A 7-Step Guide to Recreating Meghan Markle’s Signature Makeup Style
As Meghan Markle prepares for her upcoming Netflix lifestyle series premiering on March 4th, 2025, beauty enthusiasts will be eager to peek into her makeup routine.
While the series promises to showcase her approach to beauty, Saffron Hughes, the makeup artist at FalseEyelashes.co.uk has shared with YCB the seven ways you can recreate the Duchess’s signature makeup style ahead of the series launch.
1. Pick a radiating foundation that allows your freckles to peek through
Saffron Hughes said: “Meghan’s complexion is always impeccable, yet natural. She likely starts with a hydrating primer like Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer, allowing it to sink in for a full five minutes.
“Next, she’s likely to apply a lightweight foundation such as Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk with a damp beauty sponge, using gentle tapping motions. The key is building up thin layers, focusing on areas that need coverage while letting your freckles peek through, just as Meghan does.
“For a truly flawless finish, she might use a small concealer brush to spot-correct any blemishes or discolouration.”
2. Contour so subtly that it’s hard to detect at all
Saffron notes, “Meghan’s contouring is so seamless, it’s almost undetectable. She likely uses a cream-based product like Fenty Beauty Match Stix in Amber, applying it with a small angled brush along her cheekbones, temples, and jawline.
“The trick is to blend thoroughly with a beauty sponge, then go over the areas with a fluffy brush to ensure there are no harsh lines. For added dimension, she might use a touch of highlighter on the high points of her cheekbones, but always with a light hand.”
3. Apply this specific blush for a sun-kissed look
“NARS Orgasm Blush has long been associated with Meghan,” Saffron reveals. “She applies it strategically, starting at the apples of her cheeks and blending upwards and outwards. For a truly natural flush, she likely uses two shades of blush – a deeper tone closer to the hairline and a brighter pop on the apples. This creates a seamless, sun-kissed effect that looks incredibly natural on camera.”
4. Keep your eyes smoky and sultry
“Meghan’s signature look is her ‘sooty eye’,” Hughes explains. “She often uses MAC Teddy eyeliner – a gorgeous gold-flecked brown – or Chanel’s Cassis, a shimmery plum. The technique involves applying liner close to the lash line, and then smudging it with a soft brush to create a lived-in, smoky effect. She typically lines both the upper lash line and waterline, creating a soft, hazy finish that looks effortlessly sultry.”
5. False eyelashes should be fluttery and natural
“Meghan’s lashes are always a focal point, and apparently, she’s particularly fond of Ardell Demi Wispies – a lightweight, natural-looking false lash that provides the perfect balance of volume and subtlety.
“The key is to choose a false eyelash that enhances without looking overdone. Ardell Demi Wispies are perfect because they offer a feathery, criss-crossed design that mimics natural lash growth. They’re narrow enough for daytime wear but dramatic enough for evening events.”
“Before applying, trim the lash strip to fit your eye shape perfectly. Then apply the lashes close to the natural lash line, using a high-quality, clear lash adhesive. The goal is to create a seamless look that appears effortless – as if these are your natural lashes, just slightly more enhanced.”
6. Take the Aubrey Hepburn approach with your brows
“Achieving Meghan’s iconic brow style is all about understanding your natural shape,” Hughes explains. “Start by brushing your brows upward and outward using a spoolie, focusing on creating a straighter line that mimics the ‘Audrey Hepburn Brow’. The secret is to work with your natural arch, not against it.”
Hughes recommends a strategic approach to filling: “Begin at the outer part of the brow and work inwards, using light, feathered strokes that mimic natural hair growth. When using brow gel, apply it against the hair direction for maximum definition and hold. Threading remains the gold standard for maintaining this shape, as it creates crisp, clean lines that frame the face perfectly.”
7. Finish with this Royal-themed Charlotte Tilbury lipstick
“Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution in Very Victoria is Meghan’s go-to lipstick shade of choice” Hughes reveals. “It’s particularly magical for those with neutral to warm undertones and fair to medium skin tones. However, those with a more cool-toned complexion should lean into lipsticks “Cool-toned individuals should lean into lipsticks with blue, purple, and pink undertones, such as Rare Beauty’s lipstick in Humble.”
Meghan’s makeup philosophy is a masterclass in enhancing natural beauty. Her approach isn’t about masking her features but celebrating them. By using lightweight foundations that allow her freckles to shine through, she demonstrates that makeup should be a tool of empowerment, not concealment.
The magic of her look lies in its simplicity. She chooses products that work with her skin tone, not against it. Her makeup routine is about creating a radiant, healthy glow that looks effortless – as if she’s just naturally luminous.
The key takeaway, according to Hughes, “is confidence. Meghan proves that makeup isn’t about perfection, but about feeling comfortable and authentic. Her style encourages people to embrace their unique features, using makeup as a subtle enhancement rather than a complete transformation. It’s a refreshing approach that says, ‘This is me, just slightly polished’.”