'Mar-a-Lago face' is getting attention. Will it dissolve in 2026?
- - 'Mar-a-Lago face' is getting attention. Will it dissolve in 2026?
Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAYJanuary 7, 2026 at 6:01 AM
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Think MAGA is just a political movement? Think again.Lately, the buzz online has been about the MAGA aesthetic, particularly when it comes to cosmetic enhancements, with the rise of viral terms like “MAGA makeover” and “Mar-a-Lago face.”
The cheeky term "Mar-a-Lago face" is being used online to describe an “aesthetic characterized by full lips, high, prominent cheekbones, bright white teeth, a strong jaw line and minimal facial movement with well-defined eyebrows,” explains Dr. Samer Jaber, a dermatologist at Washington Square Dermatology in New York City.
Online users have posted videos pointing to several prominent Republicans they say embody this look. And The Guardian recently reported plastic surgeons were increasingly fielding requests from patients who were inspired by the likes of Kristi Noem, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Laura Loomer and Matt Gaetz.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a House Homeland Security hearing entitled "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland," on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 11, 2025.
But “it’s a bipartisan issue,” joked Dr. Anthony Rossi, who specializes in dermatologic surgeries. He adds men and women alike have been increasingly going for an overdone look for a while.
This not-so-subtle look has also been referred to as “Instagram face,” “iPhone face” or “Real Housewives face,” Rossi explained.He and Jaber suspect as the beauty trend gets more attention, the look may be on the verge of dissolving.
The 'Mar-a-Lago face' or 'MAGA makeover,' explained
How does one achieve this look? It usually a requires a combination of Botox and "some sort of filler with volume and can smooth out wrinkles,” Rossi says, though he’s not sure how purposeful some of the final results are.
“I don't think they're going in there asking for this type of look,” he says. “We can see it in some of the male politicians that you're like, wow, someone went really aggressive.”
Rossi emphasizes this look has become popularized by many in the public eye, not just those in politics. “It's been all over pop culture,” he says. “There's this echo chamber not just in politics, but in aesthetics too.”
There can even be a geographical factor, Jaber adds. For example, what his patients are looking for in New York − typically a more natural, subtle result − may differ from the aesthetic goals in Miami or LA, he says.
The downfall of the Mar-a-Lago face?
Despite the popularity, there’s been some recent negative PR when it comes to the look.
In a New York Times piece last month, Trump ally-turned-foe and former member of the House of Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized what she called the “MAGA Mar-a-Logo sexualization.”
“I have two daughters, and I’ve always been uncomfortable with how these women puff up their lips and enlarge their breasts,” she told the Times. “I believe how women in leadership present themselves sends a message to younger women.”
We've seen the tide turn before, Jaber says, referencing Kylie Jenner's once-revered lips as an example. “Large full ‘Kylie’ lips were previously in vogue and now young women are generally choosing less full lips,” he said.Some influencers and celebrities have recently announced they’re breaking up with Botox and falling away from filler. Ariana Grande, Courteney Cox, Lisa Rinna and Olivia Culpo have all recently talked about returning to a more natural look.
Though, as Rossi points out, it’s hard to know if they’ve actually gone filler-free or have just opted for a more subtle amount.
Top treatment trends for 2026
So what’s in store for the new year? Rossi’s prediction is a shift toward what he calls “quiet aesthetics.”
This will involve many of the same treatments, just done in a different, lighter way.
One method on the rise? Lasers, which can improve the skin itself, have “really soared in popularity,” Rossi said.
“That's one thing great about the skin, and it has the propensity and the ability to actually rejuvenate itself. And we could help that along with laser resurfacing or collagen simulating lasers,” he explains.
Jaber is also seeing the rise of more natural “tweakments.”
“In 2026 the aesthetic field is moving away from ‘looking done,’ " he says, "and more focused on undetectable work."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Mar-a-Lago face' going out of style in 2026?
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
