25 Beauty Secrets to Steal From Princess Diana
Princess Di *never* left the house without perfume.
Over the course of her life, Princess Diana inspired countless women to copy her signature hairstyle, elegant clothes and effortless style. While an entire glam squad helped shape her look, Lady Di's former makeup artist and hairstylist have since revealed their expert tricks. Follow their advice, and even an average commoner can look decidedly regal.
Follow a consistent skincare routine.
While DNA can influence your complexion, a few small habits can go a long way. "Diana was very aware of her beauty regime, cleansing, toning and moisturizing twice a day," her former makeup artist Mary Greenwell told Stylist. To keep your skin looking fresh, stock up on face wash — and then use it every, single day.
Lather on moisturizer before any makeup.
"We always started with a moisturizer, a foundation to suit her skin tone exactly, and then used a concealer to lift the eye area," Greenwell said. Not sure where to begin? Find out how to choose the best moisturizer for your skin.
Try a natural-looking cream blush.
For her engagement photo shoot, makeup artist Clayton Howard used a Max Factor blusher stick called "Blushing Frost" on the bride-to-be. According to beauty guru Laramie, cream blush works on almost everyone and creates a youthful, dewy look.
Everyone can have glowing skin.
While many people envied Diana's complexion, the Princess reportedly suffered from rosacea. Several blogs claim she used both rose oil and avocado masks to soothe her cheeks. Not into mixing up your own concoctions? Try this rose sheet mask from Sephora, recommended by the Good Housekeeping Institute's Beauty Lab.
Brush mascara from the roots up.
A strong makeup look requires the right technique, according to Greenwell. "I always taught her to make sure — when applying mascara by herself — that she covered the roots of the lashes too," she told Stylist. Try starting in the corner of the eye and then working across before brushing it through the lashes, Greenwell recommends.
Have a signature scent.
"She always, always, always wore fragrance," says Greenwell. "It's kind of the final touch of beauty, walking out smelling divine and chic and individual." For her wedding day, Diana misted on Quelques Fleurs, a floral scent with notes of rose and jasmine.
Listen to the experts.
When hairstylist Sam McKnight first met his future client, he faked shorter hair by tucking it under a tiara. "As she was leaving Diana asked, if I had free rein what would I do to her hair," he wrote. "I suggested cutting it short and she, to my surprise, agreed, and we did it there and then."
Never wear eyeliner that matches your eyes.
The young royal initially loved to wear blue liner — that is, until she met Greenwell. "Blue eyes should never wear blue pencil or shadow — it dulls your eyes," she says. For a flawless application, Greenwell recommends blending the color into the lashes with a Q tip.
Switch up your mascara.
While Greenwell laid down the law on blue eyeliner, the hue of your mascara is fair game, she says. Cameras caught Diana wearing black, brown and even navy on many occasions.
*Always* take your makeup off.
Dermatologists say it again and again: NEVER sleep with your makeup on, and the Princess agreed. "Diana was very sensible when it came to her skin," Greenwell says. "She would always make sure she took her makeup off at the end of the day and make sure she always had a clean face before applying makeup."
Laidback style can still look elegant.
McKnight believed Diana looked her best at her most casual, even post-workout. "I loved Diana looking more spontaneous," he wrote. "She even looked great coming out of the gym with freshly showered hair ... so we decided she would try it out in public." That slicked-back style earned glowing reviews.
Hide a bad hair day with a hat.
Instead of turning to dry shampoo again and again, take a page out the royal handbook. A chic hat can disguise even the worst second day hair.
Appreciate the value of a put-together look.
Like any celebrity, the "People's Princess" recognized the importance of beauty. "Diana was always very open and willing with her style," said Greenwell. "I think as soon as we worked together she realized the power of hair and makeup and that is something that should never be underestimated, by anyone."
Eat healthily.
According to a Buckingham Palace chef, the Princess mostly ate boiled potatoes and chicken. Her strict diet provided a bonus benefit. Skipping dairy, sugar and gluten can do wonders for your face, says skincare specialist Dr. Nigma Talib.
Don't treat your hair like a security blanket.
As a young mom in the '80s, Diana originally embraced a poofier 'do before going short. "Like many women, she used to hide behind her hair," McKnight told the Daily Telegraph. "But she looked her best when she didn't do anything to it."
Perms aren't your friend.
While they defined the era, tight curls didn't flatter many ladies. That didn't stop Diana from feeling tempted, though. "Sometimes she'd go off and have a sneaky perm when I wasn't there," McKnight told the Daily Telegraph. "We used to laugh about it together afterwards."
The secret to great brows is a toothbrush.
Don't forget face-framing eyebrows. To copy Diana's well-groomed arches, Greenwell recommends applying brow gel to keep hairs in place, and then using a toothbrush to groom any wayward strays.
Enjoy vices sparingly.
While the Queen is known to sip bubbly, her daughter-in-law rarely did the same. "After I started working with her, Diana did everything in moderation," Greenwell says. "She cut back on drinking so her skin was 100%. If you smoke, drink or do anything to excess, you will destroy your most important beauty asset — your skin."
Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.
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