素面朝天

素面朝天

Literally means:

(of woman) present oneself to the emperor without make-up

Actually means:

appear as what one really is; wear no make-up

素, unembellished; 素面, face without make up; 朝天, means meeting and facing the Heaven (the emperor) in court.

This phrase originally de scribes a lady in Tang Dynasty who driven by confidence in her beauty, went to see the emperor without make-up. Later it is used to describe a woman who shows up without make-up because of her confidence in her beauty. Now it means a woman wears no cosmetics.

素，未加修饰的；素面，不化妆；朝天，旧时指在朝廷面见天子（皇帝）。

素面朝天，原指唐朝的一位贵妇人自信美貌，不化妆就敢见皇帝。后来指女人既美貌又自信，不需要化妆就敢出头露面。现在指女人不化妆。