Hallmark's Leading Ladies Are Stunning Without Makeup

Hallmark's leading ladies wear a lot of makeup in the channel's movies. Even when their characters are supposed to look bare faced (or close to it), in reality, the actors still have a full face of cosmetics to avoid looking washed out or tired amid the intense studio lights. Amongst all the relationship red flags in Hallmark movies, fans have noticed the characters' supposed no makeup looks aren't exactly accurate. "...It would be nice to see the ladies of hallmark wake up from a nights sleep, not in full make up and lipstick and perfect hair. Let's keep it real and relatable," one viewer wrote in a Facebook Hallmark movie fan group. Another fan responded, "True, no one wakes up from sleeping all night looking like a model, with makeup and lipstick on and hair perfect." But while Hallmark may not always keep it real on-screen, its leading ladies do off it.

Several of the channel's biggest stars, including Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reeser, and Bethany Joy Lenz, have proudly showed off their au naturel faces across social media. Not only are they totally stunning without makeup, but many of the network's most notable names have also shared poignant takes about the importance of embracing natural beauty (though there's nothing wrong with enjoying wearing makeup too, of course). And their inspiring no-makeup photos only make them more gorgeous in our eyes.

Lacey Chabert wrote a touching, lengthy blog post about confidence and makeup in 2012. "I truly enjoy playing in this world and I love the glamorous side of my job. Being all dolled up for a shoot can be really fun, but it's not how I look when I wake up in the morning!" she wrote, alongside a makeup-free photo. The star explained she was apprehensive about ditching the cosmetics and showing the world what she really looks like when she's not on-screen, but noted, "I do think it's important to say that we all look different without makeup and hair extensions. There's nothing wrong with you. You're beautiful just the way you are."

That wasn't the only time the star of Hallmark movies including "Family for Christmas" and "Love, Romance & Chocolate" went au naturel online, either. She also appeared to with a bare face in an adorable Instagram selfie with her baby daughter (the Hallmark star's real life partner David Nehdar is the father of her child) when she was just three months old. Chabert had clear skin and piercing eyes despite not wearing heavy, full-coverage foundation or fluttery faux lashes, proving even a lack of sleep and busy life as a new mom couldn't stop her from glowing.

When Kimberly Williams-Paisley isn't appearing in Hallmark movies like "Sister Swap: A Smalltown Holiday" and "The Christmas Train," she often sports a more natural look. And Williams-Paisley is almost unrecognizable going makeup-free. In one hilarious Instagram photo from the 2024, the star posed sans cosmetics with a tissue in her ears as she joked about her husband Brad Paisley making too much noise. The star didn't appear to be wearing a drop of foundation, yet her skin was still smooth and even with no obvious dark spots or blemishes. Her brunette brows were full too.

The star's secret to looking so good? Keeping things natural. Williams-Paisley told New You in 2014 she hadn't gotten any of the multiple types of facial filler (some of which can't be dissolved). "Your face is a reflection on the life you have lived," she explained. "It's not because of some strong sense of self that I haven't done it; I think it might be more that I'm afraid of putting chemicals and fillers into my forehead. Just eat a healthy diet, get lots of sleep, and drink lots of water," she added. And that beauty mantra clearly working for her.

Autumn Reeser is no stranger to getting glam on the red carpet. Off it though, she's happy to let her natural beauty show. In 2025, the actor shared a gorgeous no-makeup photo with her Instagram followers while enjoying California's great outdoors. In the selfie, Reeser's dark lashes were still visible without mascara or falsies, her pink undertone skin was blemish-free, and her eyebrows were fluffy, framing her face in an understated way. "Autumn you always look so beautiful," one fan commented. "Beautiful photo," another wrote. That wasn't the only time she glowed without cosmetics online though, as she shared another breathtaking bare faced Instagram photo in 2019.

The star has also boldly gone almost makeup-free on screen. In 2015, she appeared in Hallmark's "A Country Wedding" and told Parade she appreciated the change of pace from the heavily made up characters she often plays. "It was a really, for me, [an] important time in my life to be filming this movie because so often I play these very glamorous characters," she said. "...But this movie came at a really good time for me, because I'm not wearing much makeup ... And it was just a really positive reminder of some of the things that I wanted to add more into my life," the Hallmark regular added.

Tamera Mowry has been in the spotlight since she was young. But even though she's spent almost her whole life getting gussied up and walking the red carpet, she still knows the importance of letting her skin breathe every now and then. The "Scouting for Christmas," "Christmas Comes Twice," and "Girlfriendship" actor has been vocal with fans about enjoying her no makeup moments. "Something very freeing about being vulnerable and my natural self without all the makeup," she wrote on Facebook in 2017. Mowry also shared a breathtaking selfie with her bare skin on show, giving us a glimpse at her gorgeous freckles, long lashes, and perfectly manicured eyebrows. Tia Mowry's equally famous twin also had smooth skin and full lips, which were the most stunning shade of crimson.

The actor's fans full of praise in the comments. "Without makeup & your natural hair I swear you look like a teenager without a care in the world. Keep doing what cha doin cause it's working," one fan commented. "OMG Tamera how Beautiful u look Without all the makeup," another wrote.

Luckily for us, she's no gatekeeper over the products that keep her looking so young. Mowry told New Beauty in 2017 she uses iS Clinical Cleansing Complex and Shani Darden's reSURFACE Retinol Reform. She also knows to keep sunscreen to hand (SPF is important even in the winter, remember!) and also uses coconut oil, which can have so many different uses in a beauty routine.

In 2019, Alison Sweeney showed us what she looks like when working out in a Facebook photo. And this smart lady knows her skin will thank her for not wearing makeup to the gym. The "Hannah Swensen Mystery" and "The Wedding Veil Journey" actor let her skin breath as she worked up a sweat, giving us a glimpse at her beautiful freckles and healthy complexion. Though she appeared to have a tiny smudge of eyeliner left under her eyes (it's important to take makeup off properly, but we've all been there) Sweeney had her blond hair pulled back and wore a black headband, which gave us a better look at her naked skin, hydrated lips, and gorgeous blue eyes. "You look amazing and such an inspiration to many of you who have love you through the years," one commenter wrote on her cosmetics-free photo.

Sweeney has an inspirational beauty mantra when she's wearing makeup, which she shared with Beauty In The Bag in 2016. "Less is more. The biggest lesson I have learned is that you don't need a lot of makeup to look your best. I put on mascara and lipstick, and I am out of there," she said. The actor also knows how vital good skincare is. "I have a sunscreen that I always keep in my bag. It is always important to have sunscreen, but even more so in L.A.," she told Parade. "I also always have Aquaphor in my purse. It is a triple duty product that I use as a lip balm or even on my hands if they get dry," Sweeney added, seemingly referring to the Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick.

Julie Gonzalo is another Hallmark star who regularly embraces a less-is-more approach to makeup. She often wears minimal-to-no cosmetics on Instagram, which marks a stark contrast to some of her glam characters like Maddie in "The Sweetest Heart" or Harper in "A Novel Noel." In one dressed down selfie, the talented star posed in her car while her dog rested on her shoulder. We can see why she doesn't spend a ton of her free time applying makeup, because she's just as pretty without it. Her clear skin radiated in the snap and she didn't have so much as a little darkness under her eyes or hyperpigmentation. Instead, her complexion appeared smooth and hydrated and she still had the same youthful glow as when she appeared in the likes of "Freaky Friday" and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story."

Gonzalo has been open about preferring a simpler approach to makeup and life in general, as she chose to strip things back for her 34th birthday in 2015. The star posted a selfie on Instagram to celebrate her big day alongside the caption, "I spent my birthday in nature. With no reception, no wifi, no makeup, no interruptions."

Bethany Joy Lenz is another Hallmark star who's been inspiringly outspoken about her beauty coming from within rather than her makeup bag. She got very candid on Instagram in 2018 alongside a close-up photo of her face without cosmetics, writing, "I have soaked up days in the sun, I've had terrible luck growing out those ever-popular boyfriend eyebrows, I've been through enough to give me wrinkles, but most of my wrinkles are from smiling and laughing." Lenz also opened up about her experience with low self-esteem and encouraged her followers to share their own unfiltered and un-retouched photos to celebrate their natural beauty.

That wasn't the only time she showed us how stunning she still is under her makeup. The "An Unexpected Christmas," "Just My Type," and "Bottled With Love" actor also appeared to be without the likes of foundation and mascara in a 2020 Facebook video as she spoke about removing Confederate monuments. Lenz's skin glowed and her cheeks were naturally slush as she spoke candidly while outdoors and her lips appeared plump without the aid of a lip plumping gloss, lip liner, or lipstick.

Jodie Sweetin rang in 2022 looking cozy, casual, and natural. The actor, who's appeared in multiple Hallmark movies (including "The Heiress and the Handyman" and "Finding Santa") looked gorgeous in a no-makeup Facebook photo that showed us how well her shaped eyebrows framed her face without the aid of a brow pencil or pomade. Her lips appeared full and hydrated, while the slight darkness the former "Full House" star had under her eyes only made her more relatable.

Sweetin has credited staying hydrated for her youthful-looking skin. "I finally said, 'You know, maybe I should start drinking more water. My skin cleared up! Which is huge, because I was having crazy-weird cystic acne, all this stuff. But just with drinking water, with taking probiotics, with taking vitamins, I've noticed such a difference!" she told New Beauty. Though how much water we need depends on a range of factors, Harvard Medical School recommends the average man drink around 15.5 cups per day, while the average woman women should aim for 11.5 cups.

Danica McKellar is truly just like us. In 2018, the actor shared an Instagram snap of herself gearing up for a cozy, festive movie binge. "THIS: No makeup, feet up, Hallmark movies ON!" she wrote. The accompanying photo showed her face was glowing without her makeup, and the "Christmas At Dollywood" and "Love In Design" actor looked years younger than her age (she was 42 at the time!) McKellar's smooth skin had a radiant, youthful shine and the dark brown in her eyes was still vibrant even without creating dimension with eyeshadow or eyeliner. "My god how much natural beauty," one Instagram user commented.

This confident beauty has shared various equally striking no makeup photos since then. One of her most notable came when she decided not to dip into her makeup bag before taking a jaw-dropping Instagram selfie to celebrate her 50th birthday. "#nofilter #nomakeup #ThisIs50," she wrote.

Alicia Witt is used to getting glam for her Hallmark movie roles, which include appearances in "Our Christmas Love Song," "The Mistletoe Inn," and "Christmas at Cartwright's," but she's more likely to tone things down in real life. In her book, "Small Changes: A Rules-Free Guide to Add More Plant-Based Foods, Peace, and Power to Your Life," the star wrote about how her perspective on beauty changed after experiencing a lip injury. "I very much bought into the idea that as a female actor, your looks were synonymous with your career," she wrote (via E! News). "From that moment on, I've thought about beauty differently. My scar has become one of my favorite features. It healed so well it's visible only at certain angles or up close. I've always appreciated those who have looked at me deeply enough to notice it and ask me about it," she added.

With that in mind, it makes sense why Witt has proudly posed on Instagram without any makeup to camouflage her scar. In 2025, she shared a series of beautiful selfies while on an airplane, proving she doesn't need to be all made up to look her best. The star's lashes were noticeably lighter than when she wears mascara, but her cheeks had a beautiful natural flush that brought some color to her complexion, which was sans dry skin or obvious blackheads. Her lips were also a natural deep pink that looked beautiful against her vibrant, red hair and fair skin.

In 2025, Holly Robinson Peete looked stunning in an Instagram video alongside her husband Rodney Peet that revealed her glowing skin without a drop of makeup. Her face appeared to be void of imperfections like wrinkles or dark spots, with a shine that was so youthful looking it had fans doing a double take. Although the actor wasn't wearing the faux lashes she often sports on the red carpet nor the eyeliner she uses to make her eyes pop, it was clear she didn't need them to look fresh.

Two years earlier, the "Holiday Heritage" actor (who also had her own Hallmark reality show titled "Meet the Peetes") opened up to New Beauty about her radiant complexion. "My skin is hanging in there! I'm about to be 59, and what I always thought about 59-year-old skin when I was younger was that I would be covered in wrinkles. You think 59 is so old when you're in your 20s. But what I have found is that my skin has been really cooperative," she said, crediting exfoliating, facials, and steaming her face for helping her look years younger than her age.

Alexa PenaVega got very candid in a 2025 health update shared to her Instagram followers. Not only did the "A Paris Proposal" actor share she had a fibroid and endometriosis tissue removed, she also explained she'd been treated for a hernia. In the same upload, PenaVega showed fans what she looks like before she gets her glam on in a no-makeup selfie from her hospital bed. The star still looked confident despite her health issues. PenaVega's skin appeared tan and clear with  freckles across her face. Her eyebrows also stood out, as they were full, fluffy, and manicured.

The star's enviable complexion even during difficult times may be the result of her skincare. In a 2021 Facebook video, PenaVega told her followers she regularly uses the Teami Detox Face Mask. "I always use a Vitamin C serum right after to treat those pesky fine lines!" she added, sharing she follows that with sunscreen (though there's conflicting information about when sunscreen should be applied during our skincare routine).

Jessica Lowndes is one of Hallmark's most glamorous stars, both on and off-screen. As an actor, she's worn bridal glam multiple times (including in "Merry Matrimony" and "A December Bride") and on the red carpet, she loves a sultry red lip look. The former "90210" star told Cosmopolitan U.K. in 2013 that she enjoys doing her own makeup. "[...] It's a way of expressing myself and it's fun for me," she said. But that doesn't mean she isn't also passionate about encouraging other women to show their natural beauty.

Lowndes led the charge on the #TakeYourMakeupOffChallenge in 2016, which encouraged women to share photos or videos of themselves online without any cover-up or filters. "In the world of Facetune, filters and plastic surgery, it makes it that much harder for girls to embrace natural beauty and body goals. The challenge is a reminder that it's okay to be ourselves," she told Billboard. "It's not about cutting makeup out of your life. It's about living with the mind-set that it is an addition to your beauty," she added. 

For the inspiring campaign, Lowndes shared a music video that showed her removing her makeup. By the end of the clip, Lowndes revealed a flawless, healthy-looking complexion, full cheeks and lips, and long, dark lashes even without mascara. The actor didn't even have obvious blemishes or dark circles under her eyes as she flashed a smile. Much like her fellow Hallmark leading ladies without makeup, she looked totally stunning.