I could have sworn that Gwen Stefani was just recently the cover girl for InStyle, but I must have hallucinated that. She’s the magazine’s November cover girl, and surprisingly enough, I kind of love the photo shoot. Usually I find InStyle’s shoots too airbrushed and not really that stylish, but Gwen looks great here. As I was looking through the photos, I realized how crazy it is that she’s 42. She’s looked the same for more than a decade, and I think she could easily pass for a woman in her late 20s. Maybe it’s all of the makeup. Maybe it’s her youthful spirit. Maybe it’s just great genes. Here are some highlights from the interview:
Gwen on being a mom: “Being a mother is probably the most challenging thing I do.”
Gwen on finding balance: “At work I’ve learned how to delegate. You don’t have to be on a ladder in a warehouse, micromanaging. You can be at home. And teamwork is also such a big part of marriage and parenting.”
On making time for her sons: “The thing I’d like to do is enjoy these boys while they’re young – so I don’t regret I was working too much when they’re big and don’t want to cuddle with me anymore.”
Her trademark blonde: “My hair color is L’Oréal, but I won’t reveal the number. And I do my roots as often as Marilyn Monroe did hers. I’m serious. I found out.”
The one time she went red: “Right after we came home from the first No Doubt tour I felt like I might get recognized, so I colored my hair red. And I hated it.”
Her makeup: “The makeup goes on every day, even if I’m not going anywhere.”
[From InStyle]
I always find it interesting that Gwen is so old-fashioned about “putting on her face” as we in the South say. My mother is just like that too – she will not leave the house without a full face of makeup (even when she’s sick, even when she’s going to the hospital) and it honestly doesn’t make a bit of difference. She looks pretty much the same, with or without makeup. As for Gwen, I’m sure she does look different without “her face” on, but I suspect she looks even younger, honestly. Previously, Gwen has claimed: “I like to wear make-up for Gavin and I don’t feel energized till I’ve put it on, then I’m ready to go.” I think that’s BS – she’s not wearing makeup for Gavin, she’s wearing it for herself.
Photos courtesy of InStyle.
I am the same with make-up and I am a nobody. I just can’t start my day without it. Can’t explain it any better really, it’s not like I think people ‘have to’ wear make-up, it’s more what she says, after I put it on, I am energized, ready to start my day and do things!
Gorgeous. I love that she is a mommy and still takes time to be beautiful in her everyday life.
@BB I get it, sometimes makeup is kind of part of the life uniform. When I go ride my horse if I’m not coming straight from work I still put on eyeliner..just for myself because it makes me feel a little more “with it” or something.
Putting on makeup is just part of her daily routine, like brushing her hair. I’d much rather see someone put together than looking like they just crawled out of bed.
She’s very pretty.
I am the same with the makeup thing. I wear it every day, regardless.
She’s stunning.
Love this lady.
I have always loved Gwen! Ever since No Doubt hit it big in the 90s. She never ages – I wish I had some of that!
I don’t like her one bit, but I’m the same with makeup. Mines a little subtler though.
I love my MAC, and I don’t leave the house without it. However, I’m not as hardcore about it as my aunt. 10 minutes after she gave birth to her last child, she was re-applying everything.
I love Gwen. I love No Doubt. More music please! I understand what she means about make-up. I am not as diligent as her.I think she would look like Brittany Murphy without the make-up. My grandmother always tried to make herself look ‘presentable’. Even in the hospital she was putting on her red lipstick. I think its just a pick me up, good start routine for some people. I love sitting at my antique vanity and primping just like my grandma!
Her interviews never change. She isn’t the brightest bulb.
Well I’m the only one here that doesn’t find a bit fascinating this make up thing?Once she used to be my herofor her attitude and her voice but she turned sooo annoyng with all the fashion the blonde,the make up .uhhh not to mention the boob job .She is delusional in my opinion.
Boob job? Really? Anyway, I love Gwen, she’s made a great career for herself and hasn’t relied on mommy/daddy/hubby to do it for her. She also seems like a great mom and wife. I love her!
To me, she always comes across as someone incredibly insecure about her looks and her relationship. She thinks she married up and is desperate to remain “worthy” of him.
I think she looks so good because she takes care of herself. Compare her to Lindsay Lohan… Gwen looks years younger than Lindsay. Gwen doesn’t smoke, I doubt she drinks much if at all, and I seriously doubt she has ever done drugs. Plus she exercises and eats right. I think she looks better than Madonna did at this age and I am not quite sure why because Madonna is pretty clean living as well. I guess maybe that is where good genes kick in.
Not a very deep woman. I really have never thought much of her but this article makes me think less
I like her. I’m not much for the war paint myself and if there’s not where I need to be I cut my pores a break and let it breath. Go natural be free too many woman feel they need to hide it i’m guessing.
I like makeup, so I feel like if she wants to put it on, then go for it. I think it’s fun to play around with, experiment with different looks. I also like to stage makeup type things, so I’m pretty excited for Halloween. I’ve got awesome plans for my boyfriend and myself.
If I don’t have to wear make-up, I don’t wear it. My skin thanks me.
I love Gwen Stefani, she seems pretty down to earth to me and I have never gotten a whiff of desperation for Gavin. If anything they seem equally whipped on each other, in a sweet way. She went with very little makeup in the “Underneath It All” video and I thought she looked ten times more beautiful with the au natural look. But she’s stunning no matter what she does.
Love her.
I love her for her honesty. I love how she admits that she works hard to maintain her weight, and does not lie and pretend like she has a super high metabolism, etc. She makes me feel better by her acknowledging that she works hard to look that good, etc.
Pat – exactly. A classic self-involved narcissist if I ever saw one. There are plenty of other top A-listers with looks and success that are much more well-rounded — think Angelina, George Clooney, Matt DAmon — these folks are serious humanitarians and philanthropists on top of being top stars.
I like her. I don’t always follow it myself, but I like the principle of always looking presentable and feeling confident every day, being ready. I’d certainly follow that rule if paparazzi were around like they are for her.
The only thing I don’t like is when she dyes her sons’ hair. It’s weird. I bet Gwen S., given her fashion interests, would love to also have a girl to dress up.
I love Gwen and I totally understand the makeup thing. I feel like something is missing if I don’t put any on. Now to run to errands and going to the gym I will limit it to tinted moistuizer, gloss and mascara
Gwen looked absolutely stunning when she went brunette (wig) in her “cool” video, she looked so much better and looks very similar to Leighton Meester. I always wish she would dye her hair brown cuz she just looked so amazing in that video.
I love Gwen, every since “Tragic Kingdom”. However… if anyone here reads blind items then you know the real reason she’s always has make up on and rarely switches up her style!
Regardless, people’s choices are their own and I wish them the best.
Ooh Iggles you beat me to it!
*Marilyn, Gavin’s ex lover coughcough*
do tell @Iggles
So what, just because she’s not heavily involved in philanthropic work, that makes her a narcissist and not very deep? I don’t think that’s fair. The level to which Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and Matt Damon work for their causes is of course admirable and inspiring. Has nothing to do with “requirements of being a celebrity”. Gwen is who she is, which is why I like her.
@Lukie – Bingo!
Honestly, I know I might get flamed for it, but I saw pictures of Marilyn and Gavin together when he was younger and they were pretty adorable together. You could tell there was a lot of love there. Clearly Gavin has a certain “look” he goes for.
I remember during promotion for No Doubt’s “Return of Saturn” album Gwen sported pink hair. She and Gavin were in a off phase at the time. Since being with him, there’s only been a handful of times she’s done something different with her hair (she dyed it blue at one point).
Anyway, if it works for her and she and Gavin are happy, then more power to them. I’m a huge No Doubt fan so again, I definitely wish them the best.
I am the exact same way.
I love Gwen Stefani so much! She’s the only woman in the world who can where that much makeup and not irritate the crap out of me. She’s great and beautiful!
My husband loves when I have no make up on.
He believes that true beauty is without the war paint, because it shows confidence and the real woman.
I don’t have to hide anything and only wear a bit of light brown pencil on my eye lids, mascara and a clear lip gloss.
I’m lucky, my skin is excellent.
She has always been very noticably pretty. Great genes.
As for makeup, we always put it on for ourselves….just let them think we do it for them.
She is always very pretty, but she does come off as dim and narcissistic in most interviews. Everybody needs to remember she’s a former chunkster, and she’ll probably have a chip on her shoulder forever. And the makeup – enough Gwen! I understand ‘painting the barn’ before going out, but just for staying home? Really? It can’t be good for your skin to be spackled everyday.
All that negativity aside, I love me some No Doubt. And I love me some solo Gwen as long as she doesn’t sound like a tween. She is super entertaining on stage and also super beautiful in person, on film, whenever.
I can see where she is coming from with the make up. The very few days I’ve gone in public without make up on (I know, gasp!), I have felt naked, like there is something wrong with me appearance wise. I don’t necessarily even need to look in the mirror to know its there. I for sure feel better about myself with a full face of make up.
Funny thing is that my man prefers me when its off. When we are away camping and I’m fresh faced he’ll stare at me and tell me I’m pretty. He rarely does that when I have make up on, unless I’m wearing something he likes then its the outfit, not the make up. LOL, he says “you have too much make up on” though. If I wear a wild colour shadow or something he thinks its too much. He’s learned though that its just me.
I don’t put it on if I’m just vegging out at home though.
For me its for me. I feel better. Maybe I don’t look better to some people but I feel better and that’s what matters.
I don’t love Gwen Stefani. Don’t hate her either. Could take her or leave her, doesn’t have an impact on me.
I do not get why Gwen Stefani is all over the gossip mags/sites. What the hell does she do anymore besides pimp her kids out for the paps? The oldest one is starting to look like he’ll be as entitled as Lindsay Lohan.
“I’m Kingston Rossdale. Give me your (ice cream) cone!!”
Well Kaiser, I think you “called it” when you stated Gwen’s doing the make-up for herself, not Gavin….that’s true. When one is used to make-up, that is that….& they feel naked w/out it.
Yeah, I’m a make-up junkie, as well. However, I’m not above going out and about after just jumping out of the bathtub (I bathe, not shower). But if I’m going somewhere that “matters” to me..oh hell yeah, I’m going to be wearing my make-up.
Edit: @Happy21..just read your “naked” comment. Haha…we must be similar!
I love makeup and wear it daily too and I also can say that it’s for my happiness and not anyone else. I think it speaks to the artist in me because I love trying new shades and looks and transforming my face depending on what I feel like that day. It’s also relaxing and fun to me to sit at my vanity, it’s like my 10-20 minutes of play time. I have a ton of makeup but most people say ‘but you hardly wear any!’, so just because you wear it doesn’t mean you’re spackling it on like she does. There is also an art to creating a natural ‘but enhanced’ face. I am also fine with going all natural if I’m camping or fishing, ect, because I’m still comfortable without it. She has the money to buy the best products out there and if I were in her position I would too.
I can’t stand her platinum blond hair. She needs to change up her look.
Over the years I have met many women who boast “I never wear makeup or (gasp) have mani pedis”. I say to these frumps, you really need some makeup, doll, and well groomed hands and feet are a tribute to how you value yourself. I personally feel much happier with light makeup and coiffed hair and nice nails and toes. I also love gloves and scarves. And well tailored classic clothes. Call me crazy! Gwen is fabulous.
@sassy: I have a friend who never wears any make up! She is very fair, gets her lashes tinted and that is it. She wears sunscreen and that is all.
She wore make up for a Christmas party a few years back and I couldn’t believe it! She looked fabulous! The last time I saw her I thought she looked very aged and chapped. I felt bad thinking that way since she is who she is without make up on but she had major wrinking (too much) around her eyes (she’s 34) and her lips looked like lizard scales. I was tempted to say to her “you know what honey, I know you don’t care for make up much but you really need to start caring for your face!”. Its one thing to be like me and wear make up everyday. I know not everyone is like that but its another to try to accentuate what is already there and make it look good. Hmm…Maybe I can think of something to do subtley.
She looks beautiful. Always does.
I am about 95% on makeup every day – that being just powder, mascara and lipgloss on quiet days.
It takes less than 2 minutes and I’m always glad I did it. (And as a southerner I do say to myself “stop and put on your face” 🙂 My grandmother said that too.)
I can’t argue with that effort and don’t care about the why. I just do it and get on with things. To each her own.
Some of these new girls need to learn how to pose from Ms Stefani. Seriously, it’s all intense but looks like she’s not trying.
Now, about that new No Doubt album… get on with it, plz. Kthxbai.
She looks so fake.
That white blond hair, yuck.
It’s one thing to put a bit of make-up on when leaving the house to enhance eyes or lips, but she looks like she has a few pounds of make-up on.
And why in the world would any woman wear make-up around the house when just chilling with her kids and hubby.
Is she that insecure???
I used to love her but the weird solo stuff totally turned me off. She hasn’t aged much but how can the sun get under that kabuki mask? I wear SOME makeup everyday but if I went out like that I would feel like a trollop.
I think it’s great that she still puts in an effort to look good for her husband. I hope he does the same for her. She is youthful and gorgeous naturally though. I think she looks better without the red lipstick. I’m a die-hard fan, but I would like to see her change up her look a bit. Maybe a darker hair color and different make up. Not gonna happen though.
She is sooooo over the top, just like Beyonce.
Sometimes a little bit goes a long way.
How shallow is she and her husband, if she wears make-up everyday even around the house?
Freaky!
What low self-esteem.
I don’t really care for her either way. She’s just there but it sounds like she’s going to have a face full of make-up, red lips and platinum blonde @ 80. Smh. Change can be good.
I love makeup. I feel better even if it’s just nude lipstick and smudged eyeliner under my eyes.
I like Gwen but find it sad she doesnt have enough self esteem to not wear makeup. I know she looks better with makeup, most of us do, but its not like she is ugly. She needs to lose the red lipstick like Christina Aguilarra – it ages a woman after a certain age.
No man likes a woman who cant go without makeup to the gym, grocery store, at home.
Angelina Jolie is not covered in
make-up, because she has stunningly gorgeus face, naturally.
That’s true beauty.
Anybody can smear make-on.
Either Stefani is not pretty under all of that kabuki make-up or very insecure.
That’s pretty lame to have to put your “face” on at home with your kids and hubby.
Her haircolor is GROSS!
Her husband really has a thing for drag queens.
Was his band’s name supposed to be ironic or more winky and true like the 70’s phenom Queen?
I don’t like the feel of make up on my skin and I really don’t think it makes me look any better when I have it on. I would hate to have to spend anytime in the morning fixing my face etc.
@Happy 21
Here is an idea for your 34 yr old friend. Invite her to a Mary Kay makeover party. The MK reps do this all the time and their products are good. Just say something like “Hi darling, would you please go with me to this little party at Mary’s house?” You then feign surprise when it is a makeover party. They will do facials, makeup, etc and the goal is to sell you product after you test the items. And everyone usually buys something. You can then tell her how wonderful her skin is looking and follow up without her ever knowing. It is a must, must, must for young women to use creams and exfoliate the skin.
And – no, I am not a sales rep, just know my stuff from experience.
I wonder what she looks like with absolutely no makeup?
this hair colour is really aging her and i still think she would look better with brown. plus, when she called the paps to take pictures of her tanning in a yacht near cannes (lol, why was she even there?) her skin was also very white/yellow and so is her hair so hair and skin being uniform is not a good look on anyone. I’m sick of retro on anybody except for Dita because that is who she is and she rocks it. But Gwen really can’t, see she does her make up and hair like old glamorous hollywood stars but she simply does not have the beauty to pull it off. those women were in an era when hollywood would only accept the truly gorgeous and they would pull off short hair/heavy lipstick look easily, gwen can’t. she has beady eyes, an upper lip on which she had a weird procedure applied, and she has too much botox on the forehead which makes her suffer from the famous “i’m constantly irate” look that typically marks botox victims. finally she’s untalented and meh at everything, but somehow made up this sweetheart image which I’ve heard is a contrived, fake act.
She’s always gorgeous, love her style, she has a beautiful family and looks GREAT in red. Stunning, talented woman.
She is pretty and well keeping. Kudos to her on motherhood and having it all.
I’m certain she uses high-def makeup – I haven’t tried it yet but I wonder if it really does cover almost all imperfections? http://wp.me/p1BvaG-2U
I wonder what kind of make-up she uses.
I can see that she has a ton on, but does she realize how many chemicals many make-up’s have in them?
I hope that at least she reads her labels on her body care and make-up!
@Sassy : so women who don’t wear makeup are frumps? get real. Every woman has a right to choose her pwn style, what works best for her. and FYI some women do look great without makeup.
I love that she keeps up with her roots, its such a pet peeve of mine to see women who bleach their hair and then let their goddamn roots show. Like, really? You were going for the trailer trash route?
Anyway, I never leave the house without a little bit of make-up on, at the very least my brows because I feel like a fug dog otherwise. Who the fuck cares if she wears make-up everyday? That’s her choice.
I love Gwen so much! In the video for ‘Underneath it All’ she goes sans fards at the end. She probably had foundation or something on, but not the usual full face. Granted it is almost ten years ago but she looks pretty much the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvuVFHTvdaY
ALSO! In her video for ‘Cool’ she has brown hair when she’s playing her younger self. She looks so beautiful but I think she looks great with platinum blonde as well. It’s definitely more her style.
http://youtu.be/TGwZ7MNtBFU
She’s definitely a little insecure, as you can hear from most of her songs, starting from when she started to write songs for No Doubt. But who isn’t? I look like a 12 yr old buy without makeup, so I usually wear at least mascara. I doubt she goes full glam all the time, but I think it makes her feel more fabulous, and there isn’t anything wrong with that.
http://youtu.be/RqKIfKrDca0
LOVE Gwen!!!! She is stylish and fresh and I think she looks great….wish she’d share her makeup secrets, love that she wears red lipstick!