On January 1st, 2026, history was made. Not only was the youngest New Yorker sworn into the highest public office in the city, an epic slay graced the steps of City Hall. At the climax to a rough campaign season forever to be remembered for the onslaught of untruths and cheap smears, Zohran Mamdami and his wife Rama Duwaji assumed the titles of Mayor and First Lady of New York City. It was as much a testament to integrity, tenacity, and hard work, as a reminder that true beauty and style will always prevail.
On the heels of Rama’s high fashion Irving Penn-inspired glow up in New York Mag, the matte, brown, minimalist shades she wore at the inauguration ceremony marked a new era in the soft, yet striking power of the feminine and cemented her as a beauty icon. That polished, understated beat was the work of Aya Tariq, a Saudi Arabia-born makeup artist whose portfolio features a multitude of high fashion editorial shoots and covers. After hundreds of requests on the socials, including mine, Tariq posted an IG tutorial and product list for Rama Duwaji’s inauguration look. If you can’t splurge on all the products she used, dip into these dupes to recreate the First Lady of New York’s modern aesthetic, including prestige, indie, and female-founded brands, namely Mraya Beauty and Kulfi, (Both the female founders of Mraya Beauty from Saudi Arabia, and Kulfi, inspired by an Indian frozen street desert, participated in my Female Founders in Clean Beauty Q&A series.)
Skin & Prep
On a winter day as cold and windy as Jan 1, skin prep is all about moisture and protection of the skin barrier. Similar to the Dieux Skin Instant Angel Lipid-Rich Firming Moisturizer, the Jordan Samuel Skin Moisture Recovery Cream is rich in ceramides, glycerin, and squalane to attract and seal moisture into the dermis.
Complexion
For luminosity sans yassified glow, instead of MAC Cosmetics Skinfinish Lightstruck Liquid Highlighter, try the Limboss Skin Accessories Glow Illuminating Face Primer. A universally flattering gold shade, it’s ultra concentrated and can be dialed down for sublte radiance or up for blinding highlight. While the Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Luminous Hydrating Foundation has been viral since its launch, The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation from Kevyn Aucoin similarly offers medium, buildable, and light-diffusing coverage for a radiant, skin-like finish. Ditto for Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Super Natural Concealer, a more affordable choice than MUA-beloved and ultra pricey Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer.
If you don’t already have a collection of TikTok-hyped Huda Baking Powders, Moira Loose Setting Powder comes in the same blurring pink, yellow, and peach shades without flashback.
Cheeks & Contour
Because contemporary maquillage is nothing without cream blush, like Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil, Moira Loveheat Cream Blush in I Trust You sinks into the skin effortlessly and nourishes with rosehip oil. It’s also buildable for a range of color intensities in 21 shades for the fairest to deepest complexions via finger or brush application.
Eyes
Makeup is always about the eyes. And in Rama Duwaji’s case, that’s doubly true. Given her large, emotive, brown doe eyes, the shadows were calibrated to make their shape pop with complimentary tones. In terms of shade range and fallout proof pigment quality, Mraya Beauty Eye Shadow’s color story in peaches and warm browns can be swapped out for the Hindash Match & Made palette. Instead of MAC Eye Kohl Eyeliner in Costa Richie, Kulfi Kajal Eyeliner in Cheeky Chiku & Nazar No More give both eye-opening brown and dramatic black outlines.
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Brunette allows precision and color payoff for a polished lifted arch, similar to the KJH Brand Engrave pencil. For the pièce de résistance of bold, face-defining eyes, try a few coats of Kulfi’s award-winning Badi Lash Mascara on the upper and lower lashes in lieu of Makeup by Mario Master Matte Mascara.
Lips
No different from facial skin, sealing the lips with a baste of emollient ingredients is the first step for lipstick prep. Similar to the Dr. Idriss Lip balm, Jordan Samuel Skin The Lip Balm moisturizes and soothes with shea butter and a smoothing peptide.
In a nod to 90’s Super Model Glam, Rama Duwaji’s lips were lined with Huda Beauty Lip Pencil in Sandy Beige, a match for Kevyn Aucoin Unforgettable Lip Definer in Carnal, a warm, red-toned medium brown.
Instead of Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick in Bossy Brown Rajah, Moira Signature Lipstick in Warm Nude serves up a warm medium-dark beige just shy of peachy with an ultra rich mango seed oil formulation.
Brushes
For the most targeted makeup application on eyes, cheeks, and lips, the gold standard in brushes has been set by MYKITCO. Both the 701 – My Cover & Contour – Dual Ended Brush & 264 – My Tight Liner are essentials for any foray into professional makeup application.
With this makeup tutorial, you can’t go wrong with understated, yet polished glam befitting of the First Lady of New York City!
