‘It’s giving drained’: Liberal TikTok users are mocking ‘conservative girl’ makeup

An intentionally bad “conservative girl” makeup technique is taking the internet by storm.

In the wake of the 2024 election and Donald Trump’s inauguration, an unflattering take on Republican women’s makeup style has quickly gained traction online. One of the first videos to go viral was posted by TikTok creator Suzanne Lambert back in November. It has since received five million views. In the video Lambert says, “I noticed that all of the Republican girlies in my comments do their makeup the exact same, gorgeous way, so I thought that I would try do it myself.”

According to Lambert, the “conservative girl” look is defined by thick, clumpy mascara, mismatched and cakey foundation, poorly lined and half-filled lips, and a final touch of smudged, cracked-crayon black eyeliner. “We really want our makeup to cling to any dry spots and accentuate any texture,” Lambert says in the video, which is set to Gretchen Wilson’s song “ ">Redneck Woman.” “It’s giving drained, it’s giving dusty,” she adds.

While the look may ruffle some feathers, for others, it’s spot on. “This got uncanny the moment you put on the blush,” one person commented. “I think this just reverse psychology taught me how to do makeup.”

The “conservative girl” makeup trend continues to snowball online. “Turning myself into a republican in honor of Trump saving TikTok,” one creator posted last month, following a similar-style tutorial. “Turning myself into my republican self in an alternative universe,” posted another.

On the surface, it’s just makeup, but scratch a little deeper and this trend highlights a country divided across generational lines. Exit polls show that 53% of female voters backed former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, while 45% supported Republican candidate Donald Trump. Among young women, Harris led by 18 points.

If older Republican women won’t take political advice from their Gen Z counterparts, maybe they could still take a few makeup tips. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91274247/its-giving-drained-liberal-tiktok-users-are-mocking-conservative-girl-makeup?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss