Donald Trump’s sudden orange hue decoded by celebrity makeup artist: 'He’s using a tanning bed'

Celebrity makeup artist Kimberly Bosso, renowned for working with high-profile clients, shared her thoughts on Donald Trump's orange appearance
UPDATED DEC 8, 2024
A celebrity makeup artist speculated that Donald Trump might be self-applying makeup (Getty Images)
A celebrity makeup artist speculated that Donald Trump might be self-applying makeup (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Celebrity make-up artist Kimberly Bosso, known for working with high-profile figures in US politics and entertainment, including former first lady Nancy Reagan, shared her thoughts on President-elect Donald Trump's orange appearance in an article published by the Daily Mail on Friday, November 6.

Bosso recounted her sole in-person interaction with Trump backstage at the 2007 Miss USA Pageant, describing his skin tone at the time as "normal" with a "healthy, posh glow."

Kimberly Bosso noted that Trump's current look, widely seen across media platforms, is a stark contrast to his earlier appearance, describing it as "a distinct bronze shade" with "stark white rings around his eyes."

Dana White and President-elect Donald Trump pose for a photo during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Dana White and President-elect Donald Trump pose for a photo during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Donald Trump's look leaves expert perplexed

Bosso expressed her bafflement at Trump's public appearance, asserting that "there is absolutely no way a professional make-up artist is doing this for him voluntarily."

"Even the most unskilled, novice artist would know to blend the space beneath his eyes with a concealer to meet the foundation shade on the rest of his face. I’m sure they would be embarrassed to have their client walk out with abrupt white circles like his," she stated, going on to suggest that Trump might be doing his make-up himself.

Donald Trump dances off stage at the conclusion of a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Donald Trump dances off stage at the conclusion of a campaign rally at the JS Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

"My better guess is that, as he gets older – and he’s already 78, after all – Trump is getting paler. Perhaps that worries him, and he believes a strong tan is the way to look healthy and more youthful," wrote Bosso.

"I would guess that he’s using a tanning bed and that the white rings are the result of wearing goggles to protect his eyes," she explained. "Next, I would say he is applying foundation over the top of his basic tan to achieve the dark shade of bronze we recognize today. And then he’s stopping right there without tending to the white under his eyes."

She criticized Trump for neglecting to use concealer and setting powder during touch-ups, then went on to share her professional suggestions for the president-elect.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 10: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks at the Detroit Economic Club on October 10, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. Michigan is considered a key battleground state in the upcoming presidential election, holding 15 electoral votes. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Donald Trump, speaks at the Detroit Economic Club on October 10, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Kimberly Bosso's makeup advice for Donald Trump

If Trump had been her client, Kimberly Bosso stated that she would have tried her best to convince him to change his overall appearance.

"I would start with a really good moisturizer and primer, then reach for a cream foundation that is lightweight but with ample coverage," she began. "Then I'd go in with a concealer, in a beige tone, and with a creamy consistency so it doesn’t look cakey or drying, and one which more closely matches his skin tone. And then I'd blend, blend, blend!"

"I’d follow up with an HD powder on the T-zone (nose, forehead, chin, cheeks, essentially) to cut the shine and make his skin look natural without texture," continued Bosso. A light brown pencil eyeliner was sufficient according to the artist to bring out Trump's eyes.

"I would also use a tinted eye primer to make sure the skin around his eyes is a healthier shade, reducing the risk of any capillaries appearing. And then I would probably lightly trim his eyebrows, to give them a natural, clean look," she added, with the warning, "Finally, I would tell him to stop using sun beds. Aside from the fact they are proven to be terribly cancerous, they also dry out your skin and are the fastest way to look old and wrinkly."

"But then again, I doubt he would listen," Bosso quipped in conclusion.

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