You know that feeling when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the Zoom camera before the filter kicks in? It’s jarring. Now, imagine that, but your "filter" is a world-renowned, multi-hour glam routine involving the most precise winged eyeliner in human history. That’s the daily reality for Adele. We’ve all seen the Adele with and without makeup comparisons floating around the internet. Usually, they’re framed as some kind of "gotcha" moment. But honestly? The reality is way more interesting than just a before-and-after photo.
Adele is basically the queen of the high-low split. One minute she’s headlining a residency in Las Vegas looking like a literal 1960s film siren, and the next, she’s on Instagram in a messy topknot, looking like she hasn't slept in three days because, well, life.
The anatomy of the "Adele Look"
To understand why seeing her bare-faced feels like such a shift, you have to look at what her makeup artist, Michael Ashton, actually does. This isn't just "a little bit of powder." It's architecture.
Ashton has been the architect of her face for over a decade. He’s the guy who pioneered that thick, sharp-as-a-knife flick that everyone tried (and mostly failed) to copy in 2016. He uses a specific "cocktailing" technique. He’ll start with a gel liner—usually something like the Chanel Calligraphie de Chanel—to map out the shape. Then, he layers a waterproof liquid liner on top to give it that deep, obsidian intensity.
It’s heavy. It’s deliberate. It creates a character. When she’s "Adele," she’s wearing:
- Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (a cult favorite for a reason).
- Heavy lash strips that could probably create a breeze if she blinked fast enough.
- That signature "over-lined but natural" lip.
So, when she strips all of that off, it’s not just that she looks different. The "character" of the global superstar disappears, leaving just the woman from Tottenham.
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Those "unfiltered" Instagram moments
Adele doesn't do the "fake" no-makeup look. You know the one—where a celebrity claims to be bare-faced but is clearly wearing tinted moisturizer, brow gel, and a light lash lift.
No. When Adele goes makeup-free, she really goes for it. Remember that video she posted years ago when she had to cancel a show in Phoenix because she was sick? Her nose was red. Her eyes were puffy. She looked... human.
Fans went wild. Not because she looked "bad," but because she looked like us. In a world where every "candid" photo is actually a coordinated PR move, seeing a woman with 15 Grammys show off her dark circles is kind of a revolution.
She’s posted several of these over the years:
- The Birthday Selfie: On her 26th birthday, she posted a snap with zero products, just raw skin and a thumb up.
- The "Black Is King" Tribute: When she posted to support Beyoncé in 2020, people were so distracted by her weight loss that they almost missed how radiant her bare skin looked.
- The Wine and Dog Snap: There’s a famous photo of her in Vancouver, just sitting with her dog Louie and a glass of white wine. No liner. No lashes. Just vibes.
Does her skin look different after the weight loss?
There was a lot of talk around 2024 and 2025 about how her face changed after she lost roughly 100 pounds. When you lose a significant amount of weight, you often lose volume in your face. This can make the skin look "tired" or more prone to showing fine lines.
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But Adele seems to have dodged the "gaunt" look. How?
During a "Get Ready With Me" video with YouTuber NikkieTutorials, she actually spilled some tea on her day-to-day routine. She’s obsessed with the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. She basically calls it her "glowy thing." She’ll just slap that on her face and head out.
She also prioritizes hydration—which sounds like a cliché until you realize she used to drink ten cups of tea a day with two sugars in each. Cutting that out and replacing it with actual water did wonders for her skin's elasticity.
The "Real" Adele vs. the "Stage" Adele
There is a psychological gap here. Adele has been very open about her stage fright. She’s joked about how she sometimes feels like she’s "performing" as Adele. The makeup is her armor.
When she’s at home in London or LA, she’s not doing a 45-minute winged liner. She’s just a mum. She’s said in interviews that she doesn't want her son, Angelo, to only see the "polished" version of her. She wants him to know the person underneath the lashes.
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Honestly, that’s the most "expert" beauty advice she’s ever given.
How to get the "No-Makeup" Adele Glow
If you want to mimic her off-duty look, you don't need a professional artist. You just need a few specific things:
- Focus on Prep: She uses Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré. It’s a French pharmacy staple that plumps the skin before you even touch a concealer.
- The "Glow" Step: Use a complexion booster (like the Tilbury one) instead of a heavy foundation.
- Brows Matter: Even without makeup, Adele’s brows are always groomed. A simple clear gel keeps them in place without looking "done."
- Embrace the Imperfection: The whole point of the Adele with and without makeup conversation is that both versions are valid.
What we can learn from her face
Adele is 37 now. She’s aging in the public eye, and she’s doing it with a weirdly refreshing amount of honesty. She isn't trying to pretend she woke up with a perfect cat-eye. She shows us the work it takes to get there, and she shows us what happens when the work is over.
Next time you see a "shocking" photo of her without her signature look, remember: she’s the one who posted half of them. She isn't hiding. And in an industry built on hiding, that’s probably her most impressive feat.
Actionable Insights for Your Beauty Routine:
- Invest in a high-quality cream primer: If you want your skin to look good without foundation, you need a base that locks in moisture.
- Learn your eye shape: Adele’s liner works because Michael Ashton tailors the "flick" to her specific 45-degree eye angle.
- Balance is key: If you’re going heavy on the eyes, keep the skin dewy and the lips neutral to avoid looking "mask-like."
- Don't fear the bare face: Skin needs to breathe. Following Adele’s lead and going 100% product-free on your off days can actually help reduce inflammation and breakouts.
Check your current skincare lineup for products containing glycerin or squalane; these are the "secret" ingredients Adele's favorite products use to maintain that dewy, bounce-back texture even during long flights or late-night recording sessions.