For someone who spends so much time in the public eye, it’s kind of remarkable that Kate Middleton‘s beauty routine is still by and large under wraps. Thank that famous Buckingham Palace privacy, but the secrets behind how Middleton gets ready every morning are few and far between—which is rough, because as anyone with eyes can see, the duchess knows makeup (and skin care, and hair care. Those shiny waves might be thanks to frequent blowouts, but there has to be more to it than that).
So as unabashed Middleton fans, we’ve been keeping our eye on her beauty habits, and the precious intel that leaks out about her beauty routine. Here, read on for the secrets that help her pull off royal visit after royal visit.
1. Nude nail polish is the go-to.
And it’s not just because Middleton’s a fan of the non-color (although, what we’d give to hear her request Essie’s Topless and Barefoot). The real reason that Middleton never wears red nail polish comes down to royal order. According to Marie Claire U.K., only natural-looking nails are permitted at official royal events. We can’t speak to what she wears in her downtime, but given nude polish’s knack for making your fingers look long and elegant, it’s hard to imagine she’s switching off-camera.
2. She always cuts her hair before announcing she’s pregnant.
When we heard this rumor back in September, it’s no exaggeration to say our minds were blown. Because it turns out, Middleton’s pregnancy tell was in plain sight all along: right before she has something big to announce, Middleton turns to her hairstylist for a chop. It completely makes sense, too. She knows she’ll be getting tons of press coverage soon, and everyone will be taking her photo (even more than usual), so it’s actually genius to make sure she won’t have to worry about her hair. Evidence: right this way.
3. She combines shampoo and conditioner.
Yeah, we were also surprised to learn this one—our experience with 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioners when they first came out were rough, to say the least. But from the mouth of Middleton’s own hairstylist, it’s the truth. Richard Ward, the man responsible for Middleton’s hair, sends her home with the Cleanse and Condition duo from his salon’s Chelsea Collection. Described as a “botanical non-lather holistic shampoo,” the sulfate-free formula is gentle and moisturizing enough to clean and hydrate your hair in one step (and only costs $12).
4. She adds volume to her hair in an unexpected place.
So yes, we all know that Kate Middleton’s eternally shiny hair comes with help from professional stylists on call. But that’s not to say you can’t get her blowout at home, especially when we’ve noticed she always uses one game-changing trick to make her hair look thick. Said trick? Adding height to the crown of her head. The volume comes from teasing your crown with a comb at the roots, and then smoothing your top layer of hair over it with a brush. The strategy’s been around since the ’60s, but clearly doesn’t age.
5. She keeps face oil on hand.
Middleton phased over to a natural skin care routine for her pregnancy with Charlotte, and as a royal source told US Weekly, that meant switching her skin care products out for all-natural rosehip oil. According to the source, “Kate continues to use rosehip oil in her daily skin care regimen. She loves the effect is has on her skin. [Her mother] Carole [Middleton] is also a fan.” Anyone who’s tried Trilogy’s Rosehip Oil (Middleton’s pick) can vouch for the effects—your skin immediately turns velvety, soft, and smooth.
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