5 Times Alicia Keys Went Makeup-Free And Looked Flawless

We don't always get glimpses of celebrities in their fresh, all-natural faces sans makeup, but sometimes they offer them up — flawlessly. And Alicia Keys has been known to do just that. The artist made huge waves in 2016 when she abandoned makeup and started a social media campaign with the hashtag #NoMakeup to bring awareness to the scrutiny women face in regard to their appearances. "Makeup was a big thing for me; I had been wearing it since I was, like, 16 years old," Keys told Glamour in 2020. "And then, as I got into the music world, it was what you did every day to do your television, or to do your shoot. So, I did it because I thought that's what you're supposed to do. And I realised I became addicted to it; I didn't feel comfortable without it."

If you scroll through Keys' Instagram, you'll find stunning, proud portraits and selfies, both with and without makeup. The 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer is a beacon of empowerment and creativity, inspiring a wide audience and confidently sharing her natural self with these top five flawless makeup-free moments.

In August 2023, Alicia Keys shared a makeup-free video of herself on Instagram with the caption, "After so much runnin' around just staying still is soooooooooooooooooo productive." The singer looks fully relaxed and in the moment, inspiring us all to slow down every now and then. She wears a simple white tank and gold hoops while soaking up the present.

Alicia Keys made a statement by attending events makeup-free in 2016, and here is one of those memorable moments. The singer is shown at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016, in New York City. Her face is fresh and glowing and her hair is pulled back into a beautiful updo. Keys shared a poem of her own in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the event. 

Alicia Keys shared this touching makeup-free photo of herself and her son in celebration of his 13th birthday in October of 2023. She captioned the charming photo, "May the most high protect you!! ... You light up the world!!!" The singer glowed and had us wondering what actually happens to your skin when you ditch makeup. All good things, obviously.

In this makeup-free still-image from a motivational video Alicia Keys shared on Instagram in honor of International Day of the Girl, the singer encourages women everywhere and reminds them of their innate power. She glows from within and wears a simple white tank with her hair pulled back. She captioned the inspirational clip, "ICYMI, today is International Day of the Girl! To all the girls out there, remember — you are possible, you are powerful ... just shine, baby!! Big love, from us!!"

At the start of the fresh New Year, Alicia Keys gave another much-valued speech to followers on Instagram about prioritizing ourselves and what truly nurtures us. The singer wore a cozy, casual bathrobe, a makeup-free face, and her hair pulled back. She captioned the inspirational video, "Our 2024 Mantra: we surround ourselves with things that [are] good for us. PERIOD," and, once again, looked fresh-faced without any makeup.