The High School Makeup Mistake Karoline Leavitt Needs to Leave Behind

Karoline Leavitt has become one of the most visible faces in American politics today, but not always for reasons she might want. As Donald Trump’s current White House press secretary, she commands attention at every press briefing, her sharp statements and unshakable confidence placing her at the center of media storms. However, there’s another aspect of Leavitt’s public persona that has come under fire—not her policies or press strategies, but her makeup. More specifically, her eyebrow game.

Leavitt’s Eyebrows Are Making the Wrong Kind of Statement

Overdrawn, overly dark, and frequently smudged, Leavitt’s eyebrows have become the unintentional headline in more than a few of her public appearances. Critics say they represent a common misstep, one often seen among teenagers new to cosmetics: focusing on boldness over balance, quantity over quality.

Her aesthetic seems to follow a growing trend among high-profile Republican women, dubbed the “MAGA Makeup” look by internet commentators and comedians alike. The visual hallmarks of this trend include harsh brows, thick eyeliner, and heavily matte complexions. It’s a style that feels more suited for the stage or social media than the glare of the White House press room. And Leavitt, unfortunately, is becoming its poster child.

What’s Going Wrong?

Leavitt’s makeup missteps start with her choice of product and technique. Her eyebrow pigment is often several shades darker than her natural hair color, creating a jarring contrast that dominates her face. In a recent White House briefing photo, the problem was visibly exaggerated, with what appeared to be brown smudges above her brow—evidence of too much product and not enough finesse.

It’s the kind of mistake most women leave behind in high school, and yet Leavitt, a woman with access to the best stylists and visibility on a national scale, seems stuck in an adolescent beauty phase. It doesn’t help that the makeup, combined with her often severe facial expressions, tends to give her a colder, almost theatrical look—one that undermines her message when speaking on serious or sensitive issues.

A Recent Case in Point

This stark contrast between Leavitt’s sharp words and her exaggerated features came to a head during a press briefing in which she addressed the wrongful detention of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. Garcia, a Maryland father mistakenly imprisoned in El Salvador due to what the White House admitted was an “administrative error,” had drawn national sympathy. But Leavitt, in what many saw as a tone-deaf moment, sneered at the media’s coverage of his story.

“Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year,” she said with unmistakable sarcasm. The image of her arched, overfilled brows furrowed into a mocking frown went viral within hours—shared not for the message, but for the unintended irony of her villainess-style presentation.

Even Critics of MAGA Style Are Taking Notice

Leavitt’s makeup choices haven’t gone unnoticed by cultural critics either. Suzanne Lambert, a comedian known for parodying “MAGA glam,” told Dazed that the aesthetic often features “eyebrows that are irregularly shaped and often in the form of punctuation marks.” Leavitt, she added, had previously embraced what she dubbed the “comma brow”—a sharply curved look seen in a now-deleted Instagram Reel from 2023.

Makeup professionals have also weighed in. Brow expert Giselle Soto recommended Leavitt trade her current gel-based brow product (Too Faced’s Brow Wig) for a brow powder. “Powder helps give brows a softer, more natural look as opposed to pencils or pomades, which can sometimes look too heavy or leave harsher lines,” Soto explained to Self.

Anastasia Soare, founder of the legendary Anastasia Beverly Hills brand, advised a more nuanced approach: “Use a darker color for the highest part of the eyebrows and one shade lighter for the inner part,” she told The Zoe Report. This technique, often used by professional makeup artists, creates dimension and mimics the natural gradient of real brows—something Leavitt’s current style severely lacks.

The Bigger Problem: Image vs. Intention

It’s worth asking why something as seemingly minor as eyebrow makeup is drawing this level of attention. The answer lies in the unique role Karoline Leavitt plays in the political ecosystem. As one of the youngest press secretaries in American history—and a key face of Donald Trump’s inner circle—everything about her is scrutinized. Her tone, her statements, her posture, and yes, her appearance.

In politics, image matters. It’s not just about fashion or vanity; it’s about how credibility, empathy, and authority are communicated visually. In Leavitt’s case, her harsh, overly drawn makeup choices are clashing with her goals of appearing composed and professional. Instead of softening her presence or reinforcing her message, the overdone brows and heavy-handed application make her appear confrontational and theatrical—qualities she’s already fighting against given the combative nature of her role.

She’s Been Here Before

What makes the makeup debate even more surprising is that Leavitt has shown in the past that she can look polished and sophisticated. In earlier press photos and campaign appearances, her makeup was far more balanced—lighter brows, neutral palettes, a more natural finish. She even embraced a softer look during the announcement of her engagement in 2023, where her appearance was widely praised by both supporters and critics.

So why revert to this outdated, overly dramatized version of herself? Some believe it’s strategic. Political branding is all about clarity, and Leavitt may be using bold brows and sharp lines to create a visual persona that matches her rhetoric—confident, tough, and unflinching. But what she may not realize is that it’s coming off as forced, even cartoonish.

It’s Time for a Glow-Up—Not Just a Touch-Up

Leavitt’s political future is still unfolding, and as a young, influential voice within the Republican party, she has plenty of time to evolve. But if she wants her words to carry more weight and her presence to reflect her ambition, a few updates to her beauty routine could go a long way.

Softening her makeup wouldn’t mean softening her message. Instead, it would help ensure that her appearance doesn’t distract from the substance of what she’s trying to say. It would make her more relatable, more polished, and less like she’s playing a part in a poorly lit high school production of Cruella de Vil: The Capitol Years.

With access to top-tier stylists and a platform that reaches millions, Leavitt has every resource to elevate her image. The only thing she has to do now is let go of the adolescent belief that bolder equals better—and embrace a more refined, modern, and effective version of herself.

Because right now, her brows are louder than her briefings. And that’s a mistake no press secretary, no matter how powerful, can afford to keep making.