I’m scrolling through my feed on a rainy Tuesday morning when I’m stopped in my tracks. There she was, Addison Rae stepping off the press tour jet without a hint of foundation, mascara, or contour. Her skin glows under the airport lights, unfiltered and unapologetic, and I find myself smiling at the refreshingly raw sight.

Addison’s journey from lip-syncing teen on TikTok to Hollywood’s golden girl has always been framed by flawless glam. Endless tutorials, brand partnerships, and picture-perfect selfies have defined her public persona. But this week, in light of her tour, she traded in her beauty bag for bare skin, and in doing so, she shifted the narrative for the beauty standards of our female pop stars..

At her first stop in London, she posed for photographers in a simple white tee, hair pulled back, face completely au naturel. No red carpet makeup artist hovered nearby waiting to add touch ups. Instead, she laughed freely, touching her cheek with zero fear of a makeup mishap. Clips of her appearance buzzed across TikTok & Instagram, fans rushing to celebrate a major departure from “always on” celebrity polish.

Why does this matter? Because for decades, female stars have been trapped under layers of product and expectation. Even when moulding to the standards, close ups of womens faces are scrutinies for their ‘attempt’ to cover up acne, or how their “makeup artists really missed the mark”. The unspoken rule: never appear on camera without a full face. But Addison’s choice challenges that standard. She’s reminding us that confidence doesn’t come from a swipe of highlighter, it comes from owning your own skin.

Back home, I text my best friend: “Can you believe she’s doing it?” We trade memes about our own makeup rituals and wonder if this could spark a wider shift. After all, if one of TikTok’s biggest names can stand bare-faced in front of the world, maybe we can too.

Of course, going makeup-free on press tour isn’t just about cosmetics. It’s a statement on authenticity and gooing against the grain. In an industry built on artifice, Addison’s moment feels radical. It says: “You don’t need to hide behind a filter to be worthy of attention.” It’s a reminder that vulnerability can be our greatest strength.

Already, whispers of a “bare-face brigade” are emerging. Fellow influencers are tagging her, beauty editors are rethinking article pitches and fans are pledging their own makeup-free days. Will makeup brands be nervous? Possibly. But the conversation has already shifted from “How did she do her contour?” to “What does it mean to show up unguarded?”.

That said, ditching makeup altogether isn’t everyone’s perfect fit, and that’s also powerful. For many of us, the act of applying lipstick or patting on cream blush is a form of self-care and creative play. Makeup can be armour, or it can be art: a way to express mood, channel confidence, or simply enjoy the ritual of transformation. I know people who start their mornings layering primers and blushers as a meditation, treating each brushstroke like a small victory before the day begins.

And let’s be real. The best beauty movement isn’t about virtue-signalling or shaming those who love their palettes. It’s about choice. If you feel powerful in a bold winged liner, go for it. If your happy place is a smoky eye or a red lip product on Friday night, own it. Addison’s bare-faced bravery invites us all to decide: do I want to paint on the canvas today, or do I want to reveal the canvas itself?

Now I am left wondering, could this change stick? Will red carpets still demand heels & gowns from the flawless faces we see online or will they start demanding honesty? Maybe this is the tipping point, where female stars reclaim their faces, and with them, a bit of power.

Because at the end of the day, it isn’t about makeup at all. It’s about the permission to be real, to be flawed, to step into the spotlight without an armor of concealer. Addison Rae just handed us that permission gift-wrapped in a bare-faced smile. And I, for one, am ready to unwrap it.

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Amy Jones is a freelance health and wellness writer from Manchester UK. She loves researching and writing about health topics, as well as keeping up to date with the latest health news, and eco-friendly brands. Her passion for health and wellness stems from her innate desire to educate people on how to properly take care of their bodies, spot any early signs of illness and take the best preventative methods. When not writing, you can find her taking long walks in the countryside with her dog, listening to groundbreaking podcasts or browsing her nearest bookstore.

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