You Won't Recognize These News Anchors Without Makeup

It's no secret that stage or television makeup is often heavy and dramatic, and news anchors know that best. In fact, they are traditionally required to wear a lot of makeup, which can sometimes result in cakeiness. And while heavy makeup has been the norm for decades, the industry is slowly shifting, partially due to brave women who aren't afraid to show their bare faces. "It's disconcerting that there should be so much pressure to be überglamorous," journalist Katie Couric told Allure in 2017. "I just don't think turning everyone into a Barbie doll is a good thing. It's very objectifying to women. I want to look more like the people watching me."

And many others agree, revealing that makeup shouldn't play such a huge role in their job. "The work from your résumé reel will only be looked at if you make it through the first round, which is, do they like what you look like?" newscaster Kamady Rudd — who didn't wear makeup at work for a week in 2018 — admitted to Glamour. "I'm proud of the work that I've done thus far in my career ... I've still heard from potential bosses and agents that it doesn't matter, perception is everything. It has nothing to do with the quality of my work." While makeup is a wonderful tool for expressing yourself and gaining confidence, the world is shifting, and slowly the norms are changing — and the news industry needs to hop on board. Luckily, these news anchors who share what they look like without makeup are not only showing that it's okay to look different, but also that it's okay to be yourself — let's be real: Nobody wakes up like that.

Gayle King, best known for her work as a broadcast journalist on CBS News, has gotten increasingly more comfortable with showing her bare face on television. In fact, in October 2024, King appeared on "The Drew Barrymore Show" alongside actors Valerie Bertinelli and Gillian Anderson, and all of them showed up with no makeup on their faces. "Listen, I don't have hang ups about taking pictures of myself without makeup, but it is different when you're on national TV," King told the host. "It is very different when you post it on your Instagram, or you're just walking around."

However, the television personality revealed that when it comes to her private life, she prefers a bare face, especially when running errands. "I have experiences when I'm walking around outside and people will hear me talk and they say, 'You kind of sound like Gayle King. Are you her?' And I go, 'Yes,' and then they'll say, 'Are you in disguise?'" While King looks stunning in full glam, there's no denying that the anchor looks absolutely beautiful with a bare face, too!

Best known for her work on the NBC morning show "Today," Savannah Guthrie has become a television staple over the past decade. And while we usually see her with a full face of makeup on our screens, privately, the anchor prefers a more low-key look. "I spend most of the weekend without any makeup. But I do enjoy it, and I have fun putting makeup on on a Friday or a Saturday night," the anchor told Today in 2018. "I've been trying to perfect the smokey eye for about a decade now. There's something about it being a Friday night, and you're going out to dinner with your friends, and you put music on and you get to play with some eye shadow and just have fun experimenting." And we couldn't agree more — we love it when celebs have fun breaking all the makeup rules!

Those who follow her on social media know that Guthrie is no stranger to posting bare-faced selfies. "I was always surprised that people were surprised that I would post a picture without any makeup on," Guthrie added that year. "I'm 46 years old and I don't mind looking 46 years old." Seeing the star rock both — a full glam look as well as her natural face — with confidence, is definitely inspiring!

Journalist Katy Tur rose to fame as an anchor for NBC News and MSNBC, and she has always been very vocal about changing the makeup rules that come with being a female news anchor. "Back in 2006, when I started in the industry, there was a very old-school beauty mentality. We had to take headshots, and the makeup artists put on so much makeup — I swear I looked like a 48-year-old woman, and I was 22," she wrote for Glamour in 2018.

However, Tur explained that she has noticed a change in the industry, and that a full-glam look isn't necessarily a requirement anymore. "Today most of the industry, even Fox News, is moving away from that a little. It's partially the moment we're in: There's a shift toward a real, more natural-looking beauty. But I also think people are taking the news more seriously." Tur herself is someone who prefers a more natural makeup look. "The makeup artists probably want to strangle me because I'm like, 'Less, less, less!'" she added. "Thankfully, NBC has always allowed me to be me." While she still has to wear makeup when she's on camera, privately, it certainly seems as if the anchor can nail the no-makeup makeup look like a pro, and it perfectly enhances her beauty without being overly dramatic.

Fox News journalist Maria Bartiromo has been known for her signature smokey eye — a look that perfectly enhances her eyes. In fact, Bartiromo seems to be a huge beauty and makeup enthusiast, and for Yahoo!, the anchor revealed her beauty must-haves. "Under-eye cream from Nivea, Chapstick, and a smokey-eye kit," she said in 2014. "One of my best secrets is taking my makeup off with Johnson's Baby Shampoo; it's the best way to fully clean your eyes. I like a rich moisturizer like Cetaphil, especially in the winter when my skin is dry." In a feature for Us Weekly in 2015, she also revealed that the  "Laura Mercier lip liner in Hazelnut Tea and L'Oréal mascara" are two makeup items she absolutely adores.

But just like most of her fellow news anchors, when she isn't working, Bartiromo tends to skip the makeup. "When I am not on-air I want my skin to breathe. I really want to have a fresh face, so I don't wear makeup on weekends. I like to just relax," she added. Those who follow the star on social media know that even though most of her selfies are in full glam, Bartiromo isn't afraid to show her bare face to the entire world, especially when she's on vacation.

CNN anchor Dana Bash is someone we rarely see without her signature eyeliner and eyelash combo. However, while the television personality wears heavy makeup in front of the camera, in private, she often goes about her day with no makeup, and those who follow her on social media have surely seen a selfie or two of the anchor with a bare face. 

In fact, doing her makeup isn't a big part of Bash's usual morning routine. "I'm usually up with a dog or two licking my face and saying it's time to go outside," Bash told Katie Couric Media in 2024 about her morning routine. "And then, before I can get them out, I am absolutely grabbing my phone and looking at emails, notifications, and texts about what happened overnight." 

Whether you've seen her on MSNBC, ABC, or NBC News, there's no denying that Nicolle Wallace is a talented journalist. And while the news anchor doesn't usually wear incredibly heavy makeup, she does seem to dread doing it herself, as she shared during the pandemic. "DIY hair and makeup = most daunting part of broadcasting from home," Wallace tweeted during the lockdown when social distancing had to be practiced (via X).

In a 2020 interview, she even revealed that her glam team plays a big part in her day at work — and not just because they make her look her best. "Yes, they make us look our very best, and no, I have no idea what I'm doing with a curling iron, but what people don't know is that sometimes plopping down in the makeup chair is the first and only time of our day when we just sit there and catch up about our kids or the news outside politics," Wallace admitted to InStyle. However, even though she always looks pretty when her makeup is done, Wallace is proof that radiance is something that comes from within!

Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner is definitely amongst the ladies who love a full-glam look whenever they're in front of the camera. From fake lashes to glossy lips, Faulkner's makeup always looks perfect — and the anchor certainly pulls the more dramatic makeup style off. Of course, as any makeup lover knows, taking care of your skin is crucial for a good makeup day. "I must glow before the show! That means a clean, healthy palette. I exfoliate every morning in the shower, drink plenty of water and apply high-definition primer to help my foundation and eye shadow lay and stay," she told New Beauty in 2017. "A deep smokey eye with navy and ivory is my favorite. People can never figure out why my smokey eye looks right day and night. It is because the dark indigo hues read less dramatic than black ... "

But as soon as the cameras stop recording, Faulkner is all about skincare again. "Most days I remove my makeup before I leave the building," she admitted. "I have my entire makeup-removal and skin treatment system duplicated in my office. That gives me a chance to have an early start on taking care of my skin. As soon as the show is over, and as long as I have no other appearances, I go makeup-free!" And we have to admit — Faulkner is onto something! A lot happens to your skin when you ditch the makeup, so removing it as soon as you don't need it on anymore can actually benefit your skin! Plus, it gives your skincare more time to absorb before you go to bed.

CNN anchor Brianna Keilar is definitely among the ladies who seem to prefer a more minimalist routine when it comes to their on-screen as well as off-screen makeup. While the television personality is usually wearing television-approved makeup with an accent on her eyes, privately, Keilar is all about going natural.

"Proving that hair and makeup is a very bizarre ritual," she shared on Instagram back in 2016, alongside a photo of herself getting her makeup done. In fact, when it comes to relatability, Keilar might just be the most relatable news anchor out there as she even posts videos on social media in her pajamas — messy hair and bare face included. In all honesty, we need more television hosts to follow in her footsteps — after all, bright lights and heavy makeup can easily promote comparisons to unrealistic beauty standards, and as a mother, Keilar is clearly all about promoting natural beauty.

MSNBC and NBC journalist Stephanie Ruhle knows that the industry calls for heavy makeup when she's on set — but that certainly doesn't mean that she can't show her bare face on social media. While the anchor usually wears dramatic lash extensions, she has absolutely no problem with showing off her natural lashes, even without mascara.

However, this type of confidence is something that Ruhle grew into with age, as she herself admitted. "The best part about getting older is I'm actually happier as a 43-year-old than I was a 33-year-old and a 23-year-old because I'm [not] trying to be somebody else and fit in somewhere that I don't," she told People in 2019. Luckily, the star looks just as stunning without all the heavy makeup, and we applaud her for sharing her experience with happiness, as it fights the narrative that the older we get, the more miserable we become.

Newscaster Robin Roberts is best known for her work as a co-host on ABC's "Good Morning America." Over the years, viewers got used to seeing her with a perfect face of makeup each time, and for that Roberts credits her makeup and hair team. "My Glam Fam are really my spiritual team," Roberts told People in 2022.

What many may not know is that most days, Roberts has a very early morning routine. "I'm up at 3:30 a.m., and I have what my Grandma Sally called 'quiet time,'" the television personality admitted. "I don't turn on the TV, I don't reach for my phone. Someone told me recently that when you reach for your phone first thing in the morning, it's like having 100 people in your bedroom screaming at you." While makeup definitely plays an important role in her morning routine, it's clear that self-care takes priority. And because Roberts is all about being confident and taking care of yourself, it's also not surprising that she has no problem with posting bare-faced selfies on her social media.

CNN news anchor Abby Phillip always looks perfectly put-together, and her perfect makeup plays a big role in that. However, Phillip has spoken about the effect the heavy makeup, which she often wears for long hours, has had on her skin. "It's so tough, being on TV and wearing TV makeup is a totally different animal," Phillip revealed to InStyle in 2022. "Plus the lack of sleep and the caffeine and the wine — a lot of the time my skin is not happy."

To fight the daily makeup routine she has to do for her job, Phillip is diligent about her skincare — especially finding the best face-washing routine for her. "I use makeup remover wipes before I wash, then I always double [cleanse]. Even on a shortened schedule, I try to do that." Phillip revealed. "Then I tone and use an AHA/BHA serum. I also like to use an oil for extra moisture, it's just kind of comforting — I love a good face oil. Then I moisturize on top of that with a night cream." And in the morning, Phillip swears by SPF. "You must [wear it] every day, whether it's cloudy or not," she added. While the news anchor always looks stunning on television, on social media, her followers can get glimpses of her with no makeup on. And one thing we can instantly tell from those is that her skincare routine pays off — the television personality looks dewy and radiant!

NBC broadcast journalist Hoda Kotb may have retired from "Today," but the impact she has left on the show is still noticeable. Back in 2010, the show's co-host ditched makeup for a special episode of the show, and just like that, she has helped change and shape industry expectations. Even though Kotb has been rocking subtle yet stunning makeup for television her entire career, she has admitted that going makeup-free is something she now leans toward.

"I have worn makeup probably three times since I've left ['Today'] and I've been gone for almost two months," she admitted to People in 2025. "You know what I realized? I don't look at myself anymore. You look at yourself at work because there's a big mirror and camera and you're like, 'Oh, my hair's a mess, so you're constantly fussing," she added. "But I don't notice anymore. My kids are like, 'Mom, you look crazy right now.' But you know what? I'm happy." 

In 2016, CBS news anchor Norah O'Donnell was diagnosed with skin cancer, and just like that, her entire life turned upside down. Luckily, O'Donnell fought the melanoma successfully, and since her diagnosis, she has become an advocate for getting regular check-ups at a dermatologist. "The good news is that while skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer, it is something that's entirely preventable and is curable if caught early," O'Donnell told InStyle in 2021. "That for me is the hopeful message."

"My business with tanning beds was pure vanity, and also because I am fair-skinned ... But now we know how incredibly dangerous tanning is," she went on. "I mean more people develop skin cancer because of indoor tanning than lung cancer because of smoking." The CBS anchor added that SPF is a must for her now. "I put on — even if I'm walking at eight o'clock in the morning and it's 45 degrees out." 

O'Donnell has always worn glamorous and sophisticated makeup looks, but after her diagnosis, the television star has given her followers more frequent glimpses into her real life — no makeup and all. Now, if you want to see more confident women, check out what the "Yellowstone" universe's leading ladies look like without makeup!