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Why More People Are Skipping Makeup, According to Psychology

Expert commentary links the no‑makeup trend to self‑acceptance, convenience, skin‑care priorities, with pushback against rigid beauty norms.

Overview

  • Recent articles synthesize studies cited by Columbia University psychologist Dr. Tara Well to explain the growing choice to go makeup‑free.
  • Common motivations include comfort with one’s appearance, simplifying daily routines, and reducing products that may irritate or clog pores.
  • Going without cosmetics is presented as a deliberate challenge to long‑standing beauty rules that historically positioned makeup as a tool of social conformity.
  • The shift is contextualized within minimal‑beauty habits, the rise of skincare‑first routines, and social‑media campaigns promoting unfiltered faces.
  • Coverage also notes that motivations vary, with other research describing makeup as a tool that can bolster social presence or compensate for low self‑esteem.