Stars Without Makeup: Is Jessica Simpson's Bare Face For Real?

By Brooke Tarnoff Posted Apr 8th 2010 02:55PM

Jessica Simpson has been traveling the globe, recording beauty rituals in various cultures for her reality show 'The Price of Beauty' -- but back in the United States, Simpson dispensed with her usual routine, appearing in Marie Claire without a stitch of makeup. "I don't have anything to prove anymore," Jessica told the magazine. "What other people think of me is not my business."

Yet Simpson's photograph is so flawless, many refuse to believe the singer is truly bare-faced. The Huffington Post asked readers if they thought Simpson looked like she was secretly sporting concealer or blush -- and a majority said yes. But Simpson's former publicist (and current PopEater staffer) Rob Shuter answers the question for us definitively. "I know Jess and have seen her many times without any makeup," Shuter tells us. "I can 100 percent confirm: That is what she looks like."

"Her natural beauty is staggering. Her skin glows and her big eyes pop," Shuter continues. "I think she looks better natural or with very little makeup on."

Though the choice to present herself willingly on a magazine cover was a bold -- and rare -- choice for a celebrity, candid shots of stars with bare faces have a proven record of success in the media marketplace.

Jessica Simpson in Marie Claire

"People are 100 percent more interested in seeing celebrities in their rawest form. That is why candid shots of celebrities going about their daily routine are so popular and sell for so much money," says Jordan Osher, CEO of MeetTheFamous.com. "Fans and readers want to see what celebs look like off the red carpet without their fancy dress, designer jewelry and high end makeup caked on. Our photo agency specializes in candid photos from the everyday person with a camera, because they can capture the true essence of a celebrity when they don't think the media is around."

Sally Baxter of Pacific Coast News suggests that those candid shots quell our fears that celebrities have something we don't. "It's all part of that whole 'celebs are just like us.' Or that we like to see them when they look slightly more vulnerable so we don't feel so bad about ourselves. That's also why we like pictures of them looking fat or skinny or eating."

Shuter explains that, in Simpson's case, the willingness to show herself in that vulnerable place speaks volumes about her personal growth. "She lost her confidence a bit and went a little crazy with too much makeup and hair," he says. "It was easy to forget that beneath all that rubbish was a beautiful girl. The happier Jess is personally, the more natural she looks."

"This is a great sign," he adds. "The Jess I know wouldn't have been able to do this cover years ago!"

Contributions to this story by Maggie Coughlan.

Comments

(307)

Thursday 08 April

By M

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Ok, so she has no makeup on....Well, we all look great with dim lighting or evening lighting, our hair covering half of our faces, and sepia/B&W alterations added to the picture. How about 100% real day light and a frontal full body pic without her hair covering half of her face??? Jess is still insecure or she would 100% do it right! She gets partial credit for a job half done. Anyone remember when Jamie Lee Curtis did her al natural pictures? Now that's how it's done! Google "Jamie Lee Curtis natural pics" and see for yourself. And if Jessica has nothing to prove to anyone than why is she doing this shoot/cover???

By lmayj

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I can plainly see she is wearing some eye makeup, she has mascara on. Hollywood is getting so silly.

Friday 09 April

By julie

Although, I really like Jessica Simpson, I also am really tired of these magazines calling this women courageous, for going without make. The woman who put there lives on the line for us- police,fire,military... women they are truly the brave ones, with or without makeup. SO LETS HEAR IT FOR THE WOMEN WITH REAL COURAGE AND BRAVERY!!

By T-Storm

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I think Jessica's a natural beauty.

By Wonder Wank

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she is hot. I don't care if she is wearing makeup or not. either way is a good look.

By LB

Natural! What about the fake breasts and bleached hair? This woman has naturally very dark hair. Jessica Simpson is one of the biggest promoters of the "fake look" along with many other American celebrities. As for attractiveness, she wasn't even attractive with all the make-up. A square face is never a good look on a woman.

By JamieD

A Boy? You can't be serious. She looks fantastic! A natural, innocent, country-gal look!!!

By dogonnit_g

@ ann...Huh?

As far as I'm concerned...this serves you all right...now you see the make-up you worship...the make-up ARTISTs show their worth in whorrywood! Cudos to them, cause...B-DAMN!!!

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She certainly is ugly. She looks a little like Hulk Hogan except I think Hulk Hogan is a prettier.

By Brenda

My daughter went to school in LA and saw Jessica Simpson at the grocery store one day. She said that she didn't have any make up on and her hair up in a ponytail and that she was gorgeous.

By anna

My goodness - Jessica is absolutely wearing makeup - a little mascara, powder, very light blush and very light pink lipstick. Every woman knows how to achieve this. We can do very dramatic, bold makeup or the type that makes us look "bare", yet fresh and glowing. Give me a break. You can absolutely tell she has minimal, but makeup nonetheless. Magazines do a lot of damage to women by airbrushing, hour spent on hair & makeup, etc...making us think we look like trolls most of the time even when we do make an effort. I am sure Jessica looks great WITHOUT any makeup - but she is definitely wearing light makeup in the photos. These are the kinds of lies that make we women feel less than beautiful most of the time.

Saturday 10 April

By jo

Halle Barry looks like she could be one of those African Aids victims without makeup. Katie Holmes looks a little haggard, Kate Gosselin... Yuck! The rest of the ladies look pretty good.

Thursday 15 April

By Linda Walker

I have an issue of the mag....she is obviously wearing eyeshadow, mascara, foundation, powder, lip tint, and blush. It's applied lightly but noticeably.

By Heather

Even if she does have makeup on, its such a small amount. She still looks natural and fresh. I give her props for being able to wear no (or very little) makeup on the cover of a magazine. Espeically after all she went through with the media. I can't think of many stars that would appear with no makeup on.

By w33k

she looks ghostly sick and dumber than a cave woman.

By mlynn1231

The fact that Jessica Simpson keeps getting nailed for stupid stuff tells me that people are either jealous are unaccepting of the fact that she is too good to fall from grace to be fed to you scavengers. She's a beautiful woman, in mom jeans or a bikini. Get over it and move on.

By Angie

I don't understand why people are constantly going after Jessica Simpson, don't you have anything better to do, leave the poor girl alone, pick, pick, pick.

By Chelsea

pretty sure she has make up on in both pictures.
I doubt they would put her in a Marie Claire without any makeup at all. I think by "not wearing makeup" what they meant to say was "wearing the 'natural' look"

By bcarrknapp

Jessica is absolutely beautiful!

By j

how do you get black clumps on your lashes and a black line along the lashline wihtout makeup - shes not wearing lipstick or bright blush, but she is def wearing a bunch of makeup.

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