Queen Elizabeth Makeup: The ONE Occasion the Queen Hires A Makeup Artist
For 364 days in a year, Queen Elizabeth does her own makeup without needing any professional help.
It is only in one occasion that she hires an expert in the cosmetic industry: during the recording of her annual televised Christmas Day message.
Angela Kelly, royal dresser who has worked for Her Majesty for 25 years, has recently released her new book, "The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe." Through it, Kelly gave a glimpse of some behind-the-scene happenings in the royal family.
In one of her most interesting and quite surprising revelations, Kelly wrote: "The only other thing left for me to do is to arrange for the makeup artist, Marilyn Widdess, to be there on the day of the filming. You might be surprised to know that this is the only occasion throughout the year when Her Majesty does not do her own makeup."
The Queen would often be seen sporting a bright pink lipstick matched with a faint blusher.
The Queen's Cosmetics
Through the years, many curious people have tried to discern the cosmetic products Her Majesty have been using. In addition to the royal reports about Queen Elizabeth's cosmetic favorites, her commercial preferences may also be discerned from her existing royal warrants.
A Royal Warrant of Appointment is a symbol of recognition given to those who have supplied goods or services to the royal household, granting their brand the permission and responsibility to display the relevant Royal Arms in connection with their business.
According to Telegraph, the Queen has been using Clarins since her coronation in 1952, when she commissioned the company to make a shade of lipstick that would match the ceremonial robes.
Floris was said to be the "longest-reigning British beauty company in royal favour." The house did not exactly reveal the perfume the Queen wears, but experts guessed it to be her favorite flower, White Rose.
It was further reported that Queen Elizabeth only wears Essie nail polish to match every bright-colored piece of her wardrobe. In fact, the nail brand's website boasts that the queen's hairdresser wrote to them in 1989 requesting a bottle of their "ballet slippers" -- the only color the Queen would wear.
Kent Brushes brand has been honored with the royal warrant in 1770 and has since been used in the palace. It is believed that up until now, these British brushes would still be found on the dressers of the royal family.
Last on the list would be the Pink Elizabeth Arden Lipstick. It was a shade of Elizabeth Arden, an American beauty house which was also granted with the royal warrant.
