Natural beauty: Why celebrities are ditching make-up

A growing number of women are embracing their natural beauty, and selfie-sharing celebrities are leading the charge when it comes to loving the skin they’re in. So will the no make-up trend take off?

Drew Barrymore on Instagram @drewbarrymore with no make-up.

A growing number of celebrities are embracing real beauty, going make-up free on social media in a bid to show that filters and cosmetics are unnecessary when it comes to showcasing true beauty.

From Gwyneth Paltrow, Ricki-Lee Coulter and Drew Barrymore to Lady Gaga, Kylie Jenner and Kesha, the fresh-faced stars are part of the growing trend of women loving the skin they’re in.

Wellness+, the new Chemist Warehouse/News Corporation publication, looks at the movement in today’s inaugural beauty-themed edition.

Pretty Foundation founder Merissa Forsyth told Wellness+ it stemmed from people no longer wanting to be judged by how they look.

“Whether it’s on social media, at work, school or university — we feel like we’re being judged by how we look,” said Ms Forsyth, who was so alarmed by what she saw around her that she gave up a fast-paced corporate career to found the not-for-profit Pretty Foundation.

“We hear about incredibly young girls, describing themselves as fat, ugly and hideous. It’s time we embrace who we are and love our bodies for what they can do, rather than how we look,” Ms Forsyth said.

Ricki-Lee goes bare on Instagram @therickilee

Kesha make-up free on Instagram @iiswhoiis

In an Instagram selfie, Kesha announced that she planned to let her “freckles liiiiiiiive” this year.

“This year my resolution is to love myself … just as I am … imperfect and whatever else” she captioned the post, while Aussie singer and Australia’s Got Talent host Ricki-Lee Coulter recently jumped at the chance to pose make-up free for a Stellar magazine cover shoot.

“People are so used to the Ricki-Lee face, lashes and big hair. If I have no make-up on, I can get about my day with no-one noticing,” the naturally freckle-faced star told Stellar.

A 2018 national survey by the Butterfly Foundation found more than one in three Australians were unhappy with the way they looked.

Butterfly Foundation chief executive officer Kevin Barrow said the results showed we were placing immense pressure on ourselves to look a certain way and we often made negative comparisons to others.

“How we talk about our own and others’ appearance can seriously impact body confidence,” Mr Barrow said.

“It’s not just about being kinder to ourselves and others.”

Leading parenting expert and father of six girls, Justin Coulson, said it was time to focus on what our bodies can do.

“We need to connect with people who matter, to be active, to slow down and take notice of the things and places and people around us,” Dr Coulson said.

Wellness+ is available free in the Sunday Herald Sun, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Mail and Sunday Territorianthis weekend, or pick up a copy at your local Chemist Warehouse store.