Going bare
Houston broadcasters embrace Alicia Keys’ no-makeup movement.
About a year ago, Dominique Sachse revealed to the world her makeup-free face in a video on her YouTube channel.
The KPRC Local 2 anchor said she did it to show women what it looks like “to start from scratch.” Viewers responded with an outpouring of support.
So when singer Alicia Keys went makeup free earlier this summer, Sachse could relate.
“I think it’s important for women to feel comfortable in their own skin,” she said. “When I was younger, I wouldn’t leave the house without a full face of makeup, but with age comes wisdom. The internal, the soul and spirit are so much more important than the shell.”
Sachse joined a group of local media broadcasters who went au naturale this week for photos on the Houston Chronicle’s website chron.com in support of Key’s actions.
Keys, 35, is inspiring women across the country to ditch makeup, at least for a moment. She recently appeared on NBC’s “Today Show,” prompting anchor and native Texan Tamron Hall to wipe off her makeup during the broadcast.
In late May, the freckled-faced, multi- Grammy Award winner penned a post for LennyLetter.com about why she’s now makeup free:
“Women are brainwashed into feeling like we have to be skinny, or sexy, or desirable, or perfect,” she wrote. “One of the many things I was tired of was the constant judgment of women. Every time I left the house, I would be worried if I didn’t put on makeup: What if someone wanted a picture?? What if they POSTED it??? These were the insecure, superficial, but honest thoughts I was thinking. And all of it, one way or another, was based too much on what other people thought of me.”
Keys went without makeup at the recent MTV VMAs and drew criticism on Twitter. She responded: “Y’all, me choosing to be makeup free doesn’t mean I’m anti-makeup. Do you!”
“This movement doesn’t mean I’m against wearing makeup,” KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang said. “It’s about the power we have, as women, to choose. It’s significant to me because I want girls who see my look on TV to know that it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors. We are perfect regardless of what we put on our face.”
The natural look is trending in the beauty world.
Beauty Inc., an industry trade publication from Women’s Wear Daily, recently featured the “bare” look, calling it “nontouring” — the antithesis of contouring. (Kim Kardashian is the contouring queen.)
Fox 26 anchor Melinda Spaulding said going without makeup is freeing. “I feel most like myself when I don’t wear makeup — although, a little concealer and lip gloss can do wonders for me. When you wear as much makeup as we do on television, it’s nice to have a break.”
Her colleague Rita Garcia, a morning anchor at Fox, voiced her support of Keys’ #NoMakeup movement. “It’s a beautiful statement that reflects confidence and the courage to embrace yourself,” she said.
But working in front of the camera can generate criticism, particularly regarding beauty enhancements.
To that point, Sachse uses her videos to address issues including Botox and eyebrow tattooing. She said having her brows done enhances her look.
“In the ’90s, I tweezed my brows until they were pencil thin,” she said. “If I went without makeup, I had no eyes. All I’m doing now is trying to restore what God gave me.”