Alicia Keys Says No To Make Up

Have you heard about the new movement urging women to not wear makeup?

The idea is for women to bare their faces, revealing their authentic selves — pores and all.

Its main spokeswoman is Alicia Keys, the classically trained, incredibly talented musician and current star of the show The Voice.

Do you know why she’s the celebrity poster woman for this new movement? Because she’s Alicia Keys, that’s why. She literally shines. She’s luminous in every picture. And apparently she is now doing it without the enhancement or camouflage provided by makeup, because — let me reiterate — she is Alicia Keys.

I, however, am not Alicia Keys.

I am a soon-to-be 55-year-old who has been wearing makeup since my sister plucked my eyebrows out at the age of 10, telling me they were too bushy (although I really believe she did it because she got some sadistic pleasure with each pluck).

There are plenty of times when I don’t wear makeup when leaving the house. Like when I work out. I never understood why you’d put on makeup to sweat it off (although sweating is a relative term at my age).

And I’m basically “wash ‘n’ wear” on the weekend. But when I’m working or out for an evening, I always wear makeup.

I’m not high maintenance about it. I never even bought “real” makeup or had makeup professionally applied until my wedding. And that experience scarred me for life because my husband’s cousin, who I was told was a “professional,” took so long I was almost late for my own wedding. She finally finished the job after three hours, and she only finished because my father came in and screamed at her — something you don’t want to happen to a nervous woman wielding a mascara wand in your face.

When my kids were babies, during a mommy-and-me day, I decided to do a whole Bobby Brown makeup makeover at a department store. Bobby Brown is known for her “natural”-looking makeup. At the time, I was actually disappointed that I didn’t end up with the French prostitute look I was hoping (and paid) for, so I hardly ever wore the makeup I bought that day that cost me as much as a couch.

Months later, while shopping with my crying baby near the Bobby Brown counter, the makeup director for the whole company happened to be there. He actually stopped me to admonish me for not wearing at least concealer and mascara. Seriously?

Joan Lincoln, makeup artist extraordinaire, is aware of the new trend. But she still believes a little makeup can go a long way. And so do I. As I age, I find myself wearing more makeup than I did when I was a kid. That’s because I didn’t realize things that I care about would start to fade.

Like my eyebrows. Who knew that they too can recede and may require some enhancement each day? Or my eyelashes; I’ve lost too many of them over the years, so if a little mascara makes me appear to be more awake, then I’m going for it.

One friend was so committed to appearing made-up in public, when told that she couldn’t wear make-up under general anesthesia, she included in her pre-surgery prep an appointment for eyebrow and lash tinting so when she woke up, she’d be as beautiful as when she went under.

So here’s what I have to say to gorgeous, young Alicia Keys. You can choose to give up makeup, and I get it. I don’t really need makeup to feel beautiful or powerful. But, I still will subscribe to what my mother used to tell me: “Pamela, carry a little lipstick with you — you never know who you might meet.”