Five Women Try Kate Middleton’s Favorite Lipstick

It's been nearly a decade since Kate Middleton married Prince William, but that hasn't stopped fans from continuing to dissect every single aspect of the royal wedding. From the dress to the cathedral, each moment seemed straight out of a fairy tale. While pretty much nothing about the event could be descried as low-key, there is one detail that was surprisingly accessible: Kate's makeup look. 

Much has been written on the topic—like the fact that she did her makeup herself and stayed within her famously natural, no-makeup makeup comfort zone—but because of royal guidelines, the exact products she used have been tightly under wraps, which has left fans to speculate for years. 

Thanks to some heavy sleuthing and a chance photograph, we've been able to track down the secret to Kate's blowout and her favorite lip gloss, respectively, but the details of her wedding look have long alluded us. Until now. 

Recently, tabloids have tossed out the possibility that her entire wedding makeup was Bobbi Brown, and the star of the show was the brand's Lip Color in Sandwash Pink. Nine years later, the brand has confirmed to Glamour, that yes, that is indeed the exact shade she walked down the aisle in. 

Bobbi Brown's Lip Colors are legendary in their own right. In the late ’80s, the famed makeup artist—who has since stepped away from the brand—launched the line with 10 lipsticks that actually resembled the color of women’s lips, which was revolutionary in a decade of more-is-more makeup. The brand was quickly picked up by Bergdorf Goodman, and the rest is history, as Brown went on to revolutionize the industry and push the pendulum back to a focus on natural beauty. Since the shades are all rooted in a brown base, they’re widely considered to be universally flattering. They're also beloved for their semimatte finish and comfortable wear. 

To put the claim to the test—and because, let's be real, there's not a whole lot else to do in quarantine—we had five Glamour staffers try Middleton's favorite Sandwash Pink shade to see whether it lives up to the hype. Or at least makes a good Zoom lip shade. Read on for our honest thoughts. 

Talia Gutierrez, beauty assistant 

I often steer clear of pink, mainly because the hunt for a perfect nude lipstick to match my olive-tone complexion always turns out to be pinkish anyway, but this one was pretty cute. Of course, a lip liner would help define my lip shape, but the color itself brought out the light dust of blush I applied on my cheekbones. After a full day of wear, my lips felt smooth without any signs of drying or cracked lips. Not bad!

Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate 

My grammy used to always give me gift-with-purchase Bobbi Brown mini lipsticks, so this product has a bit of a special place in my heart. The texture of this lipstick is just as good as I remember. It's lightweight, creamy, and moisturizing without being too shiny. It's easy to apply without a mirror and comfortable to wear all day. However, as much as I love the formula, the color isn't quite for me. I tend to prefer my pinks on the nudey-brown side, and this one was just too much of a true pink for me—although I found it looks much prettier in a picture than IRL. It's not that it looked bad; it's just not my style. But if I blotted it down to a stain with my finger, it looked a little cooler. That being said, I'll definitely be grabbing one in a more me shade. 

Shanna Shipin, commerce editor

I’ll admit, I was not a fan of how this lipstick wore on me when I first looked in the mirror. I rarely ever wear lipstick, and pinks are just not my style. But after some back-and-forth selfie sharing with the lovely Bella Cacciatore, we realized this lipstick photographs like a dream. (I’m betting the duchess is acutely aware of this.) It blurs a bit at the edges, so it looks natural as it wears, and it even has a bit of the lip-smacking juiciness I look for in lip products but rarely find. One of my favorite things is that it's super nourishing and one of the few lipsticks that doesn’t demand I wear layers of balm underneath. Want your lips to pop just right on Zoom? Reach for this tube.

Brionna Jimerson, associate social media manager 

On my never-ending hunt for my personal favorite nude lipstick, Bobbi Brown’s Sandwash Pink stopped me in my tracks. At first glance, the dusty rose shade has an opaque pinky-clay base, a hue I’d normally write off without swatching. However, when applied as a light wash topped with a shiny lip gloss, it's just subtle and effortless enough to work. If you have a deep brown skin tone and want to make this shade really pop, I’d recommend pairing with a brown-red lip liner for an instantly elevated everyday lip look.

Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor 

Not so fun fact: I was dreading taking this photo because I've been breaking out like crazy around my mouth lately (thanks, maskne!). I thought lipstick would accentuate it, but this is such the perfect your-lips-but-better shade that it blurred spots around my lip line entirely. I will say this, I definitely like it more in photos and on video chat than I do IRL. It feels almost a bit too proper for my usual vibe (think cool-toned berries and purples), but on camera it's a total dream. Like the “touch up my appearance” filter come to life. Shocker to no one: Kate Middleton clearly knows her stuff. 

Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Sandwash Pink

$29.00, Bobbi Brown

BUY NOW

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_. 

Originally Appeared on Glamour