In a world where celebrity beauty standards are often skewed towards flawless grace and perfection, Pamela Anderson’s decision to go makeup-free changed things in a completely unexpected way.
Known for her iconic smoky eyes and lined lips, Anderson’s transformation from a dazzling bombshell to a more natural makeup-free version has sparked curiosity and admiration.
In a candid interview, the actress revealed how trench makeup not only changed her public image but also brought her closer to fans who previously rejected her. What began as a personal choice has turned into a movement that challenges conventional notions of beauty and authenticity.
Anderson, 57, shared that she never expected her makeup-free look to garner attention. “I didn’t think anyone would notice,” she said in an Aug. 7 Better Homes & Gardens profile. “And then it became a whole thing. Now people stop me on the street and say, ‘You know, I never liked you, but now I do.'” Her appearance changed after the death of her longtime makeup artist, Alexis Vogel, in 2019. Not only did her public perception change, but her sense of self.
The actress reflected that ditching the makeup was a significant moment in shedding the image she had built up over the years. “It was the beginning of letting go of the image I always had of myself,” she explained. Although she acknowledged that the “cartoon character” persona she developed was amusing at the time, Anderson has since outgrown this version of herself.
In the 1990s, Anderson and Vogel teamed up to create the star’s signature glam look, complete with black smoky eyeshadow, pink lips, and pink cheeks. Anderson even joked that she often wears makeup from the day before to keep up with the grunge aesthetic and add a little sparkle from the night before. “And a little glitter from the previous two nights,” she joked in an August 2023 interview with Elle.
Since Vogel died at age 61 after a battle with breast cancer, Anderson said she felt it was time to stop wearing makeup, and it was a decision that served her well.
“Without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup,” Anderson admitted. Instead of her typical makeup routine, Anderson leaned into creating her own skincare at home, noting that she’s “not really a product person.” Her skincare routine now consists of “rose water, vinegar, toner, and at-home stuff,” she told Us Weekly in September 2023.
Pamela Anderson reveals that her decision to stop wearing make-up has earned her even more fans. In a Better Homes & Gardens profile published on Aug. 7, the 57-year-old actress shared, “I didn’t think anyone would notice, and then this whole thing happened. People stop me on the street now and say, ‘You know, I never liked you before, but now I do.'”
Anderson, who ended her glam routine after the death of her longtime makeup artist Alexis Vogel in 2019, reflected, “And then I think, ‘Hmm, I know there’s a compliment.'” She explained that quitting makeup meant a lot. her shift, saying it was “the beginning of me letting go of the image I’ve always had of myself.” While she acknowledged that the “cartoon character” she created was enjoyable, she added: “I’m not that person anymore.
In the 1990s, Anderson and Vogel teamed up to create her signature look – bold black smoky eyes, lined pink lips, and pink cheeks. Anderson even admitted to wearing makeup “the day before yesterday” to perfect the grunge style, joking to Elle in August 2023, “And a little glitter from the previous two nights.”
After Vogel’s death, Anderson found that not wearing makeup felt more authentic. “Without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup,” she explained, referring to the loss of Vogel, who died of breast cancer at the age of 61.
Instead of her signature smoky eyes and bold lips, Anderson took a more natural approach to skincare, opting for home remedies. “I’m not really a product person,” she told Us Weekly in September 2023, revealing that her skincare routine now consists of “rose water, vinegar, toner, and household stuff.”
Embracing a more natural look and stepping back from the glamorous persona she once cultivated, Pamela Anderson has not only found a renewed sense of self but also garnered unexpected admiration from fans. Her shift away from makeup, which began after her longtime makeup artist Alexis Vogel died, marks a pivotal moment in her life that reflects her growth beyond the “cartoon character” image she once projected. As Anderson embraces simplicity in her skincare routine and her public image, it’s clear that authenticity and self-acceptance have become her true defining traits. Along the way, she found that stripping away the layers of makeup allowed her to connect with others on a deeper level, reminding us all that being true to yourself often attracts the most sincere support.