What Does the Bare Face Movement Actually Promote?

By Alisa Pierce
Blog Content Contributor

The Bare Face Movement is a new feminism-influenced crusade that has taken grip of many women around the country, and has especially gained popularity on the Internet. This movement works to empower women through clear and makeup free lifestyles, and has been promoted by multiple celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Kim Kardashian.

In fact, Keys announced in late May that she was quitting makeup completely. Keys has since been spotted without makeup on the red carpet and even on the cover of her newest album, Here. Most of these celebrities and those following their example have being praised as “brave” for flaunting their natural beauty, but some are worried that the Bare Face Movement focuses only on the elites.

Many celebrities embracing the makeup free lifestyle have begun to enhance their natural beauty with expensive skin treatments that some believe only the super-rich can afford. These skin treatments usually follow an intensive routine of rejuvenating serums and brightening masks that can range anywhere between $100-$2,000 weekly. Even if more than just celebrities are able to afford these treatments, it seems to be at odds with the natural beauty focus of Bare Face. Despite makeup no longer being in the equation, many women are still altering their appearances with these procedures.

The only difference between these treatments and makeup is that makeup only hides, while those who regularly use skin-enhancing products see permanent change. However, both focus on changing a person’s natural appearance to make the individual feel more comfortable in their own skin. Does this not negate Bare Face’s promotion of loving the skin someone is born in?

There is nothing wrong with either options, but if people are only embracing Bare Face if those not wearing makeup have perfect skin from expensive treatments, then what does that say about what Bare Face actually promotes?

Featured image by Marlene Núñez.