If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you might have stumbled upon a hilarious (and a little ruthless) trend called “Republican makeup.” No, it’s not a line of cosmetics endorsed by the GOP or some new brand pushing red lipstick. It’s actually a satirical look that parodies a very specific style of makeup associated with conservative women — think clumpy mascara, mismatched foundation, and spray tan contouring that looks like it was applied in the dark. Yeah, it’s brutal, but that’s exactly why it’s blowing up.
The trend started with Suzanne Lambert, a comedian who noticed a pattern among the conservative women angrily commenting on her videos. “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 to do it myself,” Suzanne says in a video she posted in November — it’s since racked up over 4.7 million views.
The look — complete with spiderweb mascara and streaky foundation — was meant to be a joke, but it quickly spiraled into a viral sensation. And while some people are howling with laughter, others are furious. But as Suzanne tells Betches, “Humor has always been a part of political commentary.”
What Is Republican Makeup?
@itssuzannelambertDont miss the surprise at the end! Let me know how i did 🤩🤩♬ Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
At its core, Republican makeup is a TikTok trend where creators intentionally do their makeup badly to parody what they see as the stereotypical style of conservative women. Think chunky mascara, half-filled-in lips, orange spray tan contouring, and eyeliner that looks like it was applied during a bumpy car ride. The goal isn’t to look good — quite the opposite. The makeup is meant to be jarring, exaggerated, and, well, a little ugly.
Suzanne’s first video set the tone by saying, “We really want our makeup to cling to any dry spots and accentuate any texture,” all while smearing on streaky foundation that didn’t match her undertones. It was meant to be funny, and clearly, it was — 4.7 million views don’t lie.
Suzanne Lambert On Coining “Republican Makeup”
Suzanne didn’t just wake up one day and decide to roast Republican women’s makeup styles for the fun of it. As a comedian, she says she’s always observing people’s behavior, and she noticed that many of the conservative women flooding her comments with angry takes had a “very similar look and style.” So, she decided to parody it, leaning into the most extreme stereotypes.
But the humor isn’t just in the bad makeup; it’s in the cultural critique. “I think ruthless is subjective,” Suzanne says, explaining that humor, especially political humor, needs to be able to “cut through the noise” in today’s digital age. “When you think about all of the content being pushed in our faces, from the moment we wake up to the moment we finally put our phones down… it has to be able to cut through.”
But of course, not everyone is laughing. Some conservative women have taken serious offense, with one commenter accusing Suzanne of attacking people based on looks, proving that political humor doesn’t land the same way for everyone. Suzanne was expecting backlash but was pleasantly surprised by some of the responses.
“I am encouraged by the number of people with different political views who have shown that they can take a joke,” she says.
Why Are Conservatives So Mad About “Republican Makeup”?
As with any political satire, not everyone finds it funny. Critics argue that the trend is mean-spirited and perpetuates stereotypes about conservative women. Some even see it as a form of bullying. But Suzanne isn’t backing down. She points out that male comedians like Jon Stewart and “a lot of the dudes on SNL” have been making fun of appearances for years without being told to play nice.
“If you are an attractive, funny woman, people do not want to hear this kind of thing from you… because they want me to shut up and be quiet,” Suzanne says. “Men don’t get the same critique that women do… and I’m just not following those rules anymore.”
Ultimately, the conservative makeup trend isn’t just about eyeliner and lipstick; it’s about calling out the cultural and political divides that run deeper than foundation lines. And whether you find it hilarious or offensive, it’s definitely making people pay attention.
