We have all seen that specific "Adele look." You know the one—the razor-sharp winged eyeliner, the heavy-duty lashes, and that perfectly sculpted, matte complexion that makes her look like a 1960s soul singer who just stepped out of a time machine. It’s iconic. But honestly, the internet goes into a bit of a meltdown every time a photo of Adele before and after makeup hits the grid.
Why? Because she looks like two completely different people.
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It’s not just about the "power of makeup," though that’s a huge part of it. When Adele is off the clock, she’s the queen of the bare-faced selfie. She’s posted photos of herself with messy hair, zero concealer, and a cup of tea in hand. And then, bam—she hits the stage in Las Vegas or walks a red carpet, and she’s a glamazon.
The contrast is jarring, but in a way that’s actually kind of refreshing.
The Voldemort Factor and the Power of Brows
One of the funniest things Adele ever admitted—and she told this to NikkieTutorials during a 2021 "Power of Makeup" video—is that without her brows done, she feels like she looks like Voldemort.
Her natural hair is quite fair. If she doesn't dye her eyebrows, they basically disappear into her face. "I look like Voldemort," she joked, pointing to her bare arches. During the pandemic, she actually taught herself how to dye them at home because she couldn't get to a pro.
That right there is a huge part of the Adele before and after makeup mystery. Brows are the scaffolding of the face. When Adele goes from having "invisible" blonde brows to those dark, perfectly defined arches, her entire facial structure seems to shift.
It isn't just vanity; it's physics.
The Michael Ashton Signature: 3 Hours in the Chair
Adele doesn't just "put on some makeup." She undergoes a transformation. Her long-time makeup artist, Michael Ashton, has spent over a decade perfecting her look. He’s the guy who popularized that specific "Adele flick."
Getting that look isn't a quick ten-minute job. Adele has mentioned that her glam sessions can take anywhere from two to three hours. Three hours! Most of us can barely spend thirty seconds blending out a smudge.
Ashton uses a "product cocktailing" technique. He doesn't just swipe on one liner. He usually starts with a black gel liner to map out the shape, works it into the lash roots, and then builds the thickness. Only after the shape is perfect does he go over it with a waterproof liquid liner to give it that ink-black, high-shine finish.
What she uses when she’s "off-duty"
When she isn't doing the full-stage look, she keeps it shockingly simple. She’s mentioned that her "off-day" routine consists of:
- Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter: She calls it "that glowy thing."
- A bronze highlight: She just slaps it all over her face to look like she’s been at the beach.
- Natural hair: She lets her hair go wavy and curly.
It’s a far cry from the beehives and the heavy contouring we see on TV.
The Elephant in the Room: Weight Loss and "Ozempic Face"
We can't talk about Adele before and after makeup without talking about the 100-pound weight loss. Between 2019 and 2021, Adele’s face changed dramatically, and it wasn't just because she switched foundations.
When you lose a significant amount of weight, you lose the fat pads in your face. For Adele, this revealed a bone structure that was hidden for years. Her jawline became sharp enough to cut glass, and her cheekbones popped.
A lot of people online—and even some plastic surgeons like Dr. Ramtin Kassir—speculated that she might have had "a little bit of extra help." Whether it’s buccal fat removal rumors or filler speculation, the truth is likely much simpler: she has what makeup artists call "great sockets."
Adele herself says she has "her nana’s eyes." She has deep-set eyelids that are basically a playground for eyeshadow. When she was heavier, the fullness of her face softened those features. Now that she’s slimmer, those deep sockets and that sharp jawline make the makeup look even more intense than it did during the 21 or 25 eras.
Why the "Before" Actually Matters
There is something deeply human about Adele showing up to rehearsals with a red nose and zero mascara. In an era where every celebrity uses a "beauty filter" even when they’re claiming to be "natural," Adele’s willingness to look totally normal—kinda tired, kinda pale, very British—is why she stays relatable.
She isn't trying to trick anyone. She knows she’s a "glow-up" waiting to happen.
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If you want to pull off a bit of that Adele magic yourself, you don't need a three-hour window or a personal makeup artist. Start with the brows. Dyeing them a shade darker or using a solid brow pomade creates that "frame" she relies on. And if you’re doing the liner, don't try to do it in one go. Layer a gel and a liquid.
Most importantly, remember that even Adele thinks she looks like a Batman villain before the mascara goes on. It’s all a process.
Your Adele-Inspired Action Plan
- Focus on the eyes first. If you have "sockets" like Adele, use a matte transition shade to define the crease before you even touch the eyeliner.
- Invest in a "glow" product. Like Adele’s favorite Charlotte Tilbury filter, a glowy base makes the skin look healthy without needing five layers of foundation.
- Don't fear the "before." Embrace the days where you don't do the full routine. The contrast is what makes the glam feel special anyway.
The transformation isn't about hiding. It's about performance. Whether she’s the "natural" Adele or the "cat-eye" Adele, she’s still the same person with that massive voice—one just happens to take three hours longer to get ready.