celebrity style

Beautiful Women, Bad Makeup

Most celebs wouldn't be caught dead without makeup, but in some cases, they may be better off bare-faced.

Christina Aguilera has proven that she is the red lip maven. But the pop singer didn't stick to the ultimate beauty rule of highlighting one feature when she hit the town in caked-on teal eyeshadow and smeared lipstick.

Click through to see more Hollywood stars who look better in less makeup.

Steve Granitz, WireImage | Anthony Visschedyk, PacificCoastNews

Most celebs wouldn't be caught dead without makeup, but in some cases, they may be better off bare-faced.

Pamela Anderson switched things up and went natural (well, with her makeup, anyway) at a recent Richie Rich press conference to announce their new clothing line Muse. We prefer Pam's youthful glow over her usual look - colorful, caked-on eyeshadow, blush and lipstick, that, after a certain age, can make an actress look more Flashdance extra than leading lady. Click through to see more Hollywood stars who look better in less makeup.

Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images | Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images

Cher made a rather ghostly appearance at an inaugural ball, where bright salmon and orange eye shadow turned her skin sallow - she looked a little too "Morticia Adams" for comfort! We prefer the singer in the makeup look on the left - fresh faced and fabulous.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Salma Hayek. With her jet-black hair and hazel eyes, the striking Mexican-born actress doesn't need much more than a little here and a little there to play up her heritage. But layer on the costumey red lipstick, the silver shadow and the mile-long lashes, and the star looks like she's trying too hard be in an Art Nouveau poster.

Tony Barson/WireImage

Katy Perry. OK, Katy, we know you're a girly-girl. But, honey, you're only 24, which means that now's the time to play up your fresh-faced sweetness. The too-blue shadow, bold black liner and overly-oranged cheeks age you. Even you look surprised.

Mike Marsland/WireImage

Carla Brunei. This is the woman who swept the president of France off his feet? Though Carla Brunei's appeal is obvious with her soft, understated makeup, she looks like a wood elf when she takes the scrub-faced look to extremes. Aren't world-famous models supposed to know how to put on makeup?

Anwar Hussein Collection/WireImage

Kylie Minogue. Though the Australian pop singer has churned through 1001 over-the-top costumes, she's at her best when she sticks to simple hair and natural makeup. Poufed, pulled and sporting green eyeshadow to match her Grecian gown, Kylie is, well, an Impossible Princess.

James Devaney/WireImage

Catherine Zeta-Jones
No one likes letting go of sun-kissed summer skin, but heaping on bronzer is never the answer. The Welsh beauty is at her best when she plays up her Snow White complexion.

Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage.com

Selma Blair. Though actress Salma Blair is a real style chameleon, she's at her best when she plays up her funky elegance. Swipe on deep plum shadow and dark orange lips, and the impish actress seems to be working overtime to prove she's not her disarrayed sitcom character, Kim Craig.

Theo Wargo/WireImage.com

Kristen Bell. The Michigan-born actress has one of those, healthy mid-Western complexions that seems to need little more than sunshine and a bit of lip gloss to glow. But the star's green shadow and darker foundation makes her look like the rest of us city girls who spend too much time indoors.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage