Kate Middleton debuts unexpected makeup overhaul – including ‘heavy’ foundation

It was a joy for royal fans to catch a glimpse of the Princess of Wales on Saturday, as she was pictured at the rugby. The royal was the perfect joyful spectator as she was seen at the England vs Ireland rugby game at Twickenham, which is part of the Six Nations tournament.

The 44-year-old Patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) looked radiant as she made her solo appearance in the stands, wearing a glorious royal blue structured Alexander McQueen dress coat, which featured distinctive panelling and a smart belted waist. Keeping her attire subtly classic, Kate wore a black turtleneck and draped an oversized England Rugby scarf around her neck, which also happened to match the colour of her coat perfectly, in support of her home team for the match. Her ensemble was a classic take on regal sporting attire.

Kate’s makeup

I’ve been writing about makeup for over eight years in my role as Fashion and Beauty News Editor at HELLO!, and I instantly noticed that Kate’s makeup look was much more defined on this occasion.

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Over the years, Kate has noticeably pared down her beauty look, switching dark smoky eye makeup and liner for muted, chestnut tones, and wearing a pinky-toned lip gloss and a little flush of blush. 

© Alamy Stock Photo

At the game, though, you can see that Kate’s complexion is accentuated with a somewhat heavier foundation, and her eyes feature eyeliner and dark shadow. 

Most notably, Kate’s lips were a glossy shade of cranberry, which is quite the directional tone for the mother-of-three.

© Sportsfile via Getty Images

“It looks to me that Princess Kate is wearing a heavier base makeup than usual,” Jo Martin, international makeup artist for Paul & Joe Beauty, tells HELLO!. “I believe she tends to favour a tinted moisturiser, and her latest look appears to have more coverage. She has created more of a contour, and her blusher is darker, more of a deeper rosy pink rather than the peachy pink she often opts for,” she notes. 

© The RFU Collection via Getty Ima

“Kate’s eyeliner is her signature look, and it looks like she has amped this up. She has taken a darker shadow up to the socket line and outer corner, and it looks like she also has a thin liquid liner on her top lash line, too.” The royal’s lips appear much bolder than normal. “Kate has either used a lip stain or a tinted lip balm for a redder lip,” Jo muses. “She usually wears a nude or clear lip, so this is quite different.”

A beauty editor’s thoughts

One of the wonderful things about makeup is that it is a fun, temporary way to experiment. 

© Toby Shepheard / Kensington Palace

It appears that Kate has switched her cosmetic ethos up on this occasion, and it really suits her. It’s great that she can essentially sport both: the natural look when enjoying outdoor activities and a glam, more theatrical finish on more formal occasions, making her a relatable beauty muse for women everywhere.