We’re coming up on the anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. Every year in late August, I do tend to take a moment and remember. It’s something about the late summer… remembering how devastating it was, how it felt like so much of the world halted to remember her. All of those people in the streets in London, the backlash, Charles Spencer’s eulogy. Iconic. Unforgettable. Anyway, to mark the anniversary, Stylist did an interview with a makeup artist named Mary Greenwell, who worked with Diana back in the day. You can read the piece here. Note: I think this is an interview from a few years ago, but sites like E!, Vogue and the Daily Mail are running it like it’s new. So… I have no idea. I’ve never seen these quotes before. Some highlights:
Diana was ‘aware’ of taking care of her skin: “Diana was very aware of her beauty regime, cleansing, toning and moisturising twice a day. She’d be now using serums and definitely using sun block every day. Diana would also be wearing a heavier foundation which is important as women age. I mean heavy in the sense of coverage but still sheer. In your teens and early twenties, tinted moisturiser is fine. But in your 30’s, 40’s and beyond, you need something more flattering.”
She always took her makeup off: “Diana was very sensible when it came to her skin, she would always make sure she took her make up off at the end of the day and make sure she always had a clean face before applying make up. Not enough people do this and you should.”
Diana stopped drinking to improve her skin: “Lots of sleep is also essential, as is exercise and a good diet. After I started working with her, Diana did everything in moderation. She cut back on drinking so her skin was 100%. Women today need to take care of themselves the same way. If you smoke, drink or do anything to excess, you will destroy your most important beauty asset – your skin. You must look after yourself.”
Removing the blue eyeliner: “Well the first shoot we did with her where she was sat in bed with her arms folded, that was the first time we got her out of blue eyeliner and she loved the change! It made such a difference (Blue eyes should never wear blue pencil or shadow – it dulls your eyes!). From that moment on, she was open minded about trying new looks and colours! It’s all about experimenting. And women should be experimental and try not to get stuck in a make up rut. We should try new things. Whatever our age.”
Diana really did have amazing skin. Her makeup? Not so much. But AMAZING skin. She always had that peaches-and-cream complexion and it definitely helped that she was never a smoker and didn’t drink that much. It’s probably also important to remember that she A) had great skin genetically and B) that she spent money on facials and such. And yes, take off your makeup at night. I do not understand how people can sleep without washing their face at night. Also: i wonder if anyone in the world has the stones to tell Duchess Kate to give up her beloved liquid liner.
Photos courtesy of Mario Testino, Getty, WENN.
Kaiser, I believe you have a site full of volunteers who have the stones to tell Katy that eyeliner is visual butt garbage.
Ahem. Optical bum rubbish. 😜
As usual, you are correct mimif. Optical bum rubbish sounds way nicer. (Can we still throw the eyeliner in magma?)
No yours sounds better, I was just trying to sound proper.
*throws eyeliner into Vesuvius*
Abbot and mimif, you’re cracking me up! Thanks for the smiles! 🙂
I have a feeling she’s been told about the eyeliner and just does what she wants anyway. After all, it’s what her mother and sister do!
It doesn’t look as harsh on Pippa though as she has dark eyes. Can’t remember what colour eyes her Mom has. I wish the message about same shade/coloured liner and shadow would really get told, once and for all. I have green eyes and nine times out of ten makeup tutorials still include green eye makeup, which looks horrible on me. Or if an eyeshadow kit by colour comes out, guess what the green kit has – several awful shades of green (you do get the occasional purple one, which is fine, but not helpful for most days.) So at least Kate doesn’t do THAT. She still needs to stop with the black underkohl of death though.
Princess Di was gorgeous and i don’t know if it was a conscious effort or it was just about maturing but she seemed even prettier and self confident after the divorce.
I agree, completely. I think the marriage had her in a constant state of anxiety and post-split she seemed really happy and very blissed out with Dodi al Fayed. She was such an effortlessly elegant woman who came across as being really kind and down to earth.
It was a dramatic change, imo. I remember seeing the Vanity Fair cover with Mario Testino in a bookstore and it literally stopped me in my tracks. She looked lit from within, like I’d never seen her before.
I never thought she was gorgeous. She had a quality that came through with her. That made her beautiful imo. Based on looks alone though I never got it. She’s that inner personality that makes a smile light up. If that makes sense.
I think of Harry the same. He’s nice looking, but not even close to handsome until his personality shines.
+1000 – she had boatloads of charisma.
Her gorgeous skin and big eyes were always the first thing I noticed about her. And she had a million watt smile.
I was just thinking about how it’s been 17 years since her passing. I can still hardly believe it.
Oh dear lord…there is far too much adulation of this woman. It was sad that she died, just as it’s sad when any mother dies leaving young children. But far too much fuss about her ” beauty” – she was pretty and had top photographers- and her wonderfulness.
I should have posted here. Please read my post above directly above. It’s not only about looks. It’s about a quality that comes forth. Still, I understand your point and somewhat agree.
She had charisma – she wasn’t classically beautiful but she just exuded the most wonderful energy and personality. That’s what charmed everyone.
She died the day before my 19th birthday. I couldn’t believe it.
She always seemed like a lovely woman. And I loved it that she did so much charity work. RIP.
And yes… the easiest way to take care of your skin is to smoke and drink less… it’s pretty simple.
I have never realized how much Prince Harry looked like Princess Diana before.
I’ve been hoping Mary Greenwell might take charge of Kate. Her partner in high profile beautification, Sam McNight, could chop a few yards off her hair while they’re about it!
Is that tiara in the photo the one Kate wore on her wedding day?
No. This is the Spencer family tiara. Kate wore the RF Halo tiara.
Can we have more royal jewels education today? I loved that conversation yesterday!
Ladies, I give you The Mellorio Sapphire Tiara of the Dutch RF. Queen Maxima wore it at her husband’s inauguration:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660853042221/
Interestingly, the tiara can be modified as seen here:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660853010640/
Actually, a lot of tiaras can be worn as necklaces, and some are constructed so they can be broken up and worn as brooches. Here’s a pic of Sophie’s aquamarine tiara worn as a necklace:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660853205850/
Feel free to ask for more royal bling. Enjoy!
CL: since you asked….
The tiara above belongs to the Spencer family, worn by all the Spencer women, particularly for their wedding day. It was borrowed on many occasions by Diana because her official loaner from HM, the Cambridge Lovers Knot tiara, apparently gave her headaches and was quiet heavy too.
The Spencers have another tiara which isn’t as famous as the one above. It’s called the honeysuckle tiara. Not as pretty in my opinion, it looks like 2 tiaras welded together, but Infact is the result of several additions/subtractions that have resulted in an ugly, spikey tiara. This tiara is more often seen at exhibitions at Althorp.
Diana wore the above Spencer tiara so often that people assumed that it belonged to the RF.
Kate’s Halo tiara was originally purchased from Cartier by George VI for QM. Later it was given to HM for her 18th birthday. She’s loaned it to her sister Margaret and to Anne in the past and finally to Kate. Personally, I think Anne wore it best and with flair.
Here’s a pic of the Spencer tiara that Diana wore at her wedding:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660852455517/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660851621162/
I don’t know who made the Spencer tiara and when it’s from, but the scroll motif was a very popular one in the tiaras made by Cartier and Chaumet around 1900.
Here’s one of the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara in its original form:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660851619917/
And one in its current form:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660851619908/
Royal Jewels! Hahaha
AH: the honeysuckle tiara seems to be the official family tiara due to it’s age (first appearance being mid-19th century on the occasion of Lady Charlotte Seymour to 5th Earl) and the fact that Diana’s grandmother Lady Cynthia Spencer, wife of 7th Earl chose to wear it to the coronation despite having the other more famous tiara to hand.
The more famous one (above and worn for Diana’s wedding and other occasions) was a wedding present to Lady Cynthia on the occasion of her marriage to the 7th Earl in 1919.
There is not much detail where it came from, but i’m going to assume it is a Cartier as the period fits and most English Aristocrats tended to purchase their jewels from there.
LAK,
Thanks for the info.
I guess I was partially right about the date – there are a lot of tiara from this period that look similar because of the scroll motif. It seems likely that it might be made by Cartier. It looks very much their style, though it could be Chaumet as well. Chaumet has long been the foremost jeweller when it comes to tiaras. Their show room in Paris apparently has a tiara room, where the walls a covered with replicas of every tiara the firm has ever made.
The still make tiara, but mostly for international exhibitions:
Here’s the Josephine Tiara from 2012 (it has been made in several variations this one was presented at The 26th Biennale des Antiquaires International Art Fair: Grand Palais Paris :
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660853267250/
Yay! Jewelry!
No snark intended with this… Do the Middletons have a family Tiara? Since they had a coat of arms made and signet rings I kind of assume they went all the way and have a family Tiara now.
@FLORC
The Middletons have their own family tiara. They call it the “Party Pieces Paper Tiara for £1,99”
I do think this is part of why Kate’s jewelry selection is limited at times. Diana and Camilla were both able to fill in the gaps with family pieces in the early years, Kate doesn’t have that luxury.
I don’t understand how all these other people can wear eyeliner and it looks fine. Kate does and it’s awful. I guess it’s all in the application.
That’s what I’m not getting either.
Even the blue eyeliner on Diana looked less worse than Kate’s brown/black application of eyeliner.
It’s in the application. I like to smudge my eyeliner to avoid a hard line and I never ever wear eyeliner below the eye, especially not on the wet line. It makes the eye look smaller and it really is an irritant for the eye, at least in my eyes.
In the application (less is more) and in the color. Black is rarely a good idea for daytime makeup. If ONLY she would at least switch to a chocolate brown eye shadow applied as liner! Or smudge her liner just a little. Or blend it with a bit of eye shadow. Aaaargh! … I’m sorry. It’s NOT that difficult to make your lashes seem thicker without looking like a raccoon.
Btw, I suspect it’s Kate’s eye shape as well. Black liner is simply not flattering on her.
This is a lot of her problem. She wears nighttime makeup for day. She would look much fresher if she had a day look.
AM, agreed. The problem is I don’t think she can do a day look because I suspect the eyeliner is permanent. Until I see photo evidence indicating otherwise (I’ve seen Pippa without it but never ever Kate), I’ll continue to believe it.
Esmon
I have posted numerous photos of Kate’s eyeliner over time ranging from brown to black. In and out of the waterline. And halfway to full waterline. I’m not going through the hassel of link posting again. I’m just saying it’s liquid and not inked into her skin.
This is simply a rumor and has been debunked. It’s easy searches if you choose to do the work. If not you’re free to continue to believe whatever you like even if it’s well known to be false.
Blue eyeliner/eye shadow should not exist. It flatters no one!
That depends – on eye colour and the shade of blue used, and how it is combined with other colours. I sometimes use a pale blue shade in combnation with greys and browns. It works fine – it was actually something that a meke-up artist suggested to me.
I need your all’s advice. There is a lady at work who just turned 30 and has smaller, more squinty blue eyes (meaning they don’t look wide open), and she wears her whole eye rimmed in ice blue shadow, and then goes over it with a blue eyeliner pencil. She needs an intervention so badly because she has beautiful eyes but the same look day after day is not doing her favors. Can anything be done/said or is that rude?
Could you say, “Your eyes are so pretty! I have always wanted eyes the color of your eyes. (pause. Casual tone). I’ve heard that blue eyes look really good with charcoal grey (or chocolate, or whatever) eyeliner…have you ever tried it? it’s supposed to make the blue in your eyes look even bluer!” She may take the bait.
If your eyes ARE blue, then it won’t work. Grab a brown-eyed co-worker and give her the script.
@bopit, that is a very sticky situation. It depends on how well you know this lady, and how sensitive she is. It’s possible to absolutely crush someone by commenting on their appearance. If you’re absolutely sure you want to do this, I would pull up an article online on the subject of what colours to wear with blue eyes. Make sure she’s nearby, and casually draw her attention to it.
I had a very good friend who seemed to believe I was a makeup expert (I’m not), but she was very laid back and not super sensitive. I told her that her makeup was crap, and bought her a Bare Minerals kit for Christmas. She was so excited she ran and washed her face, then let me apply the makeup.
I wonder if William tells Kate to wear the dark under eye liner because it reminds him of his mother. Kind of an Oedipal Complex thing….Kate wears it exactly like Diana in the top pictures.
I doubt that he would interfere in how his wife wears her make-up. She has the same make-up style as her mother!
My sister met Princess Diana and she said her skin was beautiful. I can see so much of her in William, esp the eyes.
I love Princess Diana <3 Such a lovely person inside & out
I do, too. <3
The English often have quite smooth skin from the climate don’t they? I was just discussing Emma Watson’s nearly translucent skin with someone, and she pointed out it was common among the Brit side of her family.
Isn’t Emma Watson french? As in her parents are french or one of her parents is french and they moved to England…? Too lazy to google.
Anyway, I agree, I think it’s the weather and that lovely rosey complexion but sadly many age badly and way too fast but that can be due to the drinking and smoking culture.
I was thinking more of the English climate than genetic factors.
I’m British and I have the palest skin ever. I’m lucky because I have no skin problems at all, so I have this lovely translucent skin. I get a lot of positive comments about my look because I have pale skin and dark brown hair, my friends nicknamed me Snow White. In Britain pale skin like mine is quite rare, even though we don’t often have many sunny days most of the women I see are covered in fake tan. I don’t drink and I have never smoked, my mother is the same and like me has good skin, but many young women smoke and drink to excess and it shows in their skin. If you go to any nightclub in Britain you see women who are in their early 20’s looking at least 10 years older than their actual age. I wish young women would realise that a natural look with minimal make up to enhance what they already have is much better than a complete mask of make up which changes their entire face.
Ditto on the overuse of make-up. I once saw an episode of CSI where Dita von Teese had a small part – and because it was tv, she didn’t wear her heavy signature make-up and I was so surprised to see how young and extremely pretty she is without all that make-up. However, she has built up her brand on a vintage look and the heavy and stylized make-up comes with that. But she is really really lovely when she is less made up and less coiffed.
I remember the week that Princess Diana died — I was visiting LA and was lounging in the hotel lobby reading a magazine article on Princess Diana. The only part of it I remember is that Donald Trump was quoted as saying that he had met a lot of beautiful women, but that Diana had the most beautiful skin he had ever seen. She died about two days later, and I kept thinking about that quote because it felt like she was still very much alive. Of course, it was surreal for the world, and the mind focuses on strange fragments sometimes.
Yes, isn’t it weird that you remember where you were when certain “big” things happened? I had just arrived in Madrid to do an internship and when I called back home to say I had arrived safely I had my mother on the phone, almost hysterical, who told me that Diana had died in a car crash. It was surreal.
I dont get it then… I stopped smoking six years ago, I dont drink, take my makeup off as soon as I come home, clean it well, drink lots of water……. And yet my skin is still not good. Breakouts aplenty and oily. If only it were that easy.
The only thing that worked for me was cutting out dairy completely from my diet.
I cut out cheese and heavily reduced my diary by subbing out almond milk. Some things still have cream or milk as an ingredient and that’s as far as I go. I had oily skin with large pores and chin area breakouts. Post diet restrictions it’s barely a pimple during that time of the month. Ofcourse, water and that daily detox sweat works wonders.
It is sometimes simply a result of the genetic lottery. I know women who smoke and still have excellent skin.
Yes, I am one.
(Incidentally, I am also an art historian. :))
The same (except the art historian bit) goes for all the women in my family, except an aunt – who, ironically enough, stopped smoking years ago. She is wrinkled like a prune. Her sister, rather heavy a smoker, who is three years older than she, looks younger than some of her friends’ children.
reduce sugary and starchy food, start eating more raw salads and vegetables, and if u stick to it long enough, the results will come… What u put inside every day has a very direct impact on how u look – no amount of creams can change that.
Same as Observer, if I eat cheese or ice cream, I’ll wake up the next day with breakouts.
Maybe you need to start using oils as a moisturizer. They can balance skin out.
Oils work if your skin is dry to start. Not oily. I’ve had more luck working from the inside out.
Florc, doesn’t it matter what kind of oil? I cant use grapeseed but argon works well for me.
Everyone is different. Have you tried a dermatologist? Retinol and glycolic acid products help (you can get them OTC). Remember that as much as you hate oily skin, it tends to age a lot better.
Mayamae glycolic acid and retinal wreck my oily skin. After 4 weeks I usually give up. It makes my skin too sensitive
I’m sure it’s different for everyone based on environmental factors, food, genetics, etc. But oddly for me, I moved from a very humid, Southern climate to Paris and it did wonders for my skin. I haven’t had a breakout since (even when back in the US) and my hair became crazy amazing. I always used to wear it in a ponytail but not once since being in France. It takes everything in me not to fuss over how great it’s gotten.
I don’t know what finally did it. It wasn’t easy though, my skin was so dry for months (I went in winter too), it felt like sandpaper but then it acclimated and not a single spot has appeared. I don’t know if it’s environmental, the water or what but it had nothing to do with food (I eat the same over here, unless what the cow or chicken eats is a factor). I really think it was just environmental. You would think having lived in humidity all of my life my skin would be used to it and adjust. Three months in France and it fixed itself. Go figure.
I struggled for years and years and tried Rx creams, antibiotics, blue light therapy…everything. Now my acne is under control. I’ve done that by:
-NOT using any moisturizer. If you’re like me, your skin is oily enough on its own. Just spot treat any dry patches.
-Switch to Jane Iredale makeup. Even Bare Minerals has irritating ingredients.
-If your skin is dull, it’s because the dead skin cells pile up quickly–this also causes acne. Every other night, put FRESH lemon on a cotton ball and put on your skin overnight. Exfoliate more than you think you need to, using baking soda.
-“Tone” your skin using bottled water. This has been huge for me. I live in the desert and I think the hard water was making my skin look like crap.
Off my skincare soapbox now. 🙂
I recommend orange eyeshadow for blue eyed women. It makes them ‘pop’.
For green eyes I recommend red/reddish eyeshadow or pencil in a copper red/burnt red.
And for brown eyes I recommend purple in different shades from soft to stronger pigmented purples.
agree about purple for brown eyes, grey is very good also!
I have green eyes, and nothing has ever looked better than a soft plum colour.
Next People magazine is going to dig her up and compare her to James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, who’s skin looks the best after 20 years in the coffin?
Hah! Yea. This is getting absurd.
Ugh… What a loss, she was so great. That picture gave such a twinge 🙁
Who remembers that shot of Diana exiting the limo with the off shoulder black gown? This was either right before or right after her engagement? In any event, I will never forget how lovely her skin was- and by that I mean neck, chest and arms- it was like miles of gorgeous skin. And then she did it again years later in another off shoulder black dress post-divorce! Same gorgeous skin- so yes, she definitely had genetics on her side!
I don’t. Tried to find a link. Maybe last photo on page is it? Still, site has great examples of her skin. Espeially prephotoshop days.
Try image Google Diana, engagement, princess Grace
Here’s a link – there are some YouTubes of her getting out of the limo showing a fair bit of cleavage!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2038995/Princess-Diana-fretted-dress-Princess-Grace-told-Itll-worse.html
I just completely disagree about removing her blue eyeliner – she could wear it and it was beautiful
I think when she stopped and started with the dark – it was dreadful. She looked old harsh and drawn. You couldn’t even tell she had blue eyes anymore.
I know it’s petty, but I go nuts when people say beauty ‘regime’ with the intent being ‘regimen’. Unless there’s some sort of exfoliation junta rising in the distance about which I have not yet been informed, I can’t think of the Venn diagram that could get any part of regime and regimen two in the same room.
Hahaha, this comment is perfect. Now every time I see this mistake, I’ll picture an “exfoliation junta rising in the distance”.
I couldn’t get past that quote either. I finished the article, but all I was thinking was “regimeNT, regimeNT, regimeNT”…
I am so glad someone finally brought this up! It makes me cringe too. And lots and lots of people say it. I’m afraid it’s on its way to general usage, like “impact” used as a verb.
Thank you, Pepsi.
Im wondering if the reason Kate wears heavy eyeliner is to hide the small scars left behind from her blepharoplasty surgery (eye bag removal). Just a thought.
Did she have that done? . I’ve wondered why she’s looked a lot fresher lately. Couldn’t put my finger on it. Most women usually have that done in their late 30s early 40s. I suppose it makes sense cos allegedly she’s a heavy smoker, dieter & sunbather.
Her skin doesn’t look that great tbh. I always thought she looked much older than 36 when she died. Prob 39- 42 ish. Still beautiful all the same tho.
I’d always prefer a delicious glass of red wine than to have skin that is ‘100%’. No contest really
I’ll remember the night she passed all my life. I cashed in my V card that night, and after, I remember hearing of her passing on the radio. Couldn’t believe it, she was still so young (well, maybe not to 16 year me, but in hindsight, she was young.) That’s certainly a date and time I’ll never forget.
I remember that night. Had gone to the movies and came home to news that she had been in the accident. I remembered thinking she’d survive, even if she was badly injured and then hearing the news that she had passed. It gutted me. The next week I started chiropractic school. Seemed like the end of my youth.
Her beauty definitely came from inside. She was the living embodiment of the fairytale princess. I would have loved to have seen the woman she would have been become in her later years.
I remember that night. I was about to start high school. I had just gone back-to-school shopping.
I remember thinking she’d survive. After all, she was a Princess.
Still so sad.
Sigh….sad thoughts. I wish she was here to enjoy her grandson. She would get such a kick out of that baby and I think he would adore her. She had that same spark.
This makeup artist is talking total drivel. I’m 48, only wear tinted moisturiser and powder and have really good skin. Zero lines etc. I also drink in moderation, eat carbs and laugh whenever I can. Wear whatever the hell you want, blue eyeliner and all. What do I clean my face with? Noxzema. That’s it. Enjoy your life. Right now I’m drinking a vodka with bitter lemon and eating BBQ chips. I’ll have a good, healthy dinner, clean my house and go to sleep when I feel like it. This kind of patronising ”advice” really gets up my backside.