Side-By-Side Pics Show How Stunning Kamala Harris' Face Transformation Has Been

While we rarely see what Kamala Harris looks like without makeup, the former vice president has undergone a stunning transformation over her decades-long career as an attorney, politician, and change-maker. Harris is widely known for her love of colorful pantsuits and bright smile, but her confidence in navigating difficult political situations always shines through above all. The 2024 Democratic presidential candidate has made a career in advocating for her constituents, including supporting stricter gun control laws, protecting reproductive rights, and backing clean energy policies to combat climate change.

To celebrate her alma mater Howard University's 101st homecoming in October 2025, Harris shared throwback photos of herself from her student days on Instagram. Harris attended Howard, one of the top historically Black universities in the nation, from 1982 to 1986. Supporters were amazed at how much Harris changed — and how much she has stayed the same — over almost 40 years.

Before she became the country's second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator, Harris sported a stylish curly pixie cut and skinny eyebrows synonymous with the '80s and '90s. She complemented her signature toothy grin with bright, berry-toned lipstick. Harris has continued to embrace the skinny brow trend, and her natural complexion has remained, but the former vice president now opts for sheer, neutral lip colors that match her light blush. 

Kamala Harris' modern makeup routine is defined by simple elegance

While Kamala Harris looks equally stunning without makeup, the former California senator usually chooses a glowy yet natural base when out on the campaign trail or attending an awards ceremony. In 2021, iconic celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine — who has worked with Harris in addition to Michelle Obama, Tyra Banks, and Beyoncé — gave insight into the politician's makeup preferences to HelloGiggles in 2021. "As a political figure, you can't let makeup take the main stage when you have a crucial message to deliver, so it's all about elegance and beauty basics," Fine said. Though Kamala Harris looks gorgeous when abandoning her pantsuits, she can often be seen rocking a soft-pink, nude, or mauve lip to complement her signature jewel-toned businesswear. "Both Michelle and Kamala go for voluminous lashes, feathered brows, radiant complexions, and neutral sheer lip shades," Fine revealed.

Fine gave a few of his coveted makeup tips to Huda Beauty in 2018, where he explained some of the method behind his flawless celebrity transformations. After applying foundation, Fine uses a one-ply tissue to blot away excess oil and achieve a more "skin-like" finish, which is obvious in photos of Kamala Harris. In the case of nude-toned lipsticks, like the ones Harris often goes for, Fine advised to use a slightly darker lipliner first. "Nude lipsticks can often go unnoticed on brown skin, so apply a brown lipliner one shade deeper than your skin tone BEFORE applying lipstick, to add dimension and weight," the makeup artist explained. Harris might have aged since her Howard days, but thanks to her fool-proof makeup routine, she looks better than ever.