This is not a drill: The Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival 2019 is taking place this week and we’re fully prepared to push our way to the front of the crowd to see the legend that is Alicia Keys in action.
If you know anything about the ‘Girl on Fire’ singer, you know that she’s never been one to shy away from the spotlight as a bare-faced beauty. In-fact, she’s a firm believer in all things raw and natural through empowering women to embrace their inner beauty, by stepping away frrom heavy make-up, airbrushing and photoshop.
We have to say, it takes a brave woman to do this and this 38-year old American songstress does it with ease and oh so much flair. But what sparked this love for the #NoMakeup trend within her?
When did it start?
She began this daring venture back in 2016 when she had a photoshoot to promote her new album, ‘Here’. It was then she debuted her flawless, glow-y skin, sans-make-up and that’s what set off the inspired notion to embrace organic beauty.
Here she is sporting her makeup-free skin on the cover of Vanity Fair, and her husband Swiss Beatz, is nothing but supporting and loving:
Why did she stop wearing makeup?
The singer claimed in a letter she wrote for a feminist forum that going make-up-free in the photoshoot was “the strongest, most empowered, most-free and, most honestly beautiful” that she’s ever felt.
She continued:
Worried about losing herself behind the layers of make-up we, Keys decided that the girl beneath the make-up was worth showing the world and she said:
“I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”
Does Alicia Keys ever wear make-up?
Contrary to popular belief, the singer is not anti-make-up. She does wear it, but believes make-up should be viewed as a tool to help you ENHANCE your beauty, rather than to cover up.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with make-up or no make-up. It has to do with who are you, what makes you feel good, how do you want to express that and even just asking the questions — what do I feel? how do I feel good? However that is, you should do it,” Alicia said during a 2016 Grammy’s press conference.
“I love my lip gloss, I love my blush, I love my eyeliner. It’s not about that. At the same time, I don’t want to feel beholden — to have to do it,” she also shared during a Today show segment in the US
15-time Grammy-winning singer and New York Times best-selling author for her book, Tears of Water, is an inspiration to us all and maybe we could all afford to take a page out of her book (so to speak).
Feeling Inspired? Here Are Some Beauty Products Aimed To Give You That All-Natural Fresh-faced Look:
1. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil, Dhs210
Give your skin the TLC it deserves and get that dewy, glowy skin with this delight of a primer.
2. NYX Professional Total Control Drop Foundation, Dhs62
This foundation is super light-weight with natural coverage and once applied, feels exactly like skin. No more will you have to rock the dreaded cake face.
3. Benefit High Brow Glow, Dhs110
Apply this product under your eyebrow arches and in the waterline of your eyes for a fresh-faced, woke look.
4. Too Faced Natural Face Pallete, Dhs195
The subtle shades in this palette are all you need in order to nail that that barefaced, no-make-up look.
5. Nars Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer, Dhs215
Apply this light-weight powder for a sheer, sun-kissed look.
The Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival 2019 is taking place at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, 20-22 February. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, we suggest you get a move on and snatch them up pronto, from here.