Makeup Artists Are Sharing Their Thoughts On “MAGA Makeup,” And They’re Not Holding Back

Even if you cannot clock a conservative woman from a mile away, you could probably correctly guess which TV network she will appear on.

Michelle Phillips, a makeup artist who has worked at both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention, said the Republican look is a “reflection of branding rather than personal preference,” she said. 

“Female anchors on conservative TV networks are often styled with more bold-looking makeup. In contrast, networks that are more liberal tend to favor a more understated approach with softer makeup,” Phillips said. 

“Women on Fox News definitely don’t shy away from makeup, as opposed to the people that are on CNN and MSNBC,” said South Carolina-based freelance makeup artist Leah Greene, who has done makeup on political figures ranging from presidential candidates Marianne Williamson and Kamala Harris to Fox & Friends cohost Ainsley Earhardt.  

“I don’t think the conservatives know there’s a different look, but I think the liberals, they recognize it more,” Greene said. She said she has gotten requests from her more liberal clients not to make them look like a guest going on Fox.

“I wouldn’t do a bronzer on a non-conservative, I would do more neutral colors, lipstick and blush,” she said as an example. 

Of course, conservative women are not the only people who underblend. Greene said male politicians, in general, can underblend the spray tans they get in their desire to look “healthy.”

“The men are the ones that you can tell their spray tanner doesn’t go all the way up to their hairline, more than the women,” she said, noting that Donald Trump “at times” has had bad spray tans, but “he’s done a much better job this time than last time on his paint.”

Cakey foundation and poor blending are universal.