30 Genius Beauty Hacks the Royals Use to Look Flawless
They're royal, but they're not superhuman. Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and other members of the British royal family have relied on their own beauty wits (and their makeup artists!) to look like total perfection every time they make an appearance. Luckily the first step of picture-perfect skincare can start at Sephora, no tiara required.
Pump out 15 reps of ... smiling? "I do facial exercises from one of my favorite aestheticians, Nicola Joss, who basically has you sculpt your face from the inside out," Meghan Markle told Birchbox in 2014. "I swear it works, as silly as you may feel. On the days I do it, my cheekbones and jawline are waaaay more sculpted."
The Duchess of Cambridge applied her own wedding day makeup — albeit with some "artistry assistance" from Bobbi Brown pro Hannah Martin. The supplies included three shades of eyeshadow: Ivory all over, Rockstar on the lower lid, and Slate in the crease.
Markle has clearly learned a thing or two from the makeup artists on set. She named the iconic NARS Blush in Orgasm as one of her top five, can't-live-without products in an interview with Beauty Banter, calling it "a perfect rosy flush tone that brightens the face."
While unconfirmed by the Duchess herself, Trilogy's Rosehip Oil reportedly remains a staple step in her beauty routine. "Kate continues to use rosehip oil in her daily skincare regimen," an anonymous source told US Weekly in 2015. "She loves the effect it has on her skin."
Diana, Princess of Wales had long worn a poofy '80s 'do, but a meeting with celebrity hair stylist Sam McKnight and a leap of faith inspired that chic pixie cut. "Like many women, she used to hide behind her hair," he told the Daily Telegraph. "She said, 'what would you do if I gave you free reign?’ I said, 'cut it short,' and she said, could you do it now?’”
So this is what what the Duchess keeps in her handbags: Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment with SPF 15. "I have searched high and low and tried every kind of lip balm but this is the very best," she told Beauty Banter. "Soft, kissable, buttery lips. I swear by it."
Rushing out the door is no excuse to look less-than-polished. "I do my makeup in the car," Princess Eugenie told Harper's Bazaar in 2016. "I'm really good at doing it on the move! I use Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown — Charlotte's mascara and Bobbi Brown bronzer. They are geniuses."
The Duchess of Sussex likes to rep loose buns, but her tighter chignons look super sleek thanks to this quick tip. "For my flyaways, I spray hairspray on a small boar bristle toothbrush (a regular toothbrush also works great!) to lightly brush them down or smooth the hairline," she told Birchbox. "This is especially good for a sleek bun when I am off-camera."
Queen Elizabeth has worn Essie's sheer pick hue Ballet Slippers since the '80s, and the other royal women have followed her lead. Kate Middleton opted for a combination of two (since discontinued) neutral hues on her wedding day, her manicurist told the Daily Mail: Laque Ultra Shine in Rose Lounge Bourjois and Essie's Allure.
Those early morning engagements have nothing on the Duchess of Sussex thanks this trick from her Suits days. "To open up your eyes, apply a highlighter like Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche éclat in the inner corner," she told Birchbox. "This trick is especially good when we are filming at 3 a.m. and I need to look bright eyed and bushy tailed."
Princess Diana's makeup artist Mary Greenwell revealed the secret to her styling in 2012, and it's all about restraint. "You can combine full lips with a heavy eye; the trick is to wear a light blush," she told Stylist. "You just do two elements and not three. You never, ever do a full lip, eye, and blush!""
That Markle sparkle costs less than you think. The Duchess of Sussex swears by drugstore beauty buy Nivea Skin Firming Hydration Body Lotion. "I use this religiously," she told Beauty Banter. "It’s honestly my favorite lotion on the market — it’s so affordable and makes my skin look and feel amazing. I would buy a case of this at a time if I could find it." Nivea, take notes!
Princess Eugenie previously revealed to Harper's Bazaar she uses Jo Malone Eucalyptus and Mint Cleanser every single day before bed. While that particular product is now discontinued, try Biore Daily Cleansing Cloths. "They’re great to keep in the car and on your nightstand when you have those horribly lazy nights that the thought of getting up to actually wash your face seems unbearable," Markle told Beauty Banter. We feel you, Meghan!
The Duchess of Cambridge stole a tip out of the ballerina playbook for her flawless updos. Look closely and you'll see her elaborately coiffed styles stay in place with the help of a near-invisible hairnet.
This picture was taken at dawn; we repeat, at dawn. Meghan has twice credited her Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler with helping her cheat sleep. "Even if you don't have a stitch of makeup on," she told Birchbox, "you suddenly look a bit more alive."
Meghan Markle has the easiest in-between blowouts fix. "There is nothing like a hair flip!" she shared with Birchbox. "When my hair is feeling a little weighted, Suanne, my hair artist on set, has me bend forward and she sprays a little Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray or nothing at all, and then has me 'flip back hard' to give my hair a little extra bounce."
Kate Middleton's been known to use Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink to create just the right amount of smolder (e.g., no moving to the tops of your eyelids).
Count Laura Mercier Primer as a mainstay in Meghan Markle's makeup bag. "I don’t wear foundation unless I’m filming, so this is what I put on every day after moisturizer to give my skin a dewy glow," Markle revealed to Beauty Banter. "It’s not sparkly, it’s true to its name … illuminating."
To get Princess Diana's natural-looking glow, you'll need a big brush. Greenwell advises first sweeping a highlighter on the cheekbones with a contour color underneath. Then apply blush on the apples of the cheeks and the bronzer along the outside of your near your ears and hairline.
Meghan's lashes look fantastic even without any additions. "My favorite mascara is Diorshow Iconic," the actress told Allure in 2014. "I also use Revitalash on my eyelashes, and I swear they are as long as they ever could be."
Elizabeth Arden currently holds a Royal Warrant as Manufacturers of Cosmetics by appointment to Her Majesty. While the palace hasn't revealed which exact products go into the Queen's routine, the warrant does highlight the brand's Eight Hour moisturizers as "iconic."
“Only apply foundation to the spots you need it,” Markle advised Birchbox. I never want to cover my freckles, so we just do a ‘wash’ of foundation in certain sections instead of over the entire face.” And don't use your brush (or your fingers) to apply it. The Duchess of Sussex prefers a sponge-like beauty blender for a streak-free application.
The Duchess's hairstylist Richard Ward may have something to do with her impossible shine. His Cleanse and Condition sulfate-free shampoo features botanical ingredients that keep the hair moisturized and healthy, and you don't even have to visit the London salon for a bottle.
Your travel kit is currently missing a major multitasker: tea tree oil. "It's not the most glamorous thing, but if you get a cut, a mosquito bite, a small breakout, no matter what it is, it's my little cure-all," Markle told Allure. "It's inexpensive, it's small enough to carry on, and I bring it with me all the time."
Princess Diana initially favored bold blue pencils to rim her eyes, but Greenwell steered her toward softer beige and brown eyeliners after meeting her at a Vogue photoshoot in 1991. "The thing that I changed most about Princess Diana's look was actually moving away from the blue liner, which was very aging for her," Greenwell said.
Find the middle ground between an oily sheen and caked-on goop by brushing on a little Make Up For Ever HD Powder. "It lets your skin look shiny and fresh, but not greasy-shiny," Markle told Allure.
One perk of being the Queen: custom lipstick. Clarins created a special shade for the Queen in 1952 to match her coronation robes. She doesn't wear blue-red hues very often now, but the good news is you don't need a title to make your own anymore. Brands like Bite Beauty and Finding Ferdinand currently offer bespoke shades for surprisingly non-royal prices.
Soften a harsh line with a cotton bud, Greenwell advises. "I wanted to have her with a very soft eye, a very workable eye — but never too much," she revealed of Princess Diana's look.
When it comes time to treat yo' self, try a little Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder. "It just sort of foams on your face and gives you a really subtle exfoliation," Markle revealed to Allure. Sounds magical.
30 Genius Beauty Hacks the Royals Use to Look Flawless
They're royal, but they're not superhuman. Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and other members of the British royal family have relied on their own beauty wits (and their makeup artists!) to look like total perfection every time they make an appearance. Luckily the first step of picture-perfect skincare can start at Sephora, no tiara required.
Meghan Markle has so many secrets from her acting days.
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