Royal beauty is a balancing act, but one member of The Firm who dependably gets it right is Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. While other senior royals have been occupied with President Trump’s state visit to the UK, Sophie is on official duties in Japan, where her latest hair look is flying the flag for British elegance.
Sophie, 60, attended a ceremonial tree planting in Tokyo with her husband Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, a particularly meaningful occasion since the sapling was grown from the tree planted by late Queen Elizabeth II during her 1975 state visit to Japan.
Such a symbolic moment called for a considered beauty approach, and Sophie was as reliably poised as ever. Her flowing, long navy dress was complemented with the most diplomatic ’do in the hairdressing book: the half-up, half-down ’do.
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Sophie’s latest hair look in Japan
Her blonde hair was pulled away from her face with just the right degree of softness, keeping her hair neat (this is royal polish, remember, not ‘mum who overslept before the school run’ hair). The rest of Sophie’s hair was left to flow freely, keeping the overall look refined rather than overly-casual.
Her makeup was pitched just as perfectly for the occasion. Sophie opted for a mascara that separated her lashes without overloading them with pigment, suggesting she’s opted for a delicate tubing formula which has the dual benefit of being budge-proof. (Ruby Hammer’s ultra-precise tubing mascara is the best clump-free formula we’ve ever found – read the GH review here.)
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Sophie and Edward at the tree-planting ceremony
Her brows were softly defined without looking blocky, and there’s just the merest wisp of taupe smokey eyeshadow. The look was completed with Sophie’s signature pink gloss – no risk of it sticking to her hair, either, thanks to the handy, half-up, half-down hair.
It’s a hair style that very much fits with royal protocol, being one that can be dressed up or down. (You’ll remember that the Princess of Wales showcased the look on her wedding day, and Sarah, Duchess of York gave it a spin recently, too). It’s also a look that translates easily into real life, and one that never goes out of style.
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The half up/half down do is a versatile royal favourite
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‘The half-up, half-down ’do is always a safe bet,’ says GH beauty director Lynne, who also opted for this look on her own wedding day. ‘It allows you to do something a little different with your hair, while still feeling like yourself. It also avoids you feeling that your hair is overly-scraped back and perhaps not as flattering. An elaborate full updo can risk feeling a bit formal or stuffy, or too exposing.’
Case in point: if you’re not feeling confident about your jaw or neck, a half-up, half-down ’do is far more forgiving, making it an excellent option in midlife. Plus it’s incredibly easy to do yourself, needing nothing more than a comb, setting spray and a barrette to keep it elegant.
Thanks, as ever, Sophie, for the beauty inspiration.
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