What Kate Middleton Would Buy With $50 at Sephora
Of course, we don't really know what the Duchess of Cambridge would buy at Sephora. Unfortunately, that kind of intel is shrouded in deep, deep mystery. And unlike her sister-in-law Meghan Markle who lived in the public, often-interviewed Hollywood eye for years before marrying into the royal family, we have much less to go on when it comes to guessing Middleton's favorite lipstick, blush, and mascara. That said, we do have an uncanny eye for product identification and an equally strong hunch that Middleton is a bit of an undercover beauty junkie. (She did her own wedding maquillage after all!) Oh, and we also know she has a thing for Bobbi Brown product picks. (It was confirmed that the 2011 wedding party received "makeup artistry assistance" from the brand's makeup artist Hannah Martin.)
Even though Middleton never strays too far from her signature beauty look—think radiantly bronzed cheekbones, fluttery black lashes, and gloriously lush brunette strands—we always love to play detective (at least internally) regarding the exact products she's wearing, or what products we think she'd love based on her trademark beauty aesthetic. So, we thought it'd be fun to round up six favorite beauty looks from the Duchess and attribute each to one Sephora-found beauty product coming in at $50 and under. Curious to see what we think we'd find in Middleton's little black shopping bag? Keep scrolling for our personal royal-inspired verdict.
Look 1: Neutral Metallic-Rimmed Eyes

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Look closely enough, and you'll notice Middleton's stunning baby blues sparkle in contrast with a neutral, yet still stunning outline of metallic liner and shadow. The texture looks creamy, and the application is precise. Plus, with a shimmer payoff that pigmented and photogenic, we can't help but think it might come courtesy of Laura Mercier's cult-loved Caviar Stick Eye Shadow. It's a dream to apply (especially if you're intimidated by powder formulas) and can function as liner and/or shadow alike. Our color hunch? Khaki—a neutral shade of taupe with a hint of pearl.
Look 2: Perfect Face-Framing Brows

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We're never not experiencing serious brow envy when we observe Kate Middleton's beauty aesthetic. Her arches perfectly frame her beautiful bone structure and manage to look dense and healthy without ever verging heavy or overdone. Plus, they look ultra-natural. Bearing that in mind, we'd guess the duchess uses a cream-gel hybrid to achieve her perfectly groomed results. This one from Benefit fits the bill and has adorable, travel-friendly packaging to boot. Shade 3.5 is a flattering neutral medium brown we think would suit Middleton's coloring to the T.
Look 3: Believable Contoured Cheekbones

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We've officially come to the conclusion that everyone—even someone as flawless as Kate Middleton—looks better and with a little bit of contour. The trick, however, is finding a formula that blends beautifully into the rest of your makeup while simultaneously delivering the extra dose of chisel we crave. Though she has amazing cheekbones and bone structure to begin with (and probably doesn't even need contouring), we're pretty positive Middleton is sporting a subtle swipe of bronze. Powders are fab, but for maximum blendability and precision, we prefer sticks and wands like this one from Brit beauty maven Charlotte Tilbury.
Look 4: Pearlized Rose Petal Highlight

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I received this brand-new debut from Stila a couple of weeks ago, and to be completely honest, I haven't been this obsessed with a new makeup product in a long, long time. So obviously, I think everyone should wear it. It imparts the most romantic and radiant of glows while also gifting the apples and high points of the cheekbones with a subtle touch of color that's so natural and flattering it's almost maddening. The finish isn't unlike Middleton's perfectly pink dewy vibe shown above. I think she'd love this marbelized lightweight balm as much as I do; it's truly mesmerizing.
Look 5: Healthy, Ultra-Glossy Strands

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Although this covetable, oil-based serum almost exceeds our $50 spending limit, it's truly worth every penny. Middleton is known for her lush, impossibly glossy strands, and (surprisingly) this serum is one of the few elixirs that actually delivers blinding shine and enduring hair perks like split end repair, breakage prevention, and more. We know Middleton knows her way around a curling iron, so she must have a multipurpose elixir like this one in her hair arsenal. If you want a sparkling but never greasy finish à la Middleton, this one pretty bottle from Kérastase is a dependable bet.
Look 6: Matte Chocolate Brown Lids

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Although she's never one to opt for too much drama as far as her approach to eye shadow, we'd be remiss not to mention her flare for an eye-popping smoky eye. To keep things demure, the Duchess usually opts for a matte finish. It still creates a pretty contrast but has the elegant restraint we would expect. Considering the neutral melding of chocolatey mattes, we're going with this forever staple from Urban Decay.
Next up, celebrity makeup artists say these nine beauty products aren't worth the splurge.
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