The first-ever TV debate between John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon about 64 years ago changed how politicians think about their looks. Nixonʼs sweaty pale face (caused by his refusal to use makeup) versus Kennedyʼs fresh look showed that appearance could affect election results
In the years after that politicians started changing how they dress: from super-formal suits to more casual clothes. After the mid-70s Jimmy Carter‚ George H W Bush and Bill Clinton dropped suit jackets; later Barack Obama and Mitt Romney went tie-less and recently Ron DeSantis switched to fishing shirts
The camera has no friends and you wont be the first
Misha Lewis a pro makeup artist worked with many big names in DC including: Joe Biden‚ John McCain‚ Mike Pompeo and others. She says makeup for men in politics needs to be invisible: its goal is to remove distractions not create them. Now she works as Antony Blinkens personal makeup artist
Here are some examples of makeup hits-and-misses in todays politics:
* Donald Trump uses too much bronzer making his skin look orange
* Joe Biden sometimes appears too pale on TV due to wrong makeup choice
* J.D. Vance has natural long eyelashes - not makeup as some think
* Tim Walz needs better oil control for his skin
* Matt Gaetz often has over-done eyebrows
* Ron DeSantis wears too much foundation and powder making his face look thick