Seeing Ryan Ashley Malarkey—now Ryan Ashley DiCristina—without her signature sharp eyeliner and matte lip is kinda like seeing a superhero without their cape. It’s rare. Since she burst onto the scene in 2016 as the first woman to win Ink Master, we’ve mostly known her for that impeccable, almost Victorian-goth aesthetic. It’s a look that matches her tattooing: precise, intricate, and deeply deliberate.
But when Ryan Ashley no makeup photos do surface, usually in a quick Instagram story or a candid post-workout snap, the internet loses its mind. People start speculating about plastic surgery, fillers, or why she "looks like a different person." Honestly, though? Most of that talk misses the point. Ryan isn't "hiding" behind makeup; she’s an artist who treats her entire being as a canvas.
The Reality of the "Different Person" Narrative
If you scroll through Reddit or old fan forums, you’ll find threads where people are genuinely shocked by her bare face. They point to her jawline or her nose and wonder if she’s had major work done. In 2022, a particularly viral thread on the Ink Master subreddit showed her with darker hair and a softer face, and fans were baffled.
Here’s the thing. Ryan has actually been pretty transparent about this stuff. When a fan once asked her on Instagram how she’s so pretty, she bluntly replied: "plastic surgery." She’s also posted about getting Botox. You’ve gotta appreciate that kind of intellectual honesty in an industry that usually pretends everyone just drinks a lot of water and does yoga.
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Why the Contrast Is So Sharp
The "no makeup" version of Ryan Ashley feels so jarring because her "on" look is so extreme. Think about it:
- The Brows: She usually sports a very defined, high-arch brow that changes the architecture of her forehead.
- The Contouring: Her fashion background at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) shows in how she "sculpts" her face with light and shadow.
- The Tattoos: Her face and neck tattoos are part of her permanent "makeup." When she isn't wearing foundation, the contrast between the black ink and her natural skin tone is much more vivid.
Basically, she’s a master of illusion. She spent years designing beadwork and lace for private labels in NYC before she ever picked up a tattoo machine. She knows how to trick the eye.
Aging in the Public Eye
Ryan is 38 now. She’s had a child (her son, Atheus, was born in 2020), she’s gone through a divorce from fellow artist Arlo DiCristina, and she’s moved across the country multiple times. Life happens.
When people see a "no makeup" photo from 2024 and compare it to her Ink Master Season 8 appearance from nearly a decade ago, they often forget that faces change. Weight loss, motherhood, and the natural loss of "baby fat" in the cheeks happen to everyone. In Ryan’s case, she’s leaned into a more "snatched" look over the years, which likely involves a mix of professional treatments and the natural aging process.
The Power of the Bare Face
There’s something weirdly empowering about seeing her without the glam. For a woman who has spent her career in the male-dominated, often judgmental world of tattooing, the choice to show her "real" face is a power move.
She’s spoken openly about the "brutal" and "inappropriate" treatment she faced during her apprenticeship because she was a woman. She had to be twice as good to get half the respect. By the time she got to Ink Master, she used her appearance as a shield and a brand. But now? She doesn’t have much left to prove. Whether she’s at Elysium Studios in Colorado with a full face of glam or at home with a clean face, her talent is what sticks.
What We Can Actually Learn from Her Look
- The "Artist" Mindset: Makeup isn't just about vanity for her; it's an extension of her design work.
- Transparency Matters: By being open about fillers or surgery, she kills the "impossible beauty standard" myth.
- Ink and Skin: Tattoos look different on bare skin versus skin covered in high-coverage foundation. The "no makeup" look often highlights her ink better than the glam look does.
Breaking Down the Plastic Surgery Rumors
Let’s get specific. People love to talk about her nose. If you look at high-res Getty Images of Ryan from 2019 versus 2024, the bridge of her nose is largely the same. It’s a unique, defined nose that she’s kept. Most of the "change" people see is actually clever contouring or perhaps some subtle tip refinement.
Her lips and jawline are where the most obvious work has been done. Lip fillers are basically a staple in the beauty-adjacent world now, and she’s never hidden the fact that she likes the look. Does it make her a "worse" artist? Obviously not. Does it mean she’s "unrecognizable"? Only if you’re looking at a blurry screenshot from a 2016 TV screen.
How to Get That Ryan Ashley Glow (Natural Edition)
If you're looking to emulate her look—without the heavy layers—it's more about skin health than anything else. Ryan’s skin always looks remarkably clear, which is a feat considering she’s often under heavy studio lights or traveling for conventions.
- Hydration is Non-Negotiable: Tattooed skin needs moisture to look vibrant. This applies to the face too.
- Sun Protection: You don't get ink that crisp without a lot of SPF. If she’s "no makeup" outdoors, you can bet she’s wearing a high-quality sunblock.
- Confidence over Coverage: The biggest takeaway from Ryan’s rare natural moments is that she seems comfortable in both versions of herself.
Seeing Ryan Ashley no makeup shouldn't be a "gotcha" moment. It’s just another side of a complex, highly successful woman who has built an empire on her own terms. She’s an artist, a mom, and a business owner. Sometimes, that means the eyeliner stays in the drawer.
If you want to keep up with her actual work rather than just her aesthetic, your best bet is following her shop, Elysium Studios. She’s constantly pushing the boundaries of what "ornamental" tattooing can be, proving that while makeup is temporary, her impact on the tattoo industry is permanent.
Take a look at your own skincare routine and ask if you're protecting your "canvas" as well as a pro artist does. Use a daily SPF 30 at minimum to keep your skin (and any ink) from fading, and don't be afraid to let your natural texture show through once in a while.