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- Gen Z is ditching makeup on first dates to prioritize authenticity and ease dating anxiety, favoring realness over aesthetic perfection.
- Beauty routines are shifting toward minimalism, with “ghost lashes” and skincare taking center stage in place of heavy glam.
- This no-makeup trend highlights confidence, emotional self-awareness, and a desire to build genuine connections from the first moment.
Barefaced & Bold: Why Gen Z Is Ditching Makeup on First Dates
Gone are the days when first dates meant spending an hour perfecting your eyeliner or debating which lipstick screams “effortlessly hot.” Gen Z is rewriting the dating rules, and the hottest trend isn’t a new makeup look—it’s no makeup at all.
Yep, showing up barefaced is the new power move.
This isn’t just about saving time or skipping Sephora. It’s about confidence, realness, and dropping the filter IRL. A growing number of young women are heading into first dates makeup-free, not because they “don’t care,” but because they care differently. They care about authenticity, mutual vibes, and showing up as their truest selves.
Stripping Off the Pressure
Let’s be real, prepping for a date can feel like getting ready for a performance. The right outfit, the right pose, the right contour. But Gen Z? We’re done performing.
According to a recent NY Post feature, young women are skipping the glam intentionally—to dial down the pressure and anxiety that can come with trying to impress someone new. The logic is simple: if you show up fully yourself and they vibe with that, you’re already winning. If they don’t? Bye.
It's not laziness—it’s emotional clarity.
No Filter Needed
Social media made filters a default, but it also made us crave what’s real. Gen Z grew up seeing perfectly airbrushed faces 24/7, and guess what? We’re over it. The no-makeup first date trend taps into that deep desire for connection over presentation.
Wearing a bare face on a first date is like saying, “This is me, as I am.” It’s a bold, unspoken challenge to surface-level expectations, and for many, it’s a statement of self-worth.
Plus, when you’re not focused on smudged eyeliner or how shiny your forehead is under the café lights, you can actually focus on the person across from you.
The Ghost Lash Aesthetic
This vibe isn’t about abandoning beauty—it’s about redefining it. Vogue and InStyle have been clocking trends like “ghost lashes,” where mascara’s skipped altogether in favor of naturally fluttery lashes and dewy skin. Think clean, breathable, and barely-there—more “woke up like this,” less “red carpet-ready.”
It’s the beauty equivalent of choosing comfort over corsets, or sneakers over stilettos. Empowering and freeing.
Goodbye Glam Routine, Hello Self-Love
Let’s talk skincare. While some are stepping back from full glam, many are leaning into skincare routines that prioritize health over hiding. Cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen—done. The goal? Glowing, happy skin, not masking perceived imperfections.
And the emotional perks? Huge. Focusing on skin health and self-care promotes a deeper kind of self-love. It's about showing up to the date feeling good in your own skin—literally.
Dates That Match the Energy
It’s not just the looks that are changing—Gen Z is reshaping the whole first date vibe. Gone are the fancy dinner expectations. Now it’s coffee walks, used bookstore browsing, hikes, or grabbing boba while talking about attachment styles.
These dates don’t need high heels or heavy foundation. They call for eye contact, shared laughter, and real convos. And showing up makeup-free just fits better.
It's Giving Main Character Energy
Skipping makeup on a date doesn’t mean you’re not trying—it means you’re trying to connect, not just impress. It says, “I like myself enough to let you see me as I am.” That’s hot.
It’s also deeply Gen Z. We’re a generation built on calling out BS, lifting mental health convos, and choosing substance over flash. This trend is just another way we’re putting that into practice.
My Take
As someone who used to panic over winged eyeliner symmetry before every first date, going barefaced was a game-changer. Not because I suddenly didn’t care, but because I stopped feeling like I had to curate myself to be dateable.
The first time I showed up with no makeup, I was low-key terrified. But instead of obsessing over my face, I paid more attention—to his stories, the vibe, the actual chemistry. I left that date feeling more in control, more authentic, and honestly… more attractive.
And spoiler: he texted me an hour later.
Stay tuned to Woke Waves Magazine for more stories that get under the surface of how Gen Z is loving, living, and showing up unapologetically.
#NoMakeupDates #GenZDating #AuthenticityMatters #GhostLashes #BarefacedConfidence
