Isabela Merced No Makeup: The Truth About Her Natural Glow

Isabela Merced is basically everywhere right now. If you haven't seen her as Dina in The Last of Us Season 2 or flying around as Hawkgirl in the new Superman flick, you might’ve caught her in Alien: Romulus. She’s Hollywood’s new "it" girl. But while she looks incredible in red-carpet glam, people are getting obsessed with something else: Isabela Merced no makeup photos.

It’s refreshing.

✨ Don't miss: Is Dua Lipa Albanian? What Most People Get Wrong

Most stars hide behind filters or a full face of "no-makeup makeup" (you know, the kind that actually takes two hours and forty products). Isabela? She’s a bit different. She’s been surprisingly open about her skin struggles, her 10-minute morning routine, and why she sometimes just lets her face breathe. Honestly, in an era of AI-perfected faces, her approach to natural beauty is a breath of fresh air.

The "Real" Isabela: Breaking Down the Natural Look

Let's get one thing straight. When we talk about Isabela Merced no makeup, we aren't just talking about a lucky genetic lottery—though, let's be real, she definitely won that. We’re talking about a 24-year-old actress who spends half her life in heavy prosthetic makeup or gritty, "post-apocalyptic" grime for her roles.

In The Last of Us, her character Dina doesn't exactly have access to a Sephora. To look authentic in a zombie apocalypse, the makeup team actually has to strip things back. They use minimal coverage to let her real skin texture show through. You can see her actual pores. You see the slight puffiness under the eyes from long shooting days. It makes her more human.

Offline, she’s just as transparent. Whether she's posting a "get ready with me" video or a casual beach photo, she doesn't seem to care about being "perfect" every second.

Why the Internet Is Obsessed With Her Bare Face

People are tired of the "Instagram face." You know the one—the generic, over-filled, blurred-to-oblivion look.

Isabela Merced represents a shift back to character. She has a rounder face shape, which she’s mentioned she used to be self-conscious about until she worked on the film Rosaline in Italy. The makeup artists there loved her "Renaissance" features. They didn't try to contour her into a different person. They leaned into the soft, natural curves of her face.

That confidence carries over into her personal life. When she posts a photo without a stitch of foundation, she isn't doing it for "engagement." It feels like she's just living her life.

Her Actual Skincare Routine (It’s Not That Complicated)

If you're looking for a 20-step Korean skincare ritual here, you’ll be disappointed. Isabela has been vocal about keeping things functional. She’s dealt with anxiety-related skin issues in the past, so she knows that piling on products usually just makes things worse.

• Hydration is the Big One: She’s mentioned that traveling for press tours absolutely wrecks her skin. Her go-to? Face masks on the plane. She’s a fan of the Loops masks (Cami Mendes sent them to her—talk about a solid friendship perk).
• The "Double Serum" Approach: She’s been known to use a Vitamin C serum in the morning for that glow and a Retinol or Hyaluronic acid at night.
• The "Secret" Brow Weapon: This is the funniest part. She doesn't wax. She doesn't thread. She basically just leaves her eyebrows alone, only tweezing stray hairs. She uses a simple brow glue (or even hair gel) to keep them thick and bushy.

It’s a low-maintenance vibe that actually works for someone who is constantly on the move.

Handling the Pressure of the Spotlight

Being a young woman in Hollywood is tough. Being a young woman of Peruvian-American heritage adds another layer of public scrutiny. Isabela has talked about the "face card" comments she gets on Instagram, but she’s also been real about her mental health.

She studied psychology for a couple of years. She understands how the brain works—and how the cycle of "perfectionism" on social media can mess with your head.

📖 Related: What Really Happened With Kim Kardashian's Ex-Husbands

"I think self-care is one of the most underrated things in the world... it's sacred. You are entitled to your own spaces."

This mindset is exactly why she isn't afraid to show up on a Zoom interview or a casual TikTok with messy hair and zero concealer. She’s setting a boundary. She’s saying, "My face is my work tool, but it’s also just my face."

The Evolution of the "No Makeup" Trend in 2026

We’ve moved past the era where "no makeup" was a calculated PR move. Now, it’s about authenticity.

When you see Isabela Merced no makeup, you’re seeing a professional who knows when to turn it on and when to turn it off. For her role in Superman as Hawkgirl, she had to undergo intense physical training. When you're doing stunts and sweat is pouring down your face, makeup is the last thing on your mind.

She’s part of a new generation of actors—alongside people like Florence Pugh and Zendaya—who are reclaiming their natural looks. They aren't afraid of a blemish or a dark circle.

💡 You might also like: Bella Hadid Cannes 2024: What Really Happened with the Wardrobe That Broke the Internet

How to Get That Isabela Merced Glow (Without a Stylist)

If you want to mimic her natural look, you don't need a massive budget.

1. Prioritize Moisture: Skin only looks "glowy" without makeup if it's genuinely hydrated.
2. Focus on the Brows: As Isabela says, "I never leave the house without my eyebrows done." A little gel goes a long way.
3. Sunscreen is Non-Negotiable: Living in LA and filming on location means she has to protect her skin. A tinted SPF is usually her "cheating" version of no makeup.
4. Accept Your Features: Stop trying to contour your face into someone else's. If you have a round face, embrace it. If you have "doe eyes," play them up.

The Verdict on Natural Beauty

Honestly, the fascination with Isabela Merced no makeup isn't just about her being pretty. It’s about her being real.

In a world of deepfakes and heavy filters, seeing a major movie star look like a normal human being is comforting. It reminds us that the "glam" is a costume. Beneath the Dior and the Armani Beauty products, she’s just a 24-year-old trying to balance a massive career with her own well-being.

Next time you're scrolling through her feed, look past the red carpet shots. Look at the grainy, low-light selfies. That’s where the real Isabela is.

What you can do now: Audit your own skincare routine. Are you using products because you need them, or because a TikTok trend told you to? Like Isabela, try stripping back to just the essentials—cleanser, hydration, and SPF—for a week and see how your skin actually reacts. Focus on your skin's health rather than its "perfection," and you might find that you don't need as much coverage as you thought.