Like the rest of the world, we’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for Bridgerton’s regency splendour. If you haven’t succumbed to the hype, the Shondaland-produced Netflix show – described as Downton Abbey meets Gossip Girl – follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her fellow debutantes as they prepare to make their social debut.
What follows is an 8-part tale of love, marriage and class, but you’d be forgiven for being distracted from the actual plotline by the sheer flamboyance of the costumes and Simon, the Duke of Hastings’ (Daphne’s suitor played by René-Jean Page) seductive spoon licking. If you know, you know. If you don’t, get to episode three, ASAP.

While the costumes – think intricately embroidered dresses, puff sleeves, feathers, jewels and pearls – are flamboyant with a capital F, the make-up looks are, by contrast, positively pared back. And, since we can count on one hand the number of times we’ve worn a full face of make-up since the first lockdown, we’re here for it. Speaking to Vogue.co.uk, the shows makeup and hair designer Marc Pilcher and his team member Claire Matthews revealed the focus was on dewy, radiant skin, soft, minimal eye makeup and a two-step lip look that you definitely don’t need to be a big name MUA to recreate at home. All you need is a lip liner the same colour as your lips and your trusty lip balm.

“For the lips, I used a natural lip liner, matching the colour of the actor’s lips (Laura Mercier Longwear Lip Liner, MAC Lip Pencil) and either a matching natural lip colour (Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm, Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel) or even just a lip balm (Carmex, Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy, Burt’s Bees)”, Claire told Vogue. While a smoky eye or bold lipstick might feel a little too extra for that 9 am Zoom meeting, the “Bridgerton lip” will bring a little bit of Regency-luxe to your day without even trying. Tiara optional.
Leave a Reply