Pamela Anderson has cultivated beauty icon status by constantly going against the grain.
In the ’90s she blazed a trail as a blonde bombshell with her own quirky sense of style. She experimented with makeup and counted thongs as beauty essentials, using them as makeshift scrunchies to achieve her signature messy up do.
But as she gets older, the 56 year old has said she’s in a phase of maturing where the artifice of makeup no longer serves a purpose in her life. Catalysed by the death of her lifelong friend and makeup artist Alexis Vogel in 2019, Pamela’s made the decision to commit to a makeup free face, even while attending red carpet events or Paris Fashion Week.
“I didn’t put a lot of thought into not wearing makeup for Paris Fashion Week. It was just something I wanted to do,” she recently told Glamour.
“I’m definitely not opposed to makeup, but I really don’t know what I’m going to wear next. Probably less is more, but we’ll see,” she explained. “I haven’t forgotten about makeup. But as I age, I am embracing the funny things that are happening to me.”
“If it’s losing elasticity or some freckles are starting to join together, I have to be amused by it. Otherwise it’s bad,” she continued. “Anti-ageing is a lie. We’re getting older no matter what. Things change, and if you can find a sense of humour in it, it’s better.”
According to Pamela, choosing to focus on skincare rather than makeup in this point in her life is a direct response to the confidence she’s found with age.
“I was pretty insecure as a kid, and I found ways to manage that insecurity by wearing a lot of makeup and inhabiting these characters. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve peeled back the layers and I’ve gotten closer to myself and remember what my original thoughts and feelings are,” she shared.
‘Just be you,” she advised.
“I don’t mean to say clichés or things that are overused, but it really is the hardest job in the world, to just remember who you are and what you want to present to the world,” she explained. “Wearing the perfect eyeliner isn’t going to make somebody like you more than the next person who doesn’t have it on.”
“Just being more self-accepting and embracing who I am right now is very healthy, and it’s opened the floodgates and been such a breath of fresh air,” she reflected.”I was a young, impressionable girl once, and am still impressionable. But I do take it more seriously, and I do want to be a better example.”
“In this industry you can get carried away and forget who you are underneath it all,” she continued. “That’s why I wanted to peel everything back. I don’t know what my next look or incarnation is going to be. I feel like I’m a little bit of an experiment, but I’m doing it for myself. And lucky for me, I get to be somewhat inspirational when I’m living my life authentically.”
Do you relate to Pamela’s thoughts on ageing?
Main image credit: @pamelaanderson
I can relate, skincare has always been more important to me. Makeup can be fun, but I hate the idea that some women feel they can’t be seen without it.
I can’t agree with you more, I love spending on skincare but not that interested in makeup for everyday use, but I get that some people love it
Yes I always feel good with a little make up but am happy at home without any .
This was really lovely to read. A great way of thinking. I love it.
Yes very open and honest.
I love seeing her without makeup! She looks beautiful
it’s nice we have the choice, i wear makeup because it does make me feel good
Good on you -That’s how it should be.
Yep I’m the same age and I like Skin02’s sheer primer to wear on it’s own after my moisturiser which is so sheer, non greasy and nourishing too – and has some spf.
I wear less make up now than I did whenI was younger. Just wear it for work or if I am going out somewhere.
Too hot to wear it at the moment in Qld anyway.
I am the same but I do enjoy wearing makeup if I am going out
I also wear less make up now. Used to use it everyday when working but now only if I am going out.
I do agree, you can’t stop it, maybe just delaying it.
Very refreshing to read.
Yes we have to get older but it is nice to see people looking good for their age.
I was confused at first as I thought things were footwear
Anti-ageing is fiction.
Yes but aging well is not.
I love caring for my skin, but still love my makeup
Skincare is important to me, and the better my skin looks, the better I feel.
Pamela is such an inspirational woman. Skincare is so much more important than makeup. With age, definitely comes wisdom!
How refreshing to read, embracing your age without fear and with humour. We should be thankful we are healthy and not place so much emphasis on looks.
The option to not getting old is ___! Lets be grateful for age too
I agree skincare is the most important part of your beauty regime. I only wear make-up for special occasions.
Our skin definitely ages; sags, stretches and gets sunspots. I am caring for my skin and I go makeup free most days. I do have a large amount of sunspots on my body and I see a dermatologist for those.
When I was younger, I wouldn’t go to the shops without makeup. It was when I turned 49 that I didn’t worry about going up to the shops with no makeup on. As you age, you concentrate more on skincare. I watched a programme with Pamela on it where she was just so pure and she actually made sense in what she was saying.
Beautiful
I totally agree with her, make up isn’t important for me and i know i look better with it but i love my own natural beauty too
She makes a lot of sense, but I wonder if she’s influenced by having a skincare line?
I just love her honesty – she’s so right!
A sensible lady
I think she is quite brave going against celebrity mainstream like this! Good for her. Hope she can be a role model for some young women now because the current celebrity options are frightening!!! Be who and what you are I say!
I always do minimum make up on my skin.