Is makeup political? A debate is playing out on social media over beauty and what it might say about someone’s personal values. On one side, people are taking aim at so-called “Republican makeup,” lampooning heavy foundation and overfilled eyebrows as an expression of conservative values. In response, conservatives are accusing liberals of clumsily applied, clownish makeup that doesn’t align with traditional gender norms, mocking bright hair dye, piercings and neon lipstick.
For the past few months, “Republican makeup” has trended on social media. Hundreds of videos from women, most of them left-leaning, critique and parody the getting-ready routines of prominent Republicans [such as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, right]. Some videos weave in tongue-in-cheek political commentary, but for the most part, the implication is simple: being conservative, these users are saying, doesn’t just mean you support certain policies; it means you actually have bad taste.
Meanwhile, some TikTok users are posting videos with filters that draw messy red lips, blue eye shadow, clumsy mascara and mustache hair, dubbing it “liberal makeup.” On and offline, “blue-haired liberals” is a common jab used against the left. Rep. Rosa DeLauro [top photo] came under fire on social media last week for her appearance during President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress. The Connecticut Democrat is known for having brightly dyed hair.
