Princess Diana’s Makeup Artist Shares 3 Steps to Get Her Iconic Look

More than 20 years after her passing, Princess Diana is still a beauty and fashion icon. So, when her former makeup artist, Mary Greenwell, revealed exactly how she used to do the Princess of Wales’s makeup, we definitely took note.

Greenwell told InStyle that the key to achieving Princess Diana’s natural look was using a light hand.

“The most important thing for me was creating beauty rather than being, say, a cabaret makeup artist,” she explained. “I don’t want to do carnival makeup. I want to bring out the best in my clients. You have to highlight their features but [not make them] look like a painted doll. It’s about finding a balance.”

How did she find that balance? In three easy steps.

Step One: She applies an “almost translucent” tint like Chanel Water-Fresh Tint ($65) and uses concealer (she likes Giorgio Armani Beauty Power Fabric Concealer, $34) on top as needed.

Step Two: Instead of contouring, Greenwell applies bronzer and highlighter to cheeks (one after the other) and blends. She reaches for Glossier Haloscope ($22) and Guerlain Terracotta Rêve d’été Tinted Skincare Jelly ($43).

Step Three: She lightly traces lips with liner and covers with creamy lipstick in a natural shade, like Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk ($22).

Of course, Greenwell’s tools have changed since she started working with Princess Diana in 1991 (“a pinch me moment,” she called it in her chat with InStyle), because we all know Glossier wasn’t around then. Still, her tried and true method works.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to recreate it on our own.