Get Meghan Markle’s Go-To Makeup Look On A Budget
Published on July 9, 2018. Updated April 12, 2019The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is one of the world’s most buzzed-about public figures, especially when it comes to her fashion and beauty decisions! She’s taken an effortless approach to her beauty routine and tends to be quite minimalistic. She is often photographed with sheer washes of makeup and subtly defined eyes in comparison to the heavy makeup she used to wear on the red carpet as an actress. Her look is surprisingly simple to achieve, so we decided to try to recreate her go-to makeup look on a budget. Luckily, a few of her favorite products have already been revealed in interviews during her time as an actress, so we found the drugstore alternatives and created a Meghan Markle makeup look on a budget. Follow along for all the products and steps we took to steal her look:
1. Foundation: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream
Meghan Markle is a huge fan of light washes of foundation and taking a natural approach when it comes to her skin. On set, she insisted that makeup artists use a lighter BB cream that allowed her freckles to shine through rather than a heavy full-coverage foundation. Her go-to everyday foundation is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer which provides a dewy, illuminated look to the skin. To get a similar look on a budget, we opted for the Maybelline Dream BB Fresh cream. We used a damp Beauty Blender sponge to lightly tap the product into the skin to get a glowing, natural effect.
Buy on Amazon: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream
Source: Shutterstock | Amazon2. Concealer: L’oreal True Match Concealer
The key to Meghan Markle’s radiant complexion is keeping the under eyes bright and illuminated. With early call times after working on the set of Suits for years, Meghan Markle is surely no newbie to dark eyes and bags from a lack of sleep. Her go-to product to brighten the under eyes is the YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch concealer for it’s illuminating and highlighting effects. To get a similar look, we opted for the L’oreal True Match concealer in a shade lighter than our natural skin tone to ensure it doubled as a highlighter.
Buy on Amazon: L’oreal True Match Concealer
Source: Shutterstock | Amazon3. Setting Powder: Nyx HD Finishing Powder
Especially for public appearances and full-day events, it’s important that Meghan sets her makeup with a foolproof powder. Her go-to for years has been the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting powder, but we found nearly an exact dupe from the drugstore with the Nyx HD Finishing Powder. We used this product to set the T-zone and any places that might get a little shiny throughout the day.
Buy on Amazon: Nyx HD Finishing Powder
Source: Press Association | Amazon4. Blush: Elf Blush in Candid Coral
The cult-favorite blush Nars Orgasm has been Meghan Markle’s go-to shade for years. The color is a rosy, coral shade with gold shimmer in it which really brightens the face and adds a natural flush of color to the cheeks. Since the Nars blush is quite expensive, we found a nearly identical drugstore dupe with the shade Candid Coral by Elf. We tapped the color onto the apples of the cheeks and blended upwards towards the hairline just like Meghan does.
Buy on Amazon: Elf Blush in Candid Coral
Source: Shutterstock | Amazon5. Eyeliner: Essence Kajal Eye Pencil in Teddy
For eyes, Markle is definitely a fan of a blended smokey eye based on her red carpet track record. As a royal, however, she’s seemed to have opted for more of a natural eye look. She’s previously dished her go-to eyeliner is from Mac in the shade “Teddy” which is a dark bronze color with gold shimmer in it. She loves that the shade is a softer alternative to black and is the perfect complement for chocolate brown eyes.
Buy on Amazon: Essence Kajal Eye Pencil in Teddy
Source: Source: EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA | Amazon6. Curl lashes: Revlon Eyelash Curler
Meghan Markle’s favorite beauty hack for looking wide-eyed and awake is to always curl your lashes. This is a crucial step in her beauty routine to prep the eyelashes for mascara. We used a lash curler by Revlon to achieve the look.
Buy on Amazon: Revlon Eyelash Curler
7. Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara
As for mascara, Meghan Markle surprisingly uses one that’s from the drugstore. Her former makeup artist dished that Markle actually introduced her to the mascara. “I keep it stocked in my kit now at all times thanks to her! This mascara really helps to amplify your lashes and polish off the entire look. 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,” she shared. So naturally, we decided to test it out! We applied the mascara to both the top and bottom lashes to add definition and complete the eye look.
Buy on Amazon: Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara
Source: Press Association | Amazon8. Lipstick: Maybelline Matte Lipstick in Nude Nuance
Lastly, we finished the face with the Maybelline matte lipstick in the shade Nude Nuance. Meghan has never shared the exact color she uses on a daily basis, but after investigation, many outlets have shared it’s likely the Chanel Coco Rouge lipstick in the shade Cecile which is a pinky, nude color. We found that the Maybelline shade gave the same effect and added the perfect rosy, natural tint to the lips.
Buy on Amazon: Maybelline Matte Lipstick in Nude Nuance
Source: EPA/STRINGER | Amazon