MacDowell decided to keep her natural hair color. At first, her managers told her not to go the natural route, saying she should color her hair. She disagreed.
MacDowell told them it was the perfect time to show her greying hair. The actress explained that she had always wanted the distinguished look of hair that hadn’t gone entirely grey, and if she waited any longer, she would miss her opportunity.
Soon, she got an offer for a new project and the actress had to make a final choice. MacDowell decided to stick to her guns, and she hasn’t looked back since. She adores her new all-natural hairstyle and said she feels comfortable being herself, “It was just so clear to me that my instincts were right because I’ve never felt more powerful. I feel more honest. I feel like I’m not pretending.”
Of course, there was always some anxiety about how others would receive the change. MacDowell said she even considered having a range of wigs at the ready to ensure she didn’t upset anyone.
Luckily, once she stepped out into the world, she realized she didn’t need to please anyone other than herself. She enjoyed her new hair and the process of becoming older. She wasn’t going to hide her age from anyone.
MacDowell opened up about other things that inspired her to keep her natural hair color. She shared that she noticed other, regular women on Instagram making the change and realized she loved the confidence.
She also said that her hair and her face seemed like they no longer matched. Her wrinkles were evident on her face. When she colored her hair, the youthfulness seemed at odds with the lines on her face, adding, “And in a lot of ways, I think it’s more striking on my face. I just feel like it suits me.”
Once she made the decision to stick with her natural hair color, MacDowell felt excellent. She felt like she could be herself without being ashamed. She felt like she was beautiful for being herself.
Stepping out into the world with her natural hair, she knew she could advocate for other women who felt they should hide who they were. She started using her platforms to encourage others, just like other proud women who inspired her.
MacDowell has always been honest about her age in an industry where aging can mean the end of your career, especially for women. Despite the risk, she knew she didn’t want to hide who she was, “I’ve been open about my age, even though people told me not to be… But guess what? I’m worth it!”
Although MacDowell’s fans showered her with support, not everyone thought the natural hair color was a good idea. Some fans made their thoughts known by saying the actress should color her hair. One Facebook user commented, “If she likes it, so be it. But… to be honest, she looks waaaay older.”
However, regardless of the feedback she gets from the public, the one thing the actress lives by is listening to intuition and that’s the biggest advice she would give to other women. Deciding to keep grey hair made her worry about her collaboration with L’Oréal, but everything worked out.
She explained, “I think it’s an individual choice. My two oldest sisters will color their hair forever. So, I think everybody has to make their individual choice about how they feel about aging, what they want to do as they age, and what makes them more comfortable.” She is also more than comfortable stepping outside makeup free and embracing her gray strands and
In June of 2022, MacDowell also announced that her son and his wife are expecting a baby. The actress is a mother to three children, and now she has her first grandchild. She shared a post celebrating the pregnancy and said she was looking forward to being a grandma at the moment, “I cannot wait to meet my granddaughter!”
MacDowell has always prioritized her family despite working towards a successful acting career. She enjoys spending time with her three kids, and she shared how much she loves them in her Instagram post.
She captioned the post by saying she adores her kids, who have taught her a tremendous amount over the years. She went on to say she couldn’t wait to see what her granddaughter might have in store for her.
Pamela Anderson
In the whirlwind of fashion and glamour, Pamela Anderson, a timeless beauty icon, recently turned heads at Paris Fashion Week. Not for the striking attire, but for her bold choice to attend with a completely bare face.
This decision wasn’t just a fleeting moment but a profound statement aligning with her latest collaboration with Smashbox Cosmetics for their Isn’t It Iconic campaign. This campaign, shot by Davis Factor, co-founder of Smashbox and a longtime acquaintance of Anderson, celebrates the legacy of the ’90s, bringing together two icons: the revolutionary Photo Finish Primer and Anderson herself.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Anderson said, “Doing Smashbox was fun for me because it was kind of a wink to the past. Let’s just do something fun, like a link to the past, to the ’90s, kind of when both of us kind of came alive and grew next to each other.”
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez has been part of many beauty trends in her career. In a recent Instagram post, Lopez gave her fans a glimpse into the making of her newest Prime Video documentary, “This Is Me… Now.”
The multifaceted entertainer was seen in varying degrees of glamor — from completely bare-faced to fully glammed up — showcasing the authenticity and hard work that went into the documentary. The post featured behind-the-scenes moments and short interviews, where Lopez’s candidness shone through.
Fans were particularly taken with the parts of the clip that showed her most genuine and bare-faced moments, taking to the comments section their thoughts. “She’s finally aging! wow no filter,” one person wrote. “This is why I Love you so much!!!MyQueen!” another noted. “We can’t wait to watch!” a third added.
Despite the outpouring of support, not everyone had favorable opinions. However, Lopez’s supporters were quick to come to her defense against the critics. “She looks unreal beautiful and she works like crazy for it all. And still, so many people have bad things to say about her,” one person commented.
“It is sad to see so many haters on this thread. JLO you are beautiful and talented, keep up the good work love!” another emphasized.
In August 2023, as Lopez celebrated her 54th birthday, she shared another makeup-free video of herself, earning praise for her ageless beauty. Her authenticity left many speechless, with comments like, “I am 35 and she looks younger than me,” underscoring the admiration for her natural appearance.
Kelly Clarkson
Songstress and TV host Kelly Clarkson has also never been afraid to speak about her self image, weather that’s her body or embracing a her make up free days. She took to Instagram on June 3 to update her fans about what’s been going on in her life and the trajectory of her career. In the video, she appeared with a fresh face, completely devoid of makeup.
Clarkson gave details about her upcoming shows and answered some of her fans’ questions. In the comment section, her fans noted her new natural look and wasted no time flooding her timeline with an outpour of love and praise for how good she looked.
Among the comments complimenting Clarkson’s appearance, one highlighted how radiant the star still looks today, writing,”You are still so beautiful.”
In addition to raving about her everlasting beauty, other fans went on about how magnificent Clarkson looked without makeup. One commented on her natural glow, writing,”You do not need makeup. You have a natural glow and beauty. Love ya; Hugs!”
Other fans emphasized their affinity for her natural, no-filter look, which is a far-cry from what one would expect from a star in her caliber. A fan expressed, “Kelly, what a refresh[ing] moment to see a Mega [star] without makeup. All natural [and] no filters, no [anything].”
Alyssa Milano
On her birthday, Alyssa Milano has a tradition of posting a selfie on her Instagram page and reflecting on her impressions and lessons. The “Who’s the Boss” actress was understandably nostalgic and hopeful.
She did the same on her 48th birthday and, in her post, expressed how she felt about her appearance. Her skin may not be as taut and her body as supple as when she first entered the business, but they reflect the experiences she has endured and enjoyed.
Such self-awareness is a gift, but people would use social media platforms to express their unfiltered opinions about others. Milano and other public figures often find themselves targets for hurtful comments, personal attacks, and even bullying. One such poster tweeted, “Alyssa Milano was hot back in the day. Now she still attractive but crazy which makes her ugly.”
The “Insatiable” star attracts online hatred not only for her celebrity status but also for her views, which she isn’t shy about. She is vocal about humanitarian and progressive causes, using her resources and her platform to comment on issues she believes in.
Some would describe Milano as a social media activist. She was instrumental in the re-emerging of #MeToo in 2017, originated by fellow activist Tarana Burke. Her tweet resulted in a global movement where many victims of sexual exploitation felt supported to speak out about what they had gone through.
The actress is also politically engaged and her socials reflect her affiliations. She hosts “Alyssa Milano: Sorry, Not Sorry,” a podcast that “tackles social, political and cultural issues,” which often puts her at odds with those with a different opinion. The most notable “beefs” were between Milano and her “Charmed” costar, Rose McGowan, and tech-prenuer and Twitter owner, Elon Musk.
Alyssa Milano is grateful that she and her husband put in the work, faith, love, and patience to stay together. Their children are the product of that love, and they enjoy seeing them grow. When she looks back at her life, Milano is in awe of what love created.
