What The Big Bang Theory Universe Leading Ladies Look Like Without Makeup

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Being an actor means spending a lot of time in front of the camera in layers of makeup. It would make perfect sense, then, that the leading ladies of "The Big Bang Theory" and the other shows in its universe, like "Young Sheldon," would take advantage of opportunities to hang out without any makeup and to show off their gorgeous bare skin.

These women may take advantage of opportunities to show off their natural, glowy skin, but that doesn't mean they all have the same approach to skincare. For some, like Kaley Cuoco, taking a simple approach with few products is key. For others, like McKenna Grace, a more complex and trendy skincare routine is a fun way for her to look after her skin.

Beyond that, no matter their age, most of these women are absolutely making skincare a priority. At the younger end of the spectrum, Raegan Revord puts a focus on wearing sunscreen while living in California. On the other hand, Annie Potts is all about taking care of her skin from the inside out by putting a strong focus on hydration. No matter what, it's clear to see that these women take excellent care of their skin and love showing off their natural, makeup-free glow.

Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny on "The Big Bang Theory" for 12 seasons, has been an actor since the early '90s, which means she's more than familiar with getting camera-ready. In fact, she even knows how to look ready for the camera without makeup on. In an Instagram post from 2023, she can be seen showing off her natural skin and looking amazing as she cuddles up to partner Tom Pelphrey. Cuoco shared some of her thoughts on skincare with Woman's Day and was insistent on the importance of sunscreen: "Sunscreen immediately. You even have to do it when it's cloudy out, that's where people don't think you need it, but sunscreen always." She also stressed that her routine is simple and made up of an under-eye cream, sunscreen, and a moisturizer. Obviously, Cuoco understands the bare minimum skincare routine you need that will still give results.

Cuoco's long-time makeup artist, Jamie Greenberg, has also spoken about the skincare routines she has for the actor. "You can never have too many masks, which is why you'll always find a handful on me at any given time," Greenberg told PureWow. Greenberg further noted that masks with aloe, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid were some of her favorites and added, "Hydration is key, and having healthy skin is the best base for natural-looking, beautiful makeup."

In 2022, Lauren Lapkus, who appeared as the character Denise in "The Big Bang Theory" and is set to be in a spinoff of the show called "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe," shared a photo on Instagram that proves she has no problem showing off her makeup-free look. In a picture taken outside while she held her bundled-up child, her healthy, natural skin is on full display and looking totally gorgeous.

While Lapkus has never shared the details of her skincare routine, she has shared some of the skincare essentials that she keeps with her at all times. In an interview with Us Magazine, she opened up her purse and showed off some of her favorite products, one of them being Rosebud Perfume Co.'s Tropical Ambrosia Lip Balm. It's clear that Lapkus knows how to take care of her lips, and it's a great reminder that your lips are skin, too, and also need to be considered when it comes to skincare. Even something as simple as lip balm can go a long way toward helping to prevent dry, flaky lips. 

Another key skincare item in her bag: Supergoop! Glowstick Sunscreen. While it's important to include sunscreen as part of your skincare routine before you leave the house, having some on hand for a quick top-up while on the go can also be helpful for extra coverage when you need it.

Emily Osment, who plays Mandy on "Young Sheldon" and "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage," opened up to Us Magazine about her skincare and what she carries along with her in her purse. While speaking with the outlet, she discussed her preference for wearing less makeup when possible, saying, "I wear a lot of makeup on the show. I'm wearing a lot of makeup right now. And it's kind of nice on the daily, the daily wear to just keep it more simple."

In the interview, she also talked about one item in particular that she relies on for maintaining her skin: hyaluronic serum. "I've been pretty diligent with it, and I definitely see a difference," she revealed. Just like Lauren Lapkus, Osment also keeps some skincare basics like sunscreen and lip balm on her at all times. When it comes to brands, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm Hydrate is a favorite. In a 2024 carousel of snaps posted to Instagram, Osment appeared with some friends poolside looking fresh and bare-faced without a swipe of makeup. Clearly, her minimal skincare regimen is doing its job.

McKenna Grace, who played Paige on "Young Sheldon," has been acting ever since she was a young child, and she's also been taking care of her skin for the entire time. "I always take off my pimple patches from the night before," she told Marie Claire. "If I'm going to set, I'll use cold little under-eye patches, a moisturizing toner, and Tatcha moisturizer. I'm obsessed. I'll also probably use some ChapStick."

Grace added that skincare isn't just a personal thing for her; it's also a family pastime. In the interview, she shared a family routine that makes skincare a weekly event, not just something she does to keep her skin healthy. "My mom — our resident skincare queen — has this Dr. Dennis Gross LED face mask that makes me feel like Hannibal Lecter. It's hilarious. That thing was so expensive, and it's so silly. As a family, we love to indulge in Bachelor Mondays. We'll order some food and sit and watch, taking two-minute turns wearing the LED face mask — even my dad."

At the start of 2023, Grace shared on Instagram that she'd undergone spinal surgery to correct scoliosis. In the snaps, the young star understandably appeared makeup-free in her hospital bed, letting her glowing smile do the talking. 

Rachel Bay Jones didn't just appear as Audrey McAllister on the shows "Young Sheldon" and "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage"; she's also an accomplished actor on Broadway. Along with spending many years on stage and in front of the camera, Jones has spent a long time finding what's right for her when it comes to skincare. 

Speaking to New Beauty in 2024, she described her skincare habits over the years and discussed her love of cleansers, saying, "Well, to take everything off is always a challenge [laughs]. It usually requires at least two different cleansers!" She continued, "Then, I have to have a soap because I'm a child of the '80s and '90s. The skin has to be squeaky clean." Jones' comments on being a child of the '80s and '90s when it comes to cleansers should be no surprise to anyone familiar with the last 100 years of skincare, as more stringent products were popular during this time.

More than once, Jones has shown on Instagram that she's comfortable showing off her squeaky-clean skin. In a post from 2024, she rocked a glowing makeup-free look as she walked along the beach.

"The Big Bang Theory" star Mayim Bialik has been acting ever since she was a child, and as a result, is no stranger to makeup or skincare. In a post for Grok Nation, Bialik wrote at length about her relationship with her skin and aging, as well as her decision to undergo a laser treatment to improve the appearance of her skin at the age of 42. She broke down some of the changes in her skin she was okay with and the ones she was less excited about. "And so, after 40, my skin started getting more and more dark spots," she recounted. "Not freckles, which I love. Not moles, which I have many of and generally love, unless they have jagged edges, changing colors, or start to itch, in which case they need to be reviewed by a dermatologist. No. We're talking weird dark spots around my eyes and upper cheeks."

While Bialik was happy overall with the results for her skin, she also expressed conflicting feelings about the process, writing, "I have mixed feelings about all of this. On the one hand, I am glad my skin doesn't have all of that skin damage evident. I hate spending money on cosmetic anything. I don't like feeling like I'm indulging in 'pampering,' and I hate pain."

Along with trying out a laser procedure, Bialik has other tricks up her sleeve to maintain health and look amazing without makeup. In an Instagram post from 2024, she snapped a pic of herself inside a hyperbaric chamber and wrote in her caption, "I look forward to my time in the chamber and when sleep eludes me, the chamber is often the place I get great rest in."

Laura Spencer, who played Emily Sweeney on "The Big Bang Theory," has no problem showing off pics of her beautiful, makeup-free skin. In an Instagram post from 2020, she can be seen sans makeup while cuddling her freshly bathed dog. With her hair pulled back in a polished but relaxed messy bun, her bare skin is on full display.

While Spencer hasn't said much about her skincare or beauty routines, it's clear that she takes time out to keep her natural skin looking its best. In fact, taking time to do things like enjoy yourself and let go of stress is thought to be great for helping support healthy skin. According to dermatologist Dr. Afton Cobb, who spoke with CBS News, there is often a moment where her patients become aware of the fact that "the triggering factor that made their skin condition worse was stress in their lives." She went on, "It's amazing how much stress affects obviously our entire body, but especially our skin." It seems that Spencer knows at least one way to nip skin-harming stress in the bud: by getting in some cuddle time with her furry best friend.

While some may worry a lot about where SPF goes in a skincare routine, others may simply make a point to apply it as much as possible. When it comes to sunscreen, "The Big Bang Theory" star Melissa Rauch doesn't fool around. Speaking to Us Magazine, Rauch stressed its importance. "My skin is basically translucent, so I like to keep a bottle of Goddess Garden Sunblock handy so I don't turn into a tomato," she noted. However, Rauch's skincare isn't just focused on sun protection. In a talk with Apartment Therapy about self-care, Rauch was asked whether face masks were a "Yay!" or "Nay!" for her, to which she replied, "Yay! I sort of bop around. There's the one that makes you look like an old person, [the Hanacure All-In-One Facial Starter]. That one's pretty good."

It's clear that Rauch makes time for skincare, and it's also clear that it has a payoff. Not only does her skin look glowy, but she also seems totally comfortable sharing plenty of makeup-free pictures on her Instagram. In a post from 2022, Rauch shared a close-up picture of herself in bold black glasses and no makeup, displaying her beautiful skin and its natural texture as she recommended the novel "Fearless" by Benjamin Warner.

Even though Zoe Perry, who plays Mary in "Young Sheldon" and "George & Mandy's First Marriage," hasn't shared much about her skincare routine, it's clear she knows how to take steps to protect her skin from the sun. In one of Raegan Revord's Instagram posts, Perry can be seen along with her "Young Sheldon" co-stars on the picket line during the writers' strike of 2023 — and shading her face from the sun with a brimmed hat.

While many sing the praises of sunscreen for protecting skin, the reality is that taking extra steps to help prevent wrinkles can be super important. In fact, there are a lot of reasons why your sun protection strategy should include more than just SPF. According to Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, a certified dermatologist who spoke with The Healthy, "Protective clothing and broad-brim hats are one of the most important steps when it comes to sun safe practices in my opinion." She also noted that "heavy perspiration, water activities, and incomplete application of sunscreen causes sunscreen products rubbing off and losing their effectiveness, resulting in incomplete sun protection."

Whether or not Perry has a complex skincare routine, it's easy to see that she's taking steps to protect her face. Beyond that, whatever she is doing, it's definitely working to keep her skin bright.

For Annie Potts, or Meemaw, from "Young Sheldon," skincare isn't just about what you put on your body, but also what you put in it. Speaking to For Women First, Potts said, "Staying hydrated all year round is so important to keeping my skin feeling healthy and looking good — especially when the warmer weather arrives." She went on, "I tend to stick to plain water as my daily go-to beverage, but in the spring and summer, I just love how refreshing and inviting a big jug of water with cucumbers, strawberries, and pineapple tastes." Her motto? "You just pick any kind of fruit you want, drop it in, and you have an instant sugar-free way to enjoy a sweet, refreshing treat that you'll never get bored with!"

Not only can staying hydrated be great for skin, but it also helps with a whole host of other things, like helping to rev up energy levels and keeping your heart and brain healthy. From looking at one of Potts' 2025 Instagram posts where she poses makeup-free with a robot as she gets ready for surgery, it's obvious that her approach to skincare has been working for her and helping her maintain skin that looks truly refreshed from the inside out.

Raegan Revord, who stars in "Young Sheldon" as Missy Cooper, is another devoted sunscreen user. In a talk with E!, Revord opened up about her favorite sunscreen (EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46), saying, "Living in sunny LA, you need a good sunscreen, and this one is great. It's not heavy and doesn't cause breakouts." Clearly, she understands why you need to choose the best sunscreen for your skin. While it may be obvious that sunscreen is necessary in sunny places, it can even be important to wear it on less-sunny days.

According to dermatologist Dr. Melissa Piliang, who spoke with the Cleveland Clinic, you always need to think about sun exposure. "It might even be a bit breezy out, so you don't even think about the sun because you can't see it," Dr. Piliang shared. "But you do still get a significant amount of sun exposure." She went on to explain that you still have to be on guard for UV rays indoors, saying, "The fluorescent lights in our offices even produce some ultraviolet light. This is why wearing daily sunscreen is really important."

Along with sunscreen, there's another basic area of skincare that's important for Revord. Keeping her lips soft is also key, so she keeps some lip balm on her at all times. "I get really dry lips and this balm is amazing. Smells good too!" she said to E! of Rosebud Perfume Co's Rosebud Salve.

Now, for more fresh-faced beauty, check out what the "Yellowstone" universe leading ladies look like without makeup.