The secret Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have in common – and it’s got everyone all a flutter
KATE Middleton always looks movie-star ready, from her pristine blow dries to her flawless make-up.
And it turns out that her best beauty secret for achieving her Bond Girl-esque looks are her fluttery Bambi lashes.
Who can forget when the royal mum-of-three dazzled on the No Time To Die premiere red carpet?
And we also saw Kate debut show-stopping lashes at the 2019 BAFTA Awards.
Eyelash expert Saffron Hughes, from FalseEyelashes.co.uk, told Fabulous: “Kate, the Princess of Wales, loves a sophisticated yet natural false eyelash.
“At the Bond premiere, it appears that her makeup artist has opted for a falsie that boasts a denser base, coupled with a dark lash band, offering an enchanting definition to her eyes.
“The falsies for the Baftas exhibit a more delicate, wispy nature, with lengthening lash strands that taper towards fluttery tips. This aids in opening up the eyes, creating an alluring and captivating gaze without overwhelming the overall look.”
And she’s not the only royal to love the bold lash look.
Lash “queen” to the stars Daxita Vaghela has been responsible for giving Meghan Markle her fluffery eyes – as well as A-listers like Jessica Chastain and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Speaking to The Times, Daxita claimed: “Any famous woman who has their picture taken has had them.
“I can look at someone’s lashes and I know exactly where they’re from.”
Meghan is said to have opted for Velour Lush Lashes for her wedding day.
Lash expert Sophia Drozdowska, Director of Marketing at Velour, said: “Unlike traditional false lashes, these lashes are crafted from premium vegan fibres.
“Each pair of Vegan Luxe Lashes is meticulously handmade using top-quality synthetic fibres, replicating the appearance and texture of natural lashes.
“They feel incredibly soft, boast a luxuriously whispy look, and create the illusion of fuller and longer natural eyelashes. The style features thick lash clusters that gradually lengthen towards the outer corners, delivering a captivating eye-opening effect.
“Velour’s Whispie Me Away Lashes start at £25, and each pair is reusable up to 25 times with proper care.”
When it comes to celebrity eyelashes, there are definitely two camps.
Some, like Kate and Meghan, and models like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, tend to favour a “classic” single extensions look, where they have the lashes applied on their own lashes and have a few “volume” clusters for bulk.
The second camp – such as Kylie Jenner and Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips – are said to prefer full-on Russian volume.
It’s not only the red carpet elite who are big fans of Bambi eyes.
The global market for lash extensions was estimated to be valued around £1.07billion in 2020 and expected to nearly double by 2028.
Meanwhile, over on TikTok, the #lashextensions hashtag has had more than 12 billion views.
The industry trade body Beauty Guild estimates that in the UK there are over 129,000 lash treatments taking place each week.
And numerous people are training to be application professionals as their full-time jobs or as a side hustle to supplement their salaries.
Beauty Guild’s Rebecca Archer said: “Classic extensions is our most popular course.
“The cost is relatively low and the potential profit margins are high. Clients love them because the results are immediate.”
Typically the average UK salon will charge £45 for a set of classic extensions, but this can rise to £150 and over in London, especially if you opt for a mix of classic and Russian “volume” lashes.
Clients typically need to get their extensions redone every four to six weeks and will book “infills” to prevent unsightly gaps where the lashes have grown out.