Almost two years into her decision to no longer wear makeup in public as part of her journey toward self-empowerment, Alicia Keys is still going strong — and still slaying literally every red carpet she walks. Sunday night's 2018 Grammy Awards were no exception: The "Girl on Fire" didn't wear a drop of makeup as she posed for photos on the red carpet and presented an award during the show, and her skin looked more glowing than we could ever imagine.
Keys, who has won more than a dozen Grammys for her work, walked Sunday's red carpet with husband Swizz Beatz wearing a black long-sleeve top with a plunging V-neck, sheer sides, and geometric cutouts. She tucked the top into high-waisted black velvet pants and accessorized with dangling silver and black hoops. She wore her hair in two tight braids separated into small sections with black zip ties and appeared to wear nothing but a good moisturizer, a little lip gloss, and some brow gel — essentially, your fresh-faced weekend go-to look, but elevated.
The 37-year-old explained her decision to stop wearing makeup on red carpets, at concerts, on the cover of Allure, and during tapings of The Voice in early 2016. "I hope to God it's a revolution," she wrote of her #nomakeup pledge in a May 2016 essay for Lenny Letter. "'Cause 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."
Later in 2016, Keys's (no-)makeup artist Dotti spoke to W about what gives the singer her incredible glow. "Alicia gets regular facials, does acupuncture, and she eats healthy and exercises," Dotti said. "She knows you have to invest internally for your skin to look great externally. It's also about how you process your energy. She comes from a very strong place and she comes from a very kind place. That in itself is super important. But it's about the choices she's making and the products she's using. It's the work of a good team."
Beyond a good attitude and healthy regimen, Dotti revealed that she often preps Keys's beautiful skin with a combination of an ice-cold jade roller, cucumber pulp, natural oils, and the occasional mask. She also clarified that "no makeup" doesn't necessarily mean "product-free": Dotti said she sometimes enhances Keys's eyebrows with individual lashes, plays up her freckles with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer, brightens her cheeks with Vita Liberata Self Tanning Anti-Age Serum, and cuts shine with Mally Ever Colour Poreless Face Definer Mattifier — but other than that, it's all Alicia.
Read more stories about the Grammys:
- Stars Wearing White Roses at the 2018 Grammy Awards to Support Time's Up Initiative
- Rihanna's Hairstylist Spills the Details of Her Look
- The Best Hair and Makeup Looks on the 2018 Grammys Red Carpet
Now, learn how to win Instagram with Justine Skye:
