BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS: Christina Aguilera Without Makeup

Christina Aguilera is usually in full glam mode, but her latest photos in Paper Magazine are sans makeup and simply stunning. Even those her fresh face is stunning, the 37-year-old pop star says she won’t stick with a more toned-down look because she loves the dramatics of makeup. “I’m a girl that likes a beat face, let’s not get it twisted,” she joked during the interview.

“I’ve always been someone that obviously loves to experiment, loves theatrics, loves to create a storyline and play a character in a video or through stage,” she explains while her makeup artist removes glitter from her eyelids. “I’m a performer, that’s who I am by nature. But I’m at the place, even musically, where it’s a liberating feeling to be able to strip it all back and appreciate who you are and your raw beauty.”

Aguilera also addressed the paradox of what’s expected from a female performer, or women in general. “Either women are not sexual enough or we’re not fulfilling enough of a fantasy for you, but then if we’re overtly sexual or feeling empowered in a certain kind of way, then we’re shamed for it,” she explained. Still, she’s grateful that the environment for new musical artists is more accepting of controversial behavior than when she was coming. “They don’t have as much backlash when they come out on the scene. And I did,” she said. “It was a very interesting and controversial time for me.”

What do you think of Christina’s bare-faced look?

PHOTOS: Christina Aguilera Instagram @xtina