Since assuming the role of First Lady, Melania Trump has consistently captured public attention not only through her official duties but also via her impeccable fashion sense and consistently flawless makeup presentation. The former model maintains a perpetually polished appearance, typically selecting neutral, camera-friendly cosmetics that enhance her radiant, sun-kissed complexion.
The Signature Look: Smokey Eyes and Neutral Lips
Melania Trump is seldom photographed without her trademark dark, smokey eye makeup paired with a soft, neutral pink lip colour. This distinctive combination has become her visual hallmark at numerous high-profile events, ranging from her appearance at the New York Stock Exchange to a movie premiere held in Washington, D.C. Her aesthetic prioritises a classic, elegant finish that appears effortlessly refined.
Affordable Luxury: The Product Preferences
Contrary to assumptions about exclusive, high-end cosmetics, Trump's personal makeup artist, Nicole Bryl, has disclosed that the First Lady frequently utilises moderately priced items from popular brands Urban Decay and Estée Lauder to achieve her signature look. Bryl, who has collaborated with the Trump family since Barron Trump's birth in 2003, possesses an intimate understanding of Melania's beauty preferences.
In a detailed interview with Us Weekly conducted shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration, Bryl elaborated on the specific products employed for the historic occasion. For the daytime ceremony, where Melania wore a baby blue cashmere Ralph Lauren dress, the makeup artist crafted a soft, glossy pink lip using Urban Decay products.
Inauguration Day Beauty Breakdown
Daytime Look: Bryl utilised Urban Decay's $25 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Cruz to outline Trump's lips, followed by the application of Urban Decay's Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Lovechild. Although this particular gloss has been discontinued, Urban Decay currently offers a comparable product, the Vice Lip Bond Glossy Longwear Liquid Lipstick, retailing for $28.
Evening Transformation: For the inauguration ball events, Bryl refreshed the lip colour by layering Urban Decay's $21 Vice Lipstick in Naked Cream over Estée Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil in Rose, which costs $30.
Iconic Smokey Eyes: To create Trump's signature eye makeup, Bryl applied Estée Lauder's Pure Color Envy Defining Eye Shadow Wet/Dry in Brash Bronze, a product now discontinued. However, Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Corrupt, also used during the application, remains available for purchase at $23 from major retailers like Sephora. Both products were carefully blended along Trump's upper and lower lash lines.
Skincare and Longstanding Collaboration
Beyond cosmetics, Trump has incorporated products from Nicole Bryl's eponymous skincare line into her routine, including the premium $450 'Face Lifting Water' treatment. Bryl emphasises that meticulous skincare preparation forms the foundation of any successful makeup application.
'I certainly spend the most amount of time on my client's skin,' Bryl confessed in a prior discussion with Women's Wear Daily. 'Ensuring that there is always a gentle, flawless glow and that everything is blended perfectly is a skill I never tire of perfecting.'
The makeup artist also highlighted her proficiency in customising individual eyelashes swiftly. Crucially, Bryl expressed no nervousness about working with the First Lady, citing their long professional history.
'As Melania and I have worked together for so many years, I feel comforted when I'm with her, which is always a great advantage,' Bryl told the publication. 'I'm not all of a sudden nervous to do my job now just because her title has changed to first lady. I'm simply excited for her to shine.'
Consistency and Personal Philosophy
Over time, Melania Trump's makeup aesthetic has demonstrated remarkable consistency, particularly regarding her smokey eye emphasis. While beauty experts attempting to replicate her look have sometimes incorporated other celebrity-favoured brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Trump herself has never verified using these products.
However, the First Lady has been unequivocal about one beauty treatment she avoids entirely: Botox and similar injectables. During an interview with GQ Magazine, Melania stated firmly, 'A lot of people say I am using all the procedures for my face. I didn't do anything. I live a healthy life, I take care of my skin and my body.'
She elaborated, 'I'm against Botox, I'm against injections; I think it's damaging your face, damaging your nerves. It's all me. I will age gracefully.' The magazine further noted that Trump's rigorous skincare regimen includes consuming seven pieces of fruit daily and maintaining diligent skin moisturising practices.
