Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drops her skincare routine on Insta, Twitter explodes

But Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Congress, is one politician reshaping how elected officials connect with voters online.

In fact, the 29-year-old, who has represented portions of the New York City district, The Bronx and Queens since 3 January, was compared by CNN media analyst Brian Stelter to the US president because of how effectively she uses social media. “What Trump is to Twitter, she is to Instagram Live,” he said on his politics show, Reliable Sources.

Others on social media have taken the comparison between Trump and the Congresswoman - known by her initials AOC - a step further.

AOC already has 2 million followers on Instagram - and 2.6 million on Twitter. She was even drafted in to teach her Democratic Party colleagues a lesson in the effective use of social media. She led a seminar to "discuss how they use Twitter as an effective and authentic messaging tool to connect with their constituents" and "the importance of digital storytelling," according to a notice sent to Democratic House members obtained by CNN.

She has been praised for using her social media platform (where she discusses issues including her ‘Green New Deal’ and a higher tax rate for millionaires and billionaires) to successfully engage with young voters. And her young fans are now obsessed with something much more ordinary: her skincare routine. 

The politician shared her elaborate skincare steps – as well as some general beauty advice – in an Instagram story last Sunday.

“People want me to post my skincare routine - I don’t want it to seem too product-placementy so I’m not gonna go crazy with brands but here’s the gist,” wrote the politician, who went viral earlier this month over a university dancing video.

The first step involves something she calls ‘double cleansing’. “If you wear make-up – especially foundation – you should double cleanse,” AOC said. “Cleanse w/ a balm or oil to melt off the makeup and then use a usual soapy cleanser to wash your skin.

“Sometimes I just use a nice face wipe before bed… We’ve all slept in makeup. The wipes are a really good place to start if this is a bad habit.”

Step two is all about toner, which, according to her, “should feel like water but more nourishing (a lot of people use plain witch hazel).”

Next up is moisturiser and sunscreen. AOC said: “Use a moisturiser that works with your skin. I find moisturiser to be one of the most personal steps bc everyone’s skin is different and it’s like finding jeans that fit. Then: SUNSCREEN! The most important thing. I‘ve been using daily sunscreen since I was 19.”

In a final section, called ‘random other things', the politician discussed everything from face masks to tips from her mother.

“I try to do a face mask or eye patch or something extra like that every once in a while,” she wrote. “My mom used to break out a lot in her 20s so she taught me since I was a kid to not touch my face much or rest my face on my open hand.” 

The politician’s fans were immediately fascinated by the post.

However, not everyone was impressed with the politician’s use of social media.

But it isn't just AOC who's harnessing the power of her social presence. Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy Seal, has drawn attention for his vibrant Instagram and Twitter feeds, where he posts  workout videos at the gym and uploads clips with his dog.

And after the 34-year-old called out Saturday Night Live on social media for mocking his combat injury (he lost his right eye while serving in Afghanistan six years ago), he made a memorable appearance on the show alongside actor and comedian Pete Davidson, with the clip going instantly viral.

Whether or not you approve of a politician using social media in such a personal way, AOC's Instagram has undoubtedly become a phenomenon in a short space of time. So much so that it has even inspired a whole new genre of political communication, with 2020 presidential contender Elizabeth Warren going on Instagram Live to chug a beer, Texas Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke sharing his visit to the dentist’s office and Ohio Republican Jena Powell using Instagram stories to talk about the legislative process.

This shift in how politicians reach out to voters raises one very intriguing question: if the 2016 presidential election was ruled by Twitter, could 2020 be the first 'Instagram election’?