The Member Of The Royal Family Who Loves Tequila and Piercings

amelia windsor illamasqua — (Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Probably our new favourite royal

Welcome to Beauty Bytes: a place where I chat to celebrities about all things beauty - from their favourite products, to their biggest beauty disasters. Plus I ask about their most used emojis and their favourite cheat meal. You know, all the important and essentials things that we need to know about.

In this edition, I got the chance to grill royalty on all things beauty. I chatted with the hilarious Lady Amelia Windsor, 38th in line to the throne and face of Illamasqua's new The Reign of Rock collection in celebration of its 10^thanniversary, about her tips and tricks. KT - Digital Beauty Editor

KT: HI AMELIA, THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH ME TODAY. CAN YOU TEL ME ABOUT THE WORST BEAUTY TREND YOU’VE ATTEMPTED?

AW: Really, really thin eyebrows.

KT: BEST ADVICE YOUR MOTHER HAS EVER GIVEN YOU?

AW: To not pluck your eyebrows. You have to be proud of your brows!

KT: BEST BEAUTY PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

AW: Toner. I never used to use a toner before, but it has totally transformed my skin. I like to use Ren’s Glow Tonic, as it has more natural ingredients, and Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex, because it is sensational and all environmentally friendly, which is so important to me.

Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic, £25 Cult Beauty

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KT: IF YOU HAD TO HAVE ONE HAIR STYLE, ONE MAKE-UP LOOK AND ONE NAIL COLOUR FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD THEY ALL BE?

AW: OK, my hairstyle would be blonde beachy waves, always a smokey eye and nail colour would be ballerina pink or fuschia.

KT: WHAT INSPIRES YOUR BEAUTY LOOK? IS ILLAMASQUA THE BRAND THAT YOU MOST RELATE TO?

AW: I really admire the message that Illamasqua puts out there, which is all about experimenting and finding new dimensions of your personality. Their strap line; ‘Unlock your individuality’ is a really nice way of saying it. It is about enhancing everyone’s natural beauty, which is such a lovely part of make-up.

KT: WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY SECRET?

AW: My beauty secret is that I'm not a fan of too much foundation. Don’t cake your face, as most of the time it makes it look worse. My advice is to look after your skin and protect it.

KT: WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE BEAUTY BRANDS?

AW: Obviously Illamasqua! And I just love Ren and Tata Harper.

KT: WHAT’S IN YOUR MAKE-UP BAG RIGHT NOW?

AW: Illamasqua of course! The Bronzing Duo, Skin Base Concealer Pen, it's so easy to use, and also Raven mascara that's jet black.

Illamasqua Skin Base Concealer Pen, £22

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KT: HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN? CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOU MORNING AND EVENING ROUTINES?

AW: So, I get regular LED facials. I really recommend them to people. Then at home, I always make sure I cleanse, tone, then follow with a serum and a balancing moisturiser. I am at university in Edinburgh and it's extremely windy, so I need to protect my skin. I like moisturisers without parabens, because I want things to be as clean as possible for my body. I also use an SPF every day.

KT: HOW OFTEN DO YOU WORK OUT? FAVOURITE WAY TO EXERCISE?

AW: I love working out and it's vital for my well-being. I do everything; yoga, running and cycling. I love exercise classes; listening to loud music and a really enthusiastic instructor. I find them really fun. When I'm in London, I'm really lucky as I work out at Workshop Gymnasium at the Bulgari Hotel. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a personal trainer; they're really fun.

KT: HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR HAIR?

AW: I go and see the fabulous George Northwood. He is amazing and I get so many compliments on my hair. I don’t look after it enough between treatments though, I usually let my hair do its own thing. Occasionally, I think it would be good to do more treatments, like a good hair mask.

A photo posted by on

KT: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE BEAUTY?

AW: Beauty is in everyone, it's just a question of believing in your own beauty and unleashing it.

KT: DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE? IF NOT, WHAT ARE YOUR GO TOS?

AW: Alaïa Paris. Every time I spray it, it reminds me of being there.

Alaïa Paris EDP, from £44 John Lewis

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KT: WHAT ARE YOUR THREE MOST USED EMOJIS?

AW: I use all of the hearts a lot; I'm always giving people a lot of love. And the dancing woman, as I love to dance.

KT: HAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK?

AW: Tequila! Any type! Casamigos, Patron or Mezcal.

KT: FAVOURITE BOOK?

AW: Anything by Zadie Smith or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who wrote Purple Hibiscus. I also love multitasking, so I like books that teach you about history. What else? Oh, I loved Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, which I think is a very important book, it’s very sad but very good. The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa is one of the best modern Italian reads, it is an incredible book that I'm going to be studying it in Italian. I can’t wait.

KT: WHAT’S YOUR CHEAT MEAL?

AW: Turmeric scrambled egg. It's really simple; add quite a lot of oil to a pan, then a hefty dollop of turmeric and some eggs. Mix until scrambled and pop on some nice rye bread. Delicious!

KT: WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST PICKUP LINE YOU’VE EVER HEARD?

AW: I find them hilarious: ‘Are in a hurry? As you have been running through my mind all day.’ Which was very appropriate for the half marathon that I am running.

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KT: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW TO BINGE WATCH?

AW: Black Books by Dylan Moran.

KT: FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT?

AW: Ah, that’s really hard. I love so many I can’t say just one. I think Eva Chen, the fashion director of Instagram, is really fun and also Leandra Medine from ManRepeller.

KT: DO YOU HAVE ANY TATTOOS? TALK ME THROUGH THEM?

AW: Yes I have tattoos. I have three bear cubs on my wrists. My brother, sister and I saw three bear cubs when we were in Canada on holiday. They were just playing on the beach, whilst we were whale watching. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. We thought it was us.

KT: DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS?

AW: Yes I have a lot in my ears!

KT: WHO WERE YOU STARSTRUCK MEETING?

AW: Dylan Moran, my favourite comedian. I met him in Edinburgh and I nearly got run over trying to speak to him.

Katie Thomas is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire UK. With over 10 years of experience on women's luxury lifestyle titles, she covers everything from the best beauty looks from the red carpet and stand out trends from the catwalk, to colonic irrigation and to the best mascaras on the market.