Every Time Taylor Swift Has Appeared Makeup-Free
Taylor Swift is turning heads in 2026 thanks to her latest clip showing her recording while makeup-free. The pop queen is known for her signature red lipstick and precise black cat-eye winged eyeliner. However, she’s not afraid to go bare-faced for her fans — and it’s not the first time. Here are other moments when Swift appeared without makeup.
Taylor Swift went makeup-free in ‘Miss Americana’ and ‘The End of an Era’ docuseries
In the 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana, Taylor Swift offered fans one of the most unfiltered glimpses of her life and creative process to date. Rather than always appearing with her signature full glam, the film includes moments when Swift is seen without heavy makeup. These raw visual moments, such as Swift in casual attire during late-night songwriting sessions or interviews, show the pop queen as vulnerable and human.
Director Lana Wilson and her team captured Swift in environments where the singer was focused on her craft, not her presentation. This gave viewers a rare view of her natural state.
Additionally, Swift appeared makeup-free in The End of an Era docuseries in 2025, which had fans swooning.
The pop queen embraced a natural look during her ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’ eras
During the Folklore and Evermore eras in 2020, Swift embraced a markedly more natural and pared-down aesthetic. And it matched the introspective, cottagecore tone of both albums. Unlike earlier eras dominated by signature red lips and polished glam, this period featured imagery of Swift with minimal makeup, often styled in relaxed, humanizing ways. For the Folklore album cover and associated visuals, she did her own hair and makeup for the shoot. She recounted how her look was not professionally done due to lockdown limitations. As a result, Swift embraced casual braids and low-key looks, reflecting the project’s craftsmanlike vibe.
Beyond the album cover, the broader Folklore promotional aesthetic leaned into softness and authenticity. This stylistic choice wasn’t just about minimal makeup. It helped visually reinforce the albums’ themes of storytelling and introspection.
Taylor Swift has gone fresh-faced on Instagram more than once
Across her social media presence, Swift has occasionally delighted fans by sharing candid, makeup-free selfies and behind-the-scenes clips. In February 2026, she marked a major milestone, as her single “Opalite” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. She shared a series of Instagram posts and videos from the recording studio. And she looks fresh-faced while bearing her natural curls.
Beyond the recent post, Swift has previously shared other makeup-free snapshots on Instagram. These included casual images with her beloved cats or relaxed moments during album promotion. In late April 2020, she posted a fresh-faced selfie to Instagram with minimal or no visible makeup alongside a casual caption reflecting the isolation of quarantine. “Not a lot going on at the moment,” she wrote.
The ‘Opalite’ singer has been spotted in public without makeup several times in the past
In addition to sharing behind-the-scenes clips from her studio sessions, Swift has also been spotted publicly with little to no makeup, offering fans glimpses of her natural look outside of staged performances. Over the years, Swift has been photographed by paparazzi during casual public outings, such as running errands or heading to the gym in Los Angeles. Her hair is often pulled back, and she has minimal or no makeup visible.
Several photos of a nearly makeup-free Swift were posted to Reddit in the mid-2010s. In one photo, fans pointed out that Swift was clearly wearing lipstick. And others believe that the singer has just perfected the “no-makeup makeup” look, making her appear natural even if she’s wearing light blush and mascara.
Taylor Swift has discussed her ‘basic’ makeup before
Over a decade ago, Taylor Swift discussed her easy, go-to makeup routine.
“The makeup that I use is all different, it all depends on what I have with me and how much time I want to spend on it,” she told Teen Vogue in November 2008. “Usually, I don’t want to spend that much time on it. My basic thing that I do is MAC studio tech, NW20, I think, is the color that my skin is right now. I use black gel liner, it comes in, like, a container like this with a brush, it’s like foolproof, you can’t mess it up, that’s why I like it.”
Swift added that she’s “not a lip-gloss girl” because her hair constantly gets stuck to her mouth. “I’m more of a nude lip-liner kind of girl,” she said.
