In an already divided nation, TikTok has brewed another way to separate liberals and conservatives: by their makeup looks.
After having redownloaded TikTok this past week, after a very short ban of the app in the United States, I stumbled across the resurgence of this liberal vs. conservative makeup trend from 2021. The trend does seem to have gotten bigger, with mostly liberal content creators poking fun at conservative makeup.
The so-called ‘liberal’ makeup consists of very thin, dewy skin, bold and unconventionally colored lips and eye shadows, dark eyeliner, and full-coverage foundation. On the other hand, the so-called ‘conservative’ or ‘MAGA’ makeup consists of a foundation that is too orange or “cakey,” super dry and light concealer, heavy eyebrows, and pale pink lips.
Many liberal creators argue that the “MAGA makeup” looks outdated, overly contoured, unmatched concealer shades, and too reminiscent of early 2010s makeup trends. However, conservative influencers claim that the liberal makeup style is unflattering and too glowy.
Beyond the surface, this trend is more than just makeup; it’s another clear reflection of the political and cultural divides in this country. Generation Z is not an exception to the divide, they (we) may be more divided than ever.
Okay but yes, I know that the politicization of makeup isn’t entirely new. Beauty trends have often reflected social movements and cultural shifts such as the bold red lips of the 1940s wartime women. In Nazi-occupied territories, women used their bold red lips as an act of resistance since Hitler was known to dislike cosmetics.
Going into the 1970s, women and men experimented with more colorful looks which tied with the hippie movement, you know, harmony with nature, artistic experimentation and recreational drug use or whatnot, which were all reflected in the makeup and fashion of the time.
While most of these videos seem satirical, both sides of the political spectrum on TikTok seem offended by it. Just look at the comment section of these types of videos. @TROUBLE😈wrote,” yeah… it’s gonna take a lot more makeup to cover up that personality. But hey, Love, Inclusivity, and Tolerance, am I right? ❤️”
The rise of this trend shows how the political polarization of the US is infiltrating all aspects of society and culture; now I’m wondering what it’ll infiltrate next.
