Here It Finally Is: Meghan Markle’s Makeup Routine

If there’s one person we’ll never get sick of stealing beauty tips from, it’s Meghan Markle. We’ve so far managed to uncover her skin routine and the details of her wedding day makeup. However, since making the natural career progression from actress to a member of the Royal Family, we do receive less insight into Meghan’s beauty routine than we did during her days running her lifestyle blog The Tig.  

Nevertheless, after scouring the Internet for interviews with Meghan and the makeup artists she has worked with over the years, we were able to compile a list of the Duchess’ go-to makeup products. Here are the highly sought-after details of each step in Meghan Markle’s makeup routine. 

Foundation

Meghan’s regularly-used makeup artist Daniel Martin (who recently worked his magic for her first return to the red carpet in over a year) said the product behind Meghan’s evenly toned skin (which still allows her freckles to shine through) is the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation ($70, Sephora). 

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“I don’t use foundation all over her face, so it’s really important for me to get her skin to a good place so that any redness and unevenness I can correct with just a bit of foundation, that’s usually more full coverage, that I can sheer out,” Martin explained to Glamour UK. “I just spot-treat all over her face.”

As for the application, the Duchess previously told Birchbox that she swears by the ol’ and faithful BeautyBlender Original ($28, Sephora). “Only apply foundation to the spots you need it and spread it with a beautyblender original,” she said. “I never want to cover my freckles, so I’ll just do a ‘wash’ of foundation in certain sections instead of over the entire face.”

If you can’t get your hands on a BeautyBlender, we recommend the EcoTools Perfecting Blender Duo ($15.41, iHerb) for the same finish.

Mascara

According to Lydia Sellers, the Duchess’ former makeup artist, Meghan was the one who initially introduced her to this drugstore gem: Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Mascara ($12.49 down from $24.95, Priceline). “I keep it stocked in my kit now at all times, thanks to her,” Lydia told HELLO!. 

Speaking of the supermarket fave, Lydia said: “It’s great for full volume and lengthening, the formula is super hydrating, I love how it builds, and that the price point is accessible for all budgets.”

In addition to this budget buy, Meghan revealed in an interview with Allure back in 2014: “My favourite mascara is [the] Diorshow Iconic.” If you want to give Meghan’s recommendation a try, this lash-curling mascara is currently retailing for $58 at Myer. 

Blush

Meghan previously told Allure, “I love [the] Nars blush in Orgasm,” describing it as the “perfect rosy flush tone that brightens the face.”

Evidently, this best-selling blush isn’t just a staple for makeup artists and beauty editors, but it’s also a personal favourite of the Duchess. 

“I use it on and off camera because it gives me a nice glow from within,” she said, speaking of the product that makes an appearance on every best blush roundup.

$43 at MECCA

Concealer 

When it comes to camouflaging her dark circles, the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Concealer ($72, Myer) is Meghan’s weapon of choice. 

After telling Allure that the concealer completes her “five minute face”, she doubled down when speaking to Beauty Banter. “It blends, it’s compact, and if you’ve worked a 17-hour day and have nothing else on, you will still look relatively alive.” Sold! To us!

Eyeliner

The key to Meghan’s signature soft, smokey eye? The brown and gold M.A.C Eye Kohl Pencil Liner in the shade ‘Teddy’.

In that same interview with Allure, Meghan labelled it as her first port of call “if I’m going to amp it up for the night. After initially being introduced to it by makeup artist Kayleen McAdams, Meghan said: “It’s what she uses on Sofia Vergara and who wouldn’t want those gorgeous brown almond eyes?”

This exact product has proven difficult to purchase in Australia, but for something similar we recommend the M.A.C Technakohl Liner in the shade ‘Broque’ ($38, M.A.C). 

Lipstick 

A soft pink nude lip has quickly become a signature look of the Duchess. This look may seem oh-so-simple, but with all the options available, finding the perfect shade is quite the challenge. As luck would have it, Meghan has repeatedly cited Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in the shade ‘Very Victoria’ ($59.41, Charlotte Tilbury) as her all time favourite. 

Lip Balm

When it comes to discussing her love for Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy ($35, Sephora) – Meghan does not mince her words.

“I have searched high and low and tried every kind of lip balm, but this is the very best,” Markle said in an interview with The Lady Loves Couture. 

“Soft, kissable, buttery lips. I swear by it.”

Powder

As a part-time actress and part-time Duchess, we don’t think anyone knows the value of setting powder quite like Meghan.

And there’s one product in particular that Megs swears by for setting her makeup: “I love the Make Up For Ever HD Powder ($61, Sephora). It lets your skin look shiny and fresh, but not greasy-shiny.”

Highlighter

Not one for the kind of highlighter that reflects pigments of shimmer, instead Meghan favours the dewy, subtle sheen from the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer ($54, MECCA). 

Makeup artist, Lydia Sellers, revealed in an interview with Byrdie: “This highlighter is a favourite when working with Meghan because of its subtlety”. 

Lydia shared that although the product is applied just as you would a standard highlighter (to the high points of the face), the end result is different. “It doesn’t go on looking like a disco ball but it has just enough pop to make her skin glow in a natural way.”

Have you tried any of Meghan Markle’s favourite makeup products? What did you think?