Meghan Markle's Best Beauty Looks
Meghan Markle's wedding hair and makeup may have been one of her most celebratory beauty moments, but she's been giving us plenty of inspiration throughout her career. She perfected her signature side part and glowing base as Rachel Zane on Suits, but that wasn't the beginning of her beauty experimentation.
On the red carpet, Meghan has tried it all: sunlit bronzer, golden cat-eyes, and glossy lips. And while, as a royal, there are certain beauty "rules" that Meghan has to follow (including no bright nail polish, no heavy eyeshadow, and no shiny lipgloss), she continues delivering some of our favorite looks.
Scroll through to see Meghan's beauty style evolve over time, and keep an eye out for her favorite product recommendations along the way. We'll be trying these immediately.
Getty Images1/20September 2006
More than a decade before she was royalty, Meghan Markle landed one of her first gigs as a briefcase opener on Deal or No Deal. Her early '00's look featured a signature side part (complete with side bangs), big barrel curls, and a high-shine lipgloss.
Charley Gallay2/20August 2010
In 2010, Meghan played up her California Girl roots with dark blonde highlights and a luminous glow. She added a little sparkle on her eyes, cheeks, and lips for the prettiest finishing touch.
Getty Images3/20October 2011
In 2011, she paired her chestnut waves with a center part, subtle smoky eye, and voluminous lashes. Matching, coral-toned blush and gloss completed the look.
Getty Images4/20June 2012
For someone who tends to stick with a neutral palette, this purple shadow was a total departure from Meghan's usual look. She framed her eyes with XL lashes (probably care of her favorite mascara, Diorshow Iconic), and pulled her hair into a sleek ponytail to put the focus on her smoky lids.
Getty Images5/20November 2012
At the 2012 GQ Men of the Year party, she rocked a bronzed contour and a golden smoky eye, plus deep brunette waves.
Getty Images6/20January 2013
Meghan showed up to a 2013 event in Los Angeles with a sleek style and peachy gloss. She emphasized her cheek bones with a bronzer-blush combo, and added some serious shimmer to her base.
Getty Images7/20January 2013
Meghan complemented the vintage vibes of her outfit with some '60s-inspired beauty. Her hair was parted on the side and styled into a barrel curls, and she kept the rest of her look golden and glowy.
Getty Images8/20October 2013
Long before she was making headlines with her signature messy bun, Meghan wore the evening version to the 2013 New York Film Festival. She paired her elegant updo with a glossy lip and a smudged-out cat eye.
Getty Images9/20November 2013
Yet another take on the classic bun! Meghan rocked a sideswept version of the 'do at an event in London in 2013. To keep her skin looking matte under the bright camera lights on the red carpet during her acting days, she often relied on Makeup Forever's HD Powder.
Daniel Zuchnik10/20June 2015
Whenever Meghan wanted to switch things up with a smoky eye, there was one product she knew she could rely on. "If I'm going to amp it up for night, then I use M.A.C. Teddy eyeliner, which is a really beautiful brown that has some gold in it," she told Allure. "A makeup artist I work with often, Kayleen McAdams, turned me on to it. It's what she uses on Sofia Vergara."
Getty Images11/20November 2015
Tousled hair! Dewy skin! A mauve smoky eye! Meghan's look at the 2015 Vogue Fashion Fund Awards was a fresh take on her usual go-to red carpet style.
Getty Images12/20March 2016
Instead of her usual sheer gloss, the Duchess-to-be opted for a matte red lip for a Suits event in early 2016. Aside from the vibrant lipstick, the rest of her makeup was minimal and glowy.
Getty Images13/20November 2017
For Meghan and Harry's engagement photos, the bride-to-be went more minimal than ever with her makeup — and had one very important requirement for the look. "Every time I'd do her makeup, she'd say, 'Can we just make sure my freckles are peeking through? I don't want a ton of foundation," her makeup artist, Lydia Sellers told PopSugar, adding that she is "so confident with herself and her look, and she sticks with that."
Samir Hussein/WireImage14/20March 2018
In March, 2018, Meghan made headlines when she appeared at an official visit with Prince Harry rocking a messy bun, which reportedly broke royal protocol. However, in her subsequent steps into the royal spotlight, she made it very clear that her favorite hairstyle was here to stay.
WPA Pool15/20April 2018
As she got ready to become an official royal, Meghan opted for a more neutral palette than she had at past red carpet events. "My routine is very simple — I call it the five-minute face," she told Allure in 2014. "I's just YSL Touche Éclat, curled lashes, mascara, Chap Stick, and a little bit of blush. That is my favorite kind of look."
Karwai Tang16/20May 2018
For her wedding day, Meghan stuck with the same fresh-faced makeup that has become her signature. "We focused on the eyes because they're so expressive and her favorite feature, so we wanted to give them the attention they deserve to compliment everything else," her longtime friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin told Brides. Creating the look required a surprisingly minimal amount of products: "Waterproof mascara, lash accents on her outer corners, and filled-in brows," he said, and used lip balm instead of a stick or gloss to create a "healthy moisturized lip." And of course, hairstylist Serge Normant framed her face with — what else? — a center-parted bun.
Mark Cuthbert17/20May 2018
For her first official appearance as the Duchess of Sussex (and as Prince Harry's wife!) Meghan topped her low side-bun with a traditional British fascinator and dewy skin. Some of her favorite products include Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder for exfoliation, Jan Mari glycolic serum for a glowy post-cleanse boost, and Revitalash to keep her lashes as long.
Chris Jackson18/20June 2018
Same hat, different look! Meghan swapped her signature low bun for a set of loose waves, and matched her understated blush and lipgloss to the exact pale pink of her dress.
Samir Hussein19/20June 2018
For an official visit with Queen Elizabeth, Meghan opted for a classic blowout. However, she received criticism on Twitter for the look "not being windproof" after it blew into her face during an event. Personally, we think she looks amazing.
