The psychology behind the 'anti-Mar-a-Lago' face... as it sweeps through Hollywood

The cosmetic trend, which stands in direct contention with the infamous MAGA makeover, is defined as being 'anti-obvious plastic surgery.'

Dr Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, previously told the Daily Mail that the most important feature of the 'anti-Mar-a-Lago' face is that the person remains recognizable.

'You should notice that he or she looks rested, healthy and refreshed — not immediately begin counting the procedures,' she explained.

She suggested that Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway and Lindsay Lohan 'all embody the refreshed-but-recognizable look from a purely aesthetic standpoint' amid a 'definite pendulum swing' in popularity in recent months.

But, while the understated aesthetic has become a significant cultural trend in Hollywood, experts have now suggested that the look has more than just materialistic motives.

Behavioral scientist and social psychologist Jordan Bridger told the Daily Mail that the 'anti-Mar-a-Lago' face is 'less about beauty than about group signaling.'

'Faces work as quick identity badges. When one look becomes tied to a particular crowd, people who do not want to be read as part of that crowd start to drift the other way, toward softer, more "undone" looks. 

Demand for the 'anti-Mar-a-Lago' face is rising with Emma Stone cited as embodying the refreshed-but-recognizable look. Pictured: In 2019 (left) and 2026 (right)

Dr Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, a double board-certified plastic surgeon, previously told the Daily Mail that the most important feature is that the person remains recognizable. Pictured: Lindsay Lohan in 2026

'Social psychologists call this distinction-seeking: we pick the markers that say who we are and who we are not,' he shared.

Elaborating further in his analysis, he explained that there are 'two things make it stick.'

'First, a look that is obviously done reads as effort, and effort reads as trying to be seen, so the natural look becomes the higher-status signal,' Bridger began.

'Second, people trust faces that move and show expression, so a very polished, still face can come across as guarded, while a lived-in face reads as someone with nothing to hide.'

He concluded: 'The irony is that "natural" also takes work, so it is still a performance, just a quieter one.'

Psychiatrist Sam Zand, who is founder and CEO of Anywhere Clinic, agreed.

He said: 'One way to understand the 'anti-Mar-a-Lago face' is as a response to beauty becoming associated with political identity. 

'Once a particular look takes on that meaning, some people may move away from it to express independence or feel more aligned with their own values.'

The understated aesthetic has become a significant cultural trend in Hollywood. Pictured: Anne Hathaway in 2025

The expert, who has more than 15 years of experience, shared that there is 'tension in any countertrend,' sharing: 'Rejecting one beauty standard can create another.' 

'A preference for a more natural appearance can feel freeing, but it can become another pressure if women are expected to prove their authenticity through how they look.'

However, Dr Zand did add a word of caution, adding that there are still others who have made cosmetic decisions based on 'aesthetic preference' alone.

'We should be careful not to read someone's politics from their superficial connections,' he explained.

'Psychologically, appearance can help us express both individuality and belonging: "This feels like me," and "These are my people."

'Those motivations can exist across political groups, even when the resulting styles look very different.' 

The anti-Mar-a-Lago face seems to be in contention to the MAGA makeover trend that swept Capitol Hill after President Donald Trump took office. Pictured: Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2026

The anti-Mar-a-Lago face seems to be in contention to the MAGA makeover trend that swept Capitol Hill after President Donald Trump took office.

Defined by copious use of Botox, a Miami-bronze tan, puffy lips and silky smooth skin, several high-profile women have seemingly undergone the makeover, including Kristi Noem, Laura Loomer and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

The Daily Mail previously reported that Trump 'has long expressed admiration for those who look like they are from Hollywood "central casting,"' and the hyper-feminine aesthetic, often seen as a status symbol linked to Trump's circle, reflects that.

And, at the time, Jordan Conrad, a psychologist based in New York, told the Daily Mail that it was driven by Trump's leading ladies wanting to reinforce classic feminine traits, with traditional gender roles being a strong belief in the MAGA world.