What These HGTV Stars Look Like Without Makeup

As interior design, real estate, and home renovation experts, there's no doubt that women selected to host HGTV shows are highly skilled professionals. But to viewers, they are often more than that. Thanks to the internet, they can also be style icons, beauty influencers, and inspirational mental health advocates. Which is why whenever they open up and give us a glimpse of their raw, unfiltered lives, we rejoice at the fact that we feel we can relate to these talented and successful women.

HGTV hosts come from a wide variety of backgrounds and upbringings, some having climbed to major celebrity status while others are still up-and-coming sensations. Whether we recognize them yet or not, whenever we see stars be vulnerable and embrace their natural beauty it often inspires us to do the same. From television veterans to brand new show hosts, let's take a look at some of our favorite makeup-free moments that HGTV stars have shared with the world.

When former HGTV royalty Joanna Gaines shared a heartwarming makeup-free photo of her snuggling with one of her daughters on Instagram, fans everywhere let out a collective "awww." Over 1,600 people left comments on the adorable selfie, pointing out the renowned interior designer's natural beauty as well as the sweet moment with her child. Gaines isn't known for wearing an overwhelming amount of makeup anyway, and is usually pictured wearing light-coverage foundation and dark eyeliner. But getting a glimpse of her relatable, completely bare-faced morning look was still much appreciated by her followers.

While Joanna and her husband Chip Gaines originally shot to home improvement super-stardom after the success of their HGTV show "Fixer Upper," the couple have since moved on to form their own mega-network, Magnolia. The Magnolia brand is the home of over 80 original shows, and also features a full-fledged home decor shop, as well as free virtual courses that anyone can participate in. Beyond Joanna's affinity for making simple, no-frills hair and makeup looks effortlessly stunning, the Gaines' have amassed a staggering amount of viewers due to their relatable personalities and candid authenticity. 

HGTV queen Christina Hall is widely known for her affinity for real estate investing. But the "Christina on the Coast" star has also become widely known for her stunning full-glam hair and makeup looks. Hall is rarely ever pictured without a full face of makeup and perfectly styled blonde extensions, so when she posted an au naturel selfie to Instagram, her fans were quick to compliment her in the comments.

In the photo, Christina looked stunning while lounging on stylishly comfortable throw pillows. Donning a cozy Chanel crewneck, the multi-millionaire gazed stoically into the camera. Accompanying the snapshot is a cryptic caption that reads, "Everything > Indifference." The selfie was posted on August 2, 2020, just a month before Christina and then-husband Ant Anstead announced they were separating. Christina went on to marry her third husband, police officer-turned-realtor Joshua Hall, in 2022. Her first marriage was to Tarek El Moussa, and although the couple split after nine years of marriage and two children together, they still co-host HGTV's "Flip or Flop" together.

While the majority of the comments on Hall's low-key selfie were positive, there were some backhanded compliments included in the mix as well. "Even beautiful without all the paint," wrote one user. "Prettier without all of the makeup," said another. It goes without saying, but whether or not she wears makeup is her prerogative, and the little digs aren't fair.

Heather Rae El Moussa may rock a lot of glamorous looks on Netflix's "Selling Sunset," but the real estate professional has also never shied away from a makeup-free photo op. She has often appeared on social media as well as on television with a bare face, even more so since the birth of her first son in February 2023. The new mother has been praised by many for posting unfiltered photos to her Instagram account.

Despite the love she has received for not being afraid to share her authentic self, Heather has also received an intense amount of backlash since she married Tarek El Moussa. Fans of Christina Hall, Tarek's ex-wife and his co-host on "Flip or Flop," have been especially negative toward Heather. Whether they're criticizing her design choices on "The Flipping El Moussas" or calling her the "replacement wife," Heather's detractors have made their feelings rather clear. The comment section on Heather's Instagram is no walk in the park, to say the least. While we admire Heather's ability to share vulnerable parts of her life with her fans, we hope that she is receiving the support she needs to be able to handle that level of scrutiny.

In April 2023, television personality Kendra Wilkinson shared an unfiltered half-faced selfie that gave followers a glimpse of her behind-the-scenes life on Instagram. The photo depicts Wilkinson completely makeup-free, sitting at a table covered in paperwork while wearing comfy sweats and sneakers. In the caption, she explained that the photo was taken while she was attending her real estate education class, something she decided to pursue as a result of becoming a single mom after her divorce from former NFL player Hank Baskett in 2018.

Wilkinson has had a long-running career on television, and her shows have covered a wide variety of topics. She originally rose to fame in 2005 after appearing on the reality show "The Girls Next Door," which documented her life in the Playboy mansion as one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. From there, she went on to star in spin-off reality shows that documented her life, including "Kendra," and "Kendra on Top." But these days, Wilkinson has taken her television career in a new direction. Since becoming a licensed real estate agent in 2021, her newest show "Kendra Sells Hollywood" shows the star's journey as she learns the ropes of selling multi-million dollar homes in Los Angeles.

During Wilkinson's Playboy era, you would be hard-pressed to find a photo where she wasn't heavily clad in makeup unless it was snapped by paparazzi. But these days she certainly opts for more understated makeup looks, and has even gone without makeup altogether from time to time when sharing selfies.

Working as a wicked successful house flipper and an HGTV personality may keep Page Turner busy, but she still finds time to unwind. "I go to the beach almost every weekend," she dished to HGTV. "Even in the middle of the day, I'm like, let me just take my laptop and go to the beach." The "Fix My Flip" star shares a lot of snaps of those beach days on Instagram, and in many of those pics, there's not an ounce of makeup in sight. She exudes radiant, joyful beauty whether she's glammed up or not. 

And the "Flip or Flop Nashville" host doesn't just rock the no makeup look at the beach. Turner also shares a lot of fitness content where she's wearing next to no product on her face. Sure, she might have lash extensions and some lip balm on when she heads to the gym, but beyond that? She keeps her face glowing and bare. Alongside an Instagram video she took during a workout session in 2020, for example, she wrote, "Give us lashes, lip gloss and a hype song & that's a WRAP!!!!!" Talk about an unstoppable combination. As one fan wrote in the comments, "Beauty shines all over you."

Raisa Kuddus is a natural beauty who frequently posts fresh-faced images of herself enjoying outdoor adventures on Instagram. Often featured in her photos is her partner, Austin Coleman, who is also her co-host on HGTV's "First Home Fix." The couple live and travel together in a camper van and specialize in helping first-time homeowners create their dream living spaces.

A talented artist and designer, Kuddus doesn't shy away from sharing real and unfiltered images with her followers, and they love her for it. Whether she posts a simple makeup-free selfie or a sultry full-glam look, users are quick to comment on the rising star's effervescent beauty.

The first season of "First Home Fix" premiered in September 2022 and was well-received by HGTV viewers. But although the show has a 92% approval rating on Google, it is unclear if Kuddus and Coleman will be returning for a second season with the network. In the meantime, the pair continue to document their adventurous travels to their social media pages.

While Chelsea DeBoer doesn't post makeup-free photos of herself very often, her husband Cole DeBoer has previously shared his wife's natural beauty on his Instagram account. In honor of their daughter Layne's third birthday and Chelsea's 30th birthday, Cole posted a selfie the two took together. Users were quick to comment on how beautiful Chelsea looked without makeup, with some even going as far as saying they preferred this look over her usual full-coverage look.

Formerly known as Chelsea Houska, the mom of four first gained recognition for her appearance on MTV's "Teen Mom" and "Teen Mom 2." After those shows wrapped, Chelsea went on to marry Cole DeBoer, and the pair formed their own construction and home design company together called Down Home DeBoers. Millions of people are fans of the work they do together, so it didn't take long for HGTV to come knocking and offer them their own show. Thus, "Down Home Fab" was born, a show that premiered in January 2023 and has been renewed for a second season to be released in 2024.

HGTV star Jasmine Roth is no stranger to showing up as her genuine self, both on TV and online, and her viewers adore her for it. Roth has been featured in multiple successful HGTV shows over the years, including "Hidden Potential," "Rock the Block," and "Help! I Wrecked My House." Her fans love her for her can-do attitude and her ability to show up authentically.

Which is why whenever Roth has posted a makeup-less photo to her social media pages in the past, her followers haven't been that surprised. Although she rarely opts to forgo eyelash extensions, she isn't afraid to come to work with completely bare skin, as seen in this Instagram post from 2019. When she chooses to skip foundation, her many freckles are visible, giving her a radiant, sun-kissed look. While her fans appreciate seeing that relatable version of her, it isn't much different from how she regularly appears on her TV shows; when she does show up with her typical makeup look, she usually opts for a fairly breezy, light-coverage makeup looks anyway. A natural beauty through and through, her positive personality shines, too. 

Interior designer Leanne Ford's work exudes an air of natural, welcoming comfort. And when it comes to her own appearance, Leanne's personal aesthetic gives off similar vibes. The HGTV star's outfits are often very relaxed and fall within a very neutral palette. As for her hair and makeup, she has mastered the art of the perfectly unkempt, lived-in look. She sometimes chooses to skip makeup altogether, as seen in this image she posted to her Instagram account in 2019. In the snapshot, she is seen smiling ear to ear while cuddling up to her husband, Erik Ford, and their newborn daughter, Ever Ford. Leanne detailed in her caption that they were enjoying every moment of those early days as a family of three, soaking up all the snuggles and snacks during their newborn bliss.

Leanne is known for co-hosting shows on HGTV alongside her brother, Steve Ford, who is a licensed contractor and handles the construction and carpentry side of the duo's projects. Their shows "Restored by the Fords" and "Home Again With the Fords" were both well-received by audiences, and have solidified Leanne as a visionary within the interior design world.

Before hosting HGTV's "Ugliest House in America," comedian and actor Retta rose to fame for her work on very different shows. She is most well-known as Donna Meagle on "Parks and Recreation," as well as for playing Ruby Hill on "Good Girls." Retta's previous experience on comedy television has uniquely qualified her to be the host of "Ugliest House in America," given that her undeniable sense of humor makes for one of the funniest shows on HGTV to date.

While fans of Retta love her for her ability to make them laugh, they also love her for how genuine of a person the sitcom actor is to this day. The star has often posted photos and videos of herself without her hair or makeup done, giving viewers a look at the truly authentic version of Retta. In a video she posted to Instagram in September 2022, clips of the comedian speaking enthusiastically sans makeup are pieced together while Nina Simone's "Four Women" plays over the top. Her followers were quick to comment on her natural beauty, as well as let her know how much they adore her.

In Mina Starsiak Hawk's case, fans may actually be more accustomed to seeing her without makeup than with makeup. Although the HGTV host has perfectly micro bladed eyebrows and almost never goes without some understated eyelash extensions, she rarely wears any other makeup beyond that. Her many freckles are always on full display, and they compliment her stunning green eyes and red hair beautifully. Hawk's natural beauty shines both with and without the help of cosmetics.

As the star of HGTV shows "Good Bones," "Two Chicks and a Hammer," and "Small Space, Big Potential," Hawk has made a name for herself as an expert home renovator. Fans adore her for her ability to show the most genuine version of herself, while also making them laugh with her spunky sense of humor. She is a true home improvement powerhouse who inspires viewers to embrace their beauty while chasing their dreams.

Galey Alix is known for her signature look: a simple baseball cap that is often pulled down so far that the brim covers her eyes. That said, Alix does take photos and videos without a hat or makeup on, and as her Instagram followers know, she's gorgeous with or without the glam. 

Before her debut on HGTV, Galey Alix had already risen to social media stardom via TikTok. Alix gained a massive following after viewers were enthralled with her unconventional professional life. She works as a financial executive for Goldman Sachs during the week, but after she clocks out on Fridays, the work truly begins. After a heart-wrenching split from her ex-fiancé a week before they were set to wed, Alix began spending all 72 hours of her weekend completing surprise renovations in other people's homes as a means to help her improve her mental health. Using the transformations as an outlet for her creativity and as a way to keep her mind occupied, Alix has uncovered a true knack for home renovating, and has amassed over 2.6 million followers along the way. HGTV was quick to notice the social media star's success, and in 2023 she became the host of her own show, "Home In A Heartbeat with Galey Alix."