According to the boys of One Direction, you don't need make up. "Being the way that you are is enough" - if you're conventionally attractive to begin with, that is.
It's also touched on by Drake in his 2009 hit Best I Ever Had, in which the Canadian rapper claims he finds his girl "the prettiest" when she's chilling in sweatpants with no make-up on.
However, despite their "perfect the way you are" message, the music videos feature models and actresses - who are actually wearing a lot of makeup to get that perfect "no makeup" look.
Comedian Amy Schumer has taken on these tropes in her hilarious send-up of 1D's debut single, You Don't Know You're Beautiful.
In Girl, You Don't Need Makeup, a generic dancing boy-band encourage Schumer to remove all her makeup - until they realise they've made a terrible mistake and start begging her to put it back on again.
Suddenly, the message has changed from "just wipe it off" to "just put it on" in a matter of seconds, exposing the hypocrisy that not all women are encouraged to go without beauty products.
"Just a little mascara and you'll look female", one fresh-faced crooner pleads.
It's sparked a huge response on social media as women and girls around the world share photos of themselves under the hashtag #girlyoudontneedmakeup - showing that empowerment is always beautiful.
- nzherald.co.nz