The secret to Meghan Markle’s makeup

“If you keep your skin looking like your skin, people won’t notice your makeup – they’ll notice you,” says celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin. This natural-but-perfected aesthetic is the look he is renowned for and one he has created for well-known faces including Jessica Alba, Gemma Chan, Elisabeth Moss and Meghan Markle; Martin’s skilled hands were at work for the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding makeup last year.

“I didn’t actually have any time with [the Duchess] before the wedding so we did the makeup trial by text!” he reveals. “I had to think about how Meghan’s makeup would look in the car, the church and outside, and being televised and photographed. You can see her makeup change throughout the day; when she was in the car with her mother, her makeup looks darker and heavier, then when you saw it in the church it was a lot brighter.” His method for creating a glowing, dewy and perfected complexion that lasts is easier to copy than you might think…

Martin’s foolproof zit cover-up method is worth committing to memory. “You want to treat the spot so that it doesn’t affect your makeup. I apply an anti-inflammation gel first and allow it to settle for a minute or two. Then go over the top of that with an eyeshadow primer. The gel protects the open spot and the primer seals it. After that, apply your concealer and foundation.”

Finding the right shade of foundation can be tricky, but Martin has a few genius tips. “It’s a mistake to match the shade of your foundation to the color of your chest because the skin across the décolletage can carry some redness,” he says. Instead, he suggests looking further south: “I trained with [makeup artist] Pat McGrath and she taught me to match a foundation more closely to the skin on someone’s stomach.” He also advocates aligning your choice of foundation with your skincare: “I match a water-based moisturizer with a water-based foundation, especially when I want the makeup to last a while. When you mix oil-based products with water-based ones, your makeup will dissipate over time.” Lastly, “mix moisturizer in with your concealer if you want your real skin to shine through.”

“I always start in the center of the face and then work my way out,” says Martin. “Most people tend to have some discoloration through the center of the face, so it’s wise to apply most of your product there.” As for brushes? Martin says you don’t need them. “I promise you, once you start doing your makeup with your hands, you’ll see a difference. Get your hands dirty! Massage your skin before going in with foundation and then press the product in – don’t rub.”

“I’m not a huge fan of a lot of shimmer,” explains Martin. “The result can be far too metallic.” Instead, he prefers to use some strategically placed skincare. “I add a little oil after I’ve applied foundation.” Just pat a small amount of oil onto the tops of your cheekbones once you have finished applying your base.

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