Alicia Keys has learned to embrace a make-up-free look and finds it “really empowering” and freeing.

She told Today: “[It’s] really freeing. The thing is… it kinda came from because we put so many limitations on ourselves, we put limitations on each other, society puts limitations on us, and in a lot of ways, I’m sick of it, I’m over it.

And that’s in a lot of ways, what the music is about, it’s about being our own unique selves, because we each have something that no one else has and it would be so amazing to embrace each other, how we are.”

Although she has nothing against cosmetics, the singer refuses to feel obligated to use them whenever she’s out in the public eye.

“I love make-up! I love my lip gloss, I love my blush, I love my eyeliner. It’s not about that. But at the same time, I don’t want to feel beholden …. to have to do it.”

Keys – who has two sons with husband Swizz Beats – says she is happy about her decision. The singer has made a number of public appearances without wearing these enhancements, but she doesn’t necessarily want to urge other women to follow suit.

She shared: “I just wanna be honest to myself, and all of us should be honest to ourselves. Just be yourself and have a great time, and do what makes you feel good as opposed to trying to please every damn body.”

Her decision to look more natural came after a photographer insisted on taking her pictures before she was ready.

She previously said: “Instantly, I became a bit nervous and slightly uncomfortable. My face was totally raw. I had on a sweatshirt! As far as I was concerned, this was my quick run-to-the-shoot-so-I-can-get-ready look, not the actual photoshoot look.”

Once the pictures were revealed, Keys immediately felt better and “honestly beautiful.”