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More naturalness: a striking number of actresses showed themselves with subtle make-up at this year's Oscars.
Much is different in the pandemic. We already know that. We spent a large part of the past year at home in front of the laptop in sweatpants without make-up. The current situation forces us to be more down-to-earth and also to shift down a gear.
This was also recognized by the course of this year's Academy Awards. These definitely weren't as glamorous as the last 93 years. Instead of 3,000 guests, only 200 were present, and some nominees could not even travel to L. A. due to various travel restrictions - they were connected via video chat from Sydney, London or Paris. The whole show (with 23 categories) lasted three hours, musical live performances had to be canceled this year.
No make-up look with the stars
This new down-to-earth attitude was also reflected in the look of many stars. In the past few years, the exact opposite has been the case with Oscar styles. Red lips, eye-catching eyeliners? Nothing! This year, many people are opting for naturalness, especially when it comes to make-up. Subtle looks with a bit of foundation, almost bare lips and little mascara dominated the evening.
Chloé Zhao (whose film “Nomadland” incidentally was named “best film” and she herself was awarded for directing) appeared strikingly unglamorous in a high-necked robe, no-make-up look and with plaited pigtails. Not a typical Oscar look, but what does that mean?
Are the stars no longer used to make-up after the lockdown? Back to the roots? Or did the Face Positivity Movement even make it to the Oscars? Has make-up become uncool?
Make-up can and should be fun. It's a way to express yourself and to feel beautiful (more). Nevertheless, it is a tool that many use to paint over supposed imperfections. Going out of the house without makeup is still unimaginable for many women. To be so natural and (almost) without make-up on an evening like the Oscars makes a bold statement for a new generation of women who find themselves beautiful without aids and, above all, who can decide for themselves what their idea of beauty is, without having to conform to any normative concept.
Or is the reason for this sudden naturalness something completely different? Hand on heart: wearing a lot of make-up is simply impractical in combination with mouth and nose protection. First of all, half of the face pecks in the mask when you take it off, and secondly, the whole thing smears too …
