Alicia Keys Reveals the Secrets to Her Flawless Complexion

Alicia Keys’ makeup-free moment is stronger than ever. After staying fully committed to going bare-faced everywhere she goes and recruiting a handful of celebrities to join in, it’s safe to say her look has become a lifestyle. We recently learned how she gets her radiant look from her “no-makeup” makeup artist, Dotti. Now, in a an interview with Elle UK, Keys reveals she’s battled years of skincare struggles.

“It took me forever to get this skin. I mean, I know how it feels to have a face full of bumps and pimples,” she tells Elle UK in the magazine’s December issue. “I lived through that in the public eye. But when I first got pregnant [six years ago with her son, Egypt] I started to eliminate dairy from my diet and drank a lot more water, which made a huge difference to my skin.”

A lot of people and celebrities are inspired by Keys makeup-free bravery, but she maintains she wouldn’t call what she’s championing a “crusade.” “Some have called this a crusade,” she said. “Well, I died laughing at that. I use to feel the pressure to appear as the music industry expected, but I don’t now.”

Being the face of the magazine’s annual Feminism issue she also talks about the women who inspire her to be her “greatest” self in an accompanying video. She explains how her mother gave her resilience and determination, her grandmother taught her the importance of taking care of herself, and that every woman she admires taught her how to “find her way” in herself.

When asked if she identifies as a feminist, she looked up the official definition first and read it out loud. “‘The advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of political, social and economic equality’ – so yes. Yes, I am a feminist, and whoever isn’t is crazy. It’s about owning your power, embracing your womanhood.”

She ends her video saying she’s ready to become her “greatest self” and we say with her empowering makeup-free movement, she’s encouraging many to follow her lead to be their “greatest self” too.

You can pre-order the December issue of Elle UK now or pick up a copy on newsstands on November 15.

This article originally appeared on People.com