The newly crowned Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, chose to let her natural beauty be the star of the show at the royal wedding.
She went with a fuss-free hair and make-up look, but don’t be fooled – Harper’s Bazaar has reported that Meghan’s wedding make-up and hair cost about $13 000 to put together, which is roughly R156 000!
ALSO SEE: Everything you need to know about Meghan’s dress
w&h Beauty editor, Martinique Stevens, gives us her run-down of how to recreate the Duchess of Sussex’s radiant royal wedding look without it costing an arm and a leg.
Set the stage
When it comes to re-creating Meghan’s ‘no-make-up-look’, skin prep is crucial. Meghan’s skin radiated an effortless glow without looking shiny.
In order to recreate this, you should invest in a slightly pricier product that will ensure your skin is thoroughly hydrated.
Choose a rich facial oil or serum, like this Healing Earth Marula & Rose Hydrating Face Serum R569 for 30ml, a fragrant facial serum infused with jasmine, grape seed, baobab and sweet almond oils.
It’s available at selected spas, but is well worth the trip to buy a bottle.
Tip: Oilier skins are often actually misdiagnosed and are, in fact, dehydrated. Sometimes skin is lacking moisture, so oil producing glands in the skin attempt to re-hydrate the skin’s surface by kicking oil-production into overdrive.
So if you have oily skin don’t be afraid of trying a rich serum or facial oil. Your skin might just thank you for it.
ALSO SEE: Martinique’s winter skincare tips
Apply a sheer veil of coverage
Choose a sheer or light coverage foundation that will allow your natural beauty to shine through. Show off freckles like Meghan did with a lightweight mousse like Essence Soft Touch Mousse Makeup, R74,95.
Make lips and cheeks glow
Meghan’s barely there make-up was spruced up with a beautiful peach-coloured cream blush. The Body Shop Fresh Sorbet Blush, R50 is perfect for adding a fresh flush of colour.
Just tap a small amount of product onto the apples of your cheeks with your fingers, and you’re done!
She also chose a very natural lip colour that matched the natural tone of her lips. For this, go for a lip tint, or balm to lock in moisture and give a little colour. I’m a fan of Revlon Irresistible Kiss Balm, R67,95, available in six fruity shades. Plus it has an SPF20.
Create statement eyes
When it comes to an outstanding make-up look, it’s best to choose one facial feature to highlight, and in this case, Meghan’s friend and Dior ambassador, Daniel Martin chose to highlight the Duchess’s eyes with a soft-brown-smoke and lashings of mascara.
To achieve this subtle, smoky look try Yardley Eyeshadow Quad in Wanderlust, R129,99.
Our budget mascara of the moment has to be Wet n Wild Mega-Protein Masara, R44.49. It really opens up the eyes and helps to give a bold look, while nourishing your lashes with wheat protein and acai oil.
Chic chignon
The bride chose an intricate take on the chignon, styled by hairdresser Serge Normant.
Ghd global ambassador, Adam Reed notes, “The key to this look is to prep the hair to create the ultimate base with maximum shine and gloss. The whole look is ultra-feminine, silky and soft to contrast with her structured and fitted dress.”
Here is Adam’s guide for creating this look yourself:
1. Start by creating a centre parting in the hair using the end of a tail comb. Make sure the parting is strong and is pulled back to the crown of the head.
2. Blow dry out the hair for a glossy base which will hold and reflect shine throughout the day.
3. Next, add loose waves throughout the hair using a curling wand. Loosely wrap the hair around the tong to ensure the curls aren’t too tight or precise.
4. Next pull the hair back into a low ponytail, at the nape of the head. Secure and ensure the ponytail is tight and finish with a spritz of final fix hairspray.
5. Next twist sections of the hair around the ponytail to create the low bun. Loosely wrap these sections around the ponytail to create the voluminous undone bun.
6. Finish by creating loose waves around the face to frame and complete the look using a curling wand. Direct each curl in a different direction for a looser and softer finish and finish with a spritz of final fix hairspray for hold and shine.
To find ghd products to use for this look, visit their website
- By beauty editor Martinique Stevens
