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46 Before-And-After Pics Reveal The Power Of Makeup By Melissa Murphy

'Makeup is art. It's inside that really matters.' That's the motto of Melissa Murphy, an LA-based makeup artist who's amassed quite a lot of followers on Instagram due to her famous before-and-after pictures of people with and without makeup.

Murphy's work reveals how much time (and just how many and only the best makeup products are needed) is required to make people look like they do in films and magazines. In an increasingly image-conscious world where anything and everything is Photoshopped, Murphy's pictures serve as a reassuring reminder that what you see is often deceptive and doesn't always reflect reality.

Take a look at the before-and-after pictures of makeup transformations below to see for yourself what we mean.

More info: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

This post may include affiliate links.

Image before Image after

Final score:

48points

POST

KatEgan 8 years ago

I think she looks beautiful with and without the makeup :) she's got a kick a*s natural face

16points

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#41

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Final score:

6points

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Lily Quinn 8 years ago

Nicer before. 7 first time 5 the second

1point

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#42

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Final score:

6points

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Piccolo 2 years ago

She has beautiful teeth!!!

0points

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#43

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Final score:

4points

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AlinaSimona 8 years ago

Could have just made the brows, she looks beautiful

4points

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#44

Image before Image after

Final score:

4points

POST

EmmaJones 8 years ago

Are they all porn stars?

9points

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#45

Image before Image after

Final score:

3points

POST

SallyBrite 8 years ago

That makeup is horrible! :( The makeup is horrible! :(

7points

JessicaRussianSifontes 8 years ago

I think it's more a bad angle than a bad makeup

3points

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Tammy Eads Noranzyk 8 years ago

After makes her look like a drag queen

2points

MarieEli 8 years ago

Oh no. She looks old and wrinkly with make-up. Very beautifull without though!

2points

Vytautas 8 years ago

Haha :)

1point

Aurimas Steponavičius 8 years ago

Yep, they look different :)

0points

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Maryy Kostadinowa 8 years ago

She looks way older with make up

1point

Samantha Tull 4 years ago

Awful

0points

Luis Alfredo Serrano Díaz 4 years ago

beautiful before

0points

Cool Quote Character 7 years ago

Oh darn she's so pretty if only she would've gone for a more natural look...

0points

GitteJensen 8 years ago

OMG! She look like a drag.... Horible makeup!!!

-3points

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What do you think ?

POST

LuckyPineapple 8 years ago

I'm about 99% sure these people are all pornstars.

27points

JessikaHodson 8 years ago

there was an article a while ago about what pornstars looked like without makeup. and to be honest i think these might be the images. who knows.

7points

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DeboraPonce 8 years ago

¿And?

1point

EmmaJones 8 years ago

I agree....

0points

savannahgorman0 8 years ago

Your rude.

-2points

SparoCraftOliviawl 8 years ago

It's really heartbreaking to see girls who think that makeup makes their lives better, I see all of these girls and nothing should change

19points

JánosNagy 8 years ago

Without make up pics about real women. The anothers who care too much herself, (+ changed reddy face colour to yellowish...) I don`t have problem with make up, but it`s could be extravaganza, some another colours please!

1point

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Emily 8 years ago

I don't want to wear makeup if it's just going to change me so much that I can't even recognize myself anymore.

16points

DariaB 8 years ago

Why? I think cosplay is fun. ☻

9points

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Paulina 8 years ago

Why is it that every time I see comparisons like this, makeup has to be so over-the-top? All dark and heavy, with huge obviously fake eyelashes and glossy lips... No wonder so many comments state that those women look better without it. They're all naturally pretty and look a bit fake-ish with such strong makeup. Not that there's anything wrong with strong makeup, but I'd rather see some variety in styles and colors used, especially if the purpose is to showcase makeup artist's skills.

8points

NatalieBlenkhorn 8 years ago

Because they're porn actresses, they all wear a ton of make up.

5points

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Yulia 8 years ago

The makeup is just too heavy on all these girls. I have nothing against makeup to enhance someone's natural beauty or to mask a few flaws, but all the false eyelashes and heavy foundation - it's just not attractive, in my opinion.

6points

JordanHughes 8 years ago

You don't need make up to be pretty. Sure it's fun, but society keeps saying you have to wear it to be beautiful but natural faces are good.

6points

DariaB 8 years ago

Finally someone who gets the point. This is pretty true.

3points

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Wynk2u 8 years ago

Oh come on ppl! Makeup is an art form, & it's fun. Makeup can change how you feel or vice versa. I love playing around with different looks.

5points

Wynk2u 8 years ago

And I don't wear makeup for guys, nor do I wear it for other women. I wear it, when I want to, for me. So stop raggin on these women!

5points

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PancakePanda♥ 8 years ago

The thing is.. The before and after.. they are mostly in different poses. after they have the makeup on, the act sexier :/

4points

PancakePanda♥ 8 years ago

I meant it like they are trying to make themselves look better in the "after" photo Even with the makeup. like take #13 for example...

0points

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Wynk2u 8 years ago

It's like picking out what clothes to wear. How do u feel that day? What do u want ppl to see? Clothes & makeup are a reflection of who u r.

2points

DariaB 8 years ago

True, true, true! But clothes are a bit tricky. Not everyone can afford clothes that rappresent the best of them. I, for example, fall out of the regular patterns of the fashion industry, so I wear what I can find. Of course, though, the "reflection of whi I am" thing still remains, but it's filtered and needs more thinking. ☻

4points

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thcollegestudent 8 years ago

Ok first off, amazing Web presentation for comparison photos, often it's cumbersome and loads slowly when I check out these sorts of articles so kudos for that! Also, these are some interesting transitions, it's like seeing two different people some times, not better or worse, but different. I will confess being partial to #12 though, I have a weak spot for 80's glam. <3

2points

dbradley 8 years ago

Too much make-up. Sad that women think it makes them beautiful.

1point

JustAGirl 8 years ago

I personally think that they look better without makeup. Some of these transformations seem so unreal.

1point

ELL OHYOU 5 years ago

At night thinking, "what a catch" For some of them...not so sure in the morning... (whole different face). Pretty much all those women are nice looking naturally, I just don't understand why anyone would put on so much makeup that their own mother wouldn't recognize them.

0points

Misty rivers 8 years ago

In my opinion the second pictures look better than the above. I myself do not like makeup and I prefer natural appearance on others.i especially dislike fake eyelashes though! Like gluing it to your eyelid? Does not seem that comfortable to me

0points

Akın Nil Kartal 8 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3yI9lSeDp0

0points

Juliette Landes 8 years ago

poor deceived men

0points

Dương Nguyễn 8 years ago

Comments sound like no one like make up. But you post a non-make up photo on your facebook, then people start asking where did you leave your lipstick.

0points

Zikitten 8 years ago

now i believe in the power of makeup. May the makeup be with you

0points

CatolyniumAtomica 8 years ago

I think you guys all missed the point. Who cares if you think the girl looked better before, or if the makeup is bad, or if she looked better after. What matters is that the girl feels more confident about herself when she puts makeup on. She/He puts makeup on for herself, not for anyone else's approval.

0points

Lovelybae9353 8 years ago

There really pretty!!!

0points

ChristianGuévremont 8 years ago

Make up ruins a girl's or ladies true beauty and to us guys it seems like a lie! :P Its better not to wear colored mud on your face and find the true beauty within. That way when you find someone, he/she will love you for you and not for your mud. Besides, Imagine having to buy mud all your life! :O wow that's a lot of money to spend on false self esteem.

0points

HappyGhost 8 years ago

Most of those are waste of time and money (my opinion, don't judge me)

0points

RayinL.A. 8 years ago

Make up says one thing to me, always. 'Don't touch me'

0points

PloppR 8 years ago

The level of makeup seems somewhat deceitful. I'd prefer to meet someone, and truly know what they look like and base my attraction on that. If I only find you attractive whilst you're wearing makeup the relationship is doomed to fail.

0points

GennaGean 8 years ago

The nose contouring is very good on several of these, notably the gals w/ crooked/broken noses. many are perfectly fine to begin with.

0points

ChrisHill 8 years ago

Sucks to be female and think that you need this.

0points

DianaBerulyte 8 years ago

In my opinion, only a few pics show positive transformation. In most cases the make-up is too harsh, besides, the comparison is far not fair: if "before" pictures had the same lightning and the same hair styles, i guess 99% would say "before" is much better.

0points

Issybushell 8 years ago

I think it's great to do things you enjoy in life and if makeup is one of those things then go for it, it's a way of expressing yourself!

0points

AdamHavlík 8 years ago

Maybe looking quite different from their natural selves is to goal, to help them hide their porn star identities...

0points

AntoMilone 8 years ago

They don't look like themselves anymore... in the pictures with no make up you can see girls with personality and peculiarities, fun, beautiful girls that dissapear into the make up...

0points

CynthiaCheek 8 years ago

A lot of the make-up is too heavy,like a porn star!

0points

AdamHavlík 8 years ago

That's because they ARE porn stars.

3points

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IAmBecauseWeAre 8 years ago

All these people really are beautiful without makeup, but it's fun to play around and experiment.

0points

AnthonyO'hara 8 years ago

A lot of men will look at this and see beautiful women, then beautiful women in make-up. As cliché as it sounds, beautiful is who you are, not how you look.

0points

AnthonyO'hara 8 years ago

Most men look at this and just see beautiful women, then beautiful wearing make-up. Beautiful, as cliché as it sounds, is who you are, not how you look.

0points

MizLynaIbrahim 8 years ago

most of them are better without make up..=)

0points

RegKlubeck 8 years ago

Pamela Anderson recently starred in a 10-minute sci-fi short where she goes about without any make-up. It's VERY powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWLcWHYmgpg

0points

AnantaOuo 8 years ago

Makeup looks the same everywhere, how about sth new, like Asian trends or other countries

0points

HehenNomiss 8 years ago

took the the first photo on 1.1

0points

庸俗的麦兜 8 years ago

论化妆的重要性

0points

RebekaSara 8 years ago

Please Add this 1491310-980x.jpg

0points

MarkTaranto 8 years ago

I prefer a lot of the Before pictures.

-1point

KJWallis 8 years ago

I've seen this post elsewhere, and the editorial stated that the women were Adult porn stars.

-1point

Enya 8 years ago

Before: These girls look kind and nice and smart and wise, after: they look like monsters! Like porn monsters. Sorry girls, you're all my awesome sisters, but I just have to say that this trend is disappointingly dumb in my opinion! It's not my business, you do whatever you want, but I just still want you to know! :/

-3points

EmmaJones 8 years ago

I know for sure some of them are porn stars...wouldn't be surprised if they all are

0points

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Martin 8 years ago

There should be a half of BruCaitlyn Jenner

-3points

going_placidly 8 years ago

A large number of porn actresses in this bunch. Im not joking. Look em up!

-3points

EmiliaBukowska 8 years ago

They look very good without make up ! few of them look like porn stars, with those mouths open, I mean worse than without make up

-3points

Jocelyn 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

joeShmoe 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

JesseEpstein 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

DariaB 8 years ago

Not neccessarily. Read the article once again. It depends on your own interpretation.

4points

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POST

LuckyPineapple 8 years ago

I'm about 99% sure these people are all pornstars.

27points

JessikaHodson 8 years ago

there was an article a while ago about what pornstars looked like without makeup. and to be honest i think these might be the images. who knows.

7points

Load More Replies...

DeboraPonce 8 years ago

¿And?

1point

EmmaJones 8 years ago

I agree....

0points

savannahgorman0 8 years ago

Your rude.

-2points

SparoCraftOliviawl 8 years ago

It's really heartbreaking to see girls who think that makeup makes their lives better, I see all of these girls and nothing should change

19points

JánosNagy 8 years ago

1point

Load More Replies...

Emily 8 years ago

I don't want to wear makeup if it's just going to change me so much that I can't even recognize myself anymore.

16points

DariaB 8 years ago

Why? I think cosplay is fun. ☻

9points

Load More Replies...

Paulina 8 years ago

8points

NatalieBlenkhorn 8 years ago

Because they're porn actresses, they all wear a ton of make up.

5points

Load More Replies...

Yulia 8 years ago

6points

JordanHughes 8 years ago

You don't need make up to be pretty. Sure it's fun, but society keeps saying you have to wear it to be beautiful but natural faces are good.

6points

DariaB 8 years ago

Finally someone who gets the point. This is pretty true.

3points

Load More Replies...

Wynk2u 8 years ago

Oh come on ppl! Makeup is an art form, & it's fun. Makeup can change how you feel or vice versa. I love playing around with different looks.

5points

Wynk2u 8 years ago

And I don't wear makeup for guys, nor do I wear it for other women. I wear it, when I want to, for me. So stop raggin on these women!

5points

Load More Replies...

PancakePanda♥ 8 years ago

The thing is.. The before and after.. they are mostly in different poses. after they have the makeup on, the act sexier :/

4points

PancakePanda♥ 8 years ago

I meant it like they are trying to make themselves look better in the "after" photo Even with the makeup. like take #13 for example...

0points

Load More Replies...

Wynk2u 8 years ago

It's like picking out what clothes to wear. How do u feel that day? What do u want ppl to see? Clothes & makeup are a reflection of who u r.

2points

DariaB 8 years ago

4points

Load More Replies...

thcollegestudent 8 years ago

2points

dbradley 8 years ago

Too much make-up. Sad that women think it makes them beautiful.

1point

JustAGirl 8 years ago

I personally think that they look better without makeup. Some of these transformations seem so unreal.

1point

ELL OHYOU 5 years ago

0points

Misty rivers 8 years ago

0points

Akın Nil Kartal 8 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3yI9lSeDp0

0points

Juliette Landes 8 years ago

poor deceived men

0points

Dương Nguyễn 8 years ago

Comments sound like no one like make up. But you post a non-make up photo on your facebook, then people start asking where did you leave your lipstick.

0points

Zikitten 8 years ago

now i believe in the power of makeup. May the makeup be with you

0points

CatolyniumAtomica 8 years ago

0points

Lovelybae9353 8 years ago

There really pretty!!!

0points

ChristianGuévremont 8 years ago

0points

HappyGhost 8 years ago

Most of those are waste of time and money (my opinion, don't judge me)

0points

RayinL.A. 8 years ago

Make up says one thing to me, always. 'Don't touch me'

0points

PloppR 8 years ago

0points

GennaGean 8 years ago

The nose contouring is very good on several of these, notably the gals w/ crooked/broken noses. many are perfectly fine to begin with.

0points

ChrisHill 8 years ago

Sucks to be female and think that you need this.

0points

DianaBerulyte 8 years ago

0points

Issybushell 8 years ago

I think it's great to do things you enjoy in life and if makeup is one of those things then go for it, it's a way of expressing yourself!

0points

AdamHavlík 8 years ago

Maybe looking quite different from their natural selves is to goal, to help them hide their porn star identities...

0points

AntoMilone 8 years ago

They don't look like themselves anymore... in the pictures with no make up you can see girls with personality and peculiarities, fun, beautiful girls that dissapear into the make up...

0points

CynthiaCheek 8 years ago

A lot of the make-up is too heavy,like a porn star!

0points

AdamHavlík 8 years ago

That's because they ARE porn stars.

3points

Load More Replies...

IAmBecauseWeAre 8 years ago

All these people really are beautiful without makeup, but it's fun to play around and experiment.

0points

AnthonyO'hara 8 years ago

A lot of men will look at this and see beautiful women, then beautiful women in make-up. As cliché as it sounds, beautiful is who you are, not how you look.

0points

AnthonyO'hara 8 years ago

Most men look at this and just see beautiful women, then beautiful wearing make-up. Beautiful, as cliché as it sounds, is who you are, not how you look.

0points

MizLynaIbrahim 8 years ago

most of them are better without make up..=)

0points

RegKlubeck 8 years ago

Pamela Anderson recently starred in a 10-minute sci-fi short where she goes about without any make-up. It's VERY powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWLcWHYmgpg

0points

AnantaOuo 8 years ago

Makeup looks the same everywhere, how about sth new, like Asian trends or other countries

0points

HehenNomiss 8 years ago

took the the first photo on 1.1

0points

庸俗的麦兜 8 years ago

论化妆的重要性

0points

RebekaSara 8 years ago

Please Add this 1491310-980x.jpg

0points

MarkTaranto 8 years ago

I prefer a lot of the Before pictures.

-1point

KJWallis 8 years ago

I've seen this post elsewhere, and the editorial stated that the women were Adult porn stars.

-1point

Enya 8 years ago

-3points

EmmaJones 8 years ago

I know for sure some of them are porn stars...wouldn't be surprised if they all are

0points

Load More Replies...

Martin 8 years ago

There should be a half of BruCaitlyn Jenner

-3points

going_placidly 8 years ago

A large number of porn actresses in this bunch. Im not joking. Look em up!

-3points

EmiliaBukowska 8 years ago

They look very good without make up ! few of them look like porn stars, with those mouths open, I mean worse than without make up

-3points

Jocelyn 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

joeShmoe 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

JesseEpstein 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

DariaB 8 years ago

Not neccessarily. Read the article once again. It depends on your own interpretation.

4points

Load More Replies...

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46 Before-And-After Pics Reveal The Power Of Makeup By Melissa Murphy

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