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Original poster

How exactly does one do Duchess of Cambridge-style makeup?

33 replies

awrightmylover · 07/08/2017 01:04

Hiya, I'm a bit rubbish at makeup but am trying to learn.

Lately I've been trying tutorials on youtube to get the Kate look with eye makeup in particular, but it always looks really trashy on me and far too heavy, with loads of eyeliner. I'm fairly pale, with dark hair/blue eyes, so maybe that's why.

I use chanel lumiere foundation and slate eyeshadow from Mac.
Any advice welcome!

OP posts:
TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 07/08/2017 01:06

She wears a bit too much eyeliner imho... but she's also getting her picture taken for the paparazzi/tv cameras so possibly needs the extra definition.

I'd lighten up on it quite a bit.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 07/08/2017 01:09

Get your lady's maid to do it for you dahling.

Or invest in a smudgey kohl pencil. Try black coffee from Bobbi Brown - it should be more flattering than a black one with your colouring and has a handy smudger on the end for blending and erm smudging. You can have a test at a Bobbi Brown counter to see if it suits you before you buy.

A good blusher will also help give your face shape and make you look well.

Original poster
awrightmylover · 07/08/2017 01:13

Cheers, I would have got my maid Anna to do it but she takes Sundays off 😉

(...any other Downton fans lurking?...)

OP posts:
Kublakhan · 07/08/2017 06:53

I agree with a PP, for photographs you need more eye makeup. At a recent wedding I had my makeup done and thought it was OTT, but in the photos it actually looks great.

Just keep practicing! You'll get the look right eventually.

Housewife2010 · 07/08/2017 08:57

Kate is a Bobbi Brown fan. It may be worth going for a BB makeover at their counter. I had one before my wedding which was excellent. She does her own makeup (and did it at her wedding) but the makeup artist at her wedding,Hannah Martin has her own Youtube channel and she is very watchable.

breakabletoy · 07/08/2017 10:00

I really don't think Kate is the best example of celeb makeup to aspire to. She is known for ringing her whole eye with kohl, which is ageing and makes her eyes look smaller. She's widely criticised for this habit if you read blogs, comments etc.

A few months ago she toned it down a bit and started applying it properly and everyone praised her new look. Think she has since gone back to raccoon eyes though. Often she wears way too much blush too.

breakabletoy · 07/08/2017 10:11

Regarding the wedding, she did have a Bobbi Brown makeup artist, but she didn't like the result, so scrubbed it off and redid it herself.

It's unfortunate. Her wedding makeup was frankly awful. Way too harsh, so it sat on top of her instead of looking like it emanated from her, iyswim.

i.huffpost.com/gen/1764336/thumbs/o-KATE-MIDDLETON-ROYAL-WEDDING-900.jpg?8

It's looks jarring and cheap against all that white lace. Would have loved to have seen the professional job, bet it looked lovely.

LockedOutOfMN · 07/08/2017 12:37

I like Taylor Swift's make-up.

misses point Blush

DofC seems to go for the flawless skin look (which I think needs loads of products that are intended to look like none), peachy blusher and, as others have said, heavy black eyeliner.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 07/08/2017 13:58

I really don't think Kate is the best example of celeb makeup to aspire to.

FFS awrightmylover who do you think you are? Coming on and starting a thread with your own personal opinion... as if you were entitled to it or something when other people, bloggers no less, have already posted the opposite opinion on the interwebs. How very dare you?! 😂😂

Housewife2010 · 07/08/2017 14:30

It was reported in the press before the wedding that Kate would be doing her own makeup. She had lessons from BB and Hannah Martin was available for help and for the family.

Notmyrealname85 · 07/08/2017 14:34

Just remember as well that Kate is always tanned - so don't try and replicate her colours exactly if that's not your same tone

breakabletoy · 07/08/2017 14:42

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut

Hmm The op said she is rubbish at makeup and wants to learn, so how is it inappropriate to point out that KM is widely considered to also be a bit rubbish at makeup?

This is the kind of info I really appreciated when I was just starting to become interested in makeup at age 32, and had no idea how to judge good makeup technique from bad

nina2b · 07/08/2017 14:47

Using a sludgy colour from the halfway point under your eyes, for definition, instead of an eyeliner is much more effective. I use a deep olive green - my eyes are green - and I do not use mascara on the lower lashes.

wobblywonderwoman · 07/08/2017 14:51

Lisa Eldridge YouTube tutorials were recommended on here and they are great

OlennasWimple · 07/08/2017 15:26

My first thought was not to try to do what Kate does too...

Fun fact: the Queen also did her own makeup on her wedding day

This article by Hannah Martin might be helpful OP? I second going for black-brown rather than black for day time - it's much more gentle on fair skin

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 07/08/2017 16:26

Jeez breakabletoy are you one of those posters who need a signposted "lighthearted" or do you just have zero sense of humour?

I don't think Kate is "widely considered" to be anything about make up actually Hmm

nina2b · 07/08/2017 17:13

Fun fact - the Queen did her own makeup on her wedding day!? Cool. But surely she only needed face powder and lipstick in those days?

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 07/08/2017 17:47

Wasn't the colour added later by Technicolor artists? Wink

OlennasWimple · 07/08/2017 18:48

TBF it's not hard to find criticism of Kate's make up style (along with her "safe" fashion choices and "too thin" figure....)

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 07/08/2017 19:24

No it's not. But the op likes it and that's the point. Telling her she's wrong about something so totally subjective is a little unfair.

BuzzKillington · 07/08/2017 19:30

Well, if you really want that look, you need a heavy hand with the black eyeliner and a mid brown eyeshadow. Do not blend or soften anything. Lots of black mascara and very pink blusher - job done.

Ollivander84 · 07/08/2017 20:35

Not sure how accurate this is but anyway
http://purple-daisies.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/kate-middletons-beauty-regimen.html?m=1

NotplumAlan · 07/08/2017 20:41

Be careful with brown/black makeup - I am very pale and it looks awful, makes me look knackered, a soft black is better for me. Bobbi Brown gel liners usually have some 'soft' blacks, I have a lovely one from a limited edition range though I prefer pencil liner (Estee Lauder and Dior are nice, Rimmel or Collection 2000 if you're on a tight budget).
I like Charlotte Tilbury's eyeliner tutorials, give them a watch?

NotplumAlan · 07/08/2017 20:42

Oh yeah, I'm not a huge fan of Kate's slap but eyeliner and pinky blush is a pretty safe suit-all place to start. Nars blusher is lovely, if you go to the counter they are usually v helpful.

breakabletoy · 07/08/2017 21:00

Jeez breakabletoy are you one of those posters who need a signposted "lighthearted" or do you just have zero sense of humour?

My sense of humour only responds to humour - Not to boring and lazy sarcasm which contributes nothing to the conversation

Smile
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