Burley Garcia|Pamela Anderson stepped out in makeup at the Met Gala. Here's why it's a big deal.

Pamela Anderson made headlines when she was photographed at Paris Fashion Week last year without makeup,Burley Garcia and she has continued to make public appearances with a fresh face ever since. At Monday's Met Gala, Anderson opted to step out with makeup, done by celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath, though her look was decidedly more natural than many stars who walked the carpet.

Anderson, in October, made the choice to ditch makeup for herself, noting it wasn't to make a "political" statement.

"I would come back from the shows wearing all these clothes and a big funny hat and everything and there were all these paparazzi, and then I went in one door and changed into my jeans and T-shirt and no makeup and walked out the door right through the same crowd that had been chasing me and no one noticed," she told Allure.

She later added to Vogue France she hopes that she can help model the multitude of ways women can express themselves. "I'm not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room," she said. "I feel like it's just freedom. It's a relief."

Experts note that when big name celebs, like Anderson, show off their natural looks, it can inspire women to embrace their beauty as they age.

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'Men seem to thrive more when they age' and 'it should be the same for women'

Anderson's not the only public figure who's embraced a natural look recently. In August 2020, Kelly Ripa poked fun at her gray roots, and, in March 2021, Katie Couric went makeup-free for a People magazine spread, saying the experience made her feel "liberated and vulnerable." Justine Bateman opened up in April 2023 to "60 Minutes Australia" that she thinks she looks "rad" aging naturally, despite online commentary over her looks.

"Men seem to thrive more when they age," Susan Yara, founder of Naturium Skincare and the YouTube channel Mixed Makeup, previously told USA TODAY. "It should be the same for women. We’re more confident and self-assured, and we bring wisdom that you can only get with age."

Cassandra Bankson, a medical esthetician and YouTube skin care personality, added "being able to age is a privilege" and "we should embrace how our skin takes care of us and the stories it tells."

Tips on how to embrace your natural look

If you have complicated feelings about seeing yourself without makeup or showing signs of getting older, experts offer the following guidance:

• Curate your social media: Dr. Michael Keyes, a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Louisville, encourages people to follow influencers who post unfiltered and raw photos. He added it's important to keep in mind that celebrities "often use filters and photo editing apps to minimize skin discoloration, wrinkles and extra fat in unwanted places. It's important from a wellness standpoint to recognize what's real and what's not."
• Adjust your makeup routine: Aging is inevitable, but you can still take steps to look and feel good. Dr. Heidi Goodarzi, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology, suggested replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen for a wash of glow that won't conceal your natural features.
• Be kind to yourself: Yara reminds us that as we age, we should be proud of our bodies for the experiences it has gone through. "My confidence is truly my secret weapon, and I gained it through years of experience and becoming comfortable with myself," she said.