There’s something mesmerizing about the way Keira Knightley portrayed Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice (2005), her eyes always half ready with a retort, cheeks kissed by Derbyshire winds, and lips slightly parted as if she’s about to say something clever or cruel.
If you’ve ever wanted to look like you just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel, let me walk you through this timeless makeup look.
Base Makeup: Achieving a Natural Glow
In the Georgian era, most women cherished a natural glow, often enhanced with cold water rinses or rosewater (of course they do wear makeup to achieve a porcelain look, especially wealthy ones).
So start with a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer or a rosewater mist (any skincare mists will do!). Let it dry, then use a sheer skin tint, BB cream, or just dab concealer/color corrector where needed. Powder your face sparingly but dab ever so lightly on the high points of your face for that fresh but glowy look.
Visual Reference: ⇨ Elizabeth Bennett’s Base Makeup
Brows: Soft and Expressive
The Bennet sisters didn’t have brow pencils, but their expressions did the heavy lifting (*>∇<). As for today, lightly fill in your brows, mimicking real brow hairs just enough to guide their shape. Brush them up and let them look a little untamed, as if you read philosophy and fight off expectations for fun. This gives you that cute naturally bushy brows effect.
Visual Reference ⇨ Elizabeth Bennett’s Eyebrow Makeup
Eyes: Subtle Definition
Sweep a taupe or soft brown color across your lids. Smudge a bit more into the crease and lash line for subtle contouring. Your eyes will look broody, not smoky. Plus, contouring your eyes like this will give the illusion that your have longer lashes (mimicking shadows of your eyelashes).
Lashes weren’t emphasized back then, but Keira’s fluttery ones were pure cinematic poetry. A light coat of brown or black mascara is enough. Brush your lashes out, don’t let them clump. The goal is eyelashes that bat with sarcasm.
Visual Reference: ⇨ Elizabeth Bennett’s Eye Makeup
Cheeks: Romantic Flush
Use a cream blush in dusty rose or berry, dabbing it on the apples of your cheeks. Almost like a boyfriend blush type of placement but softer. After that blend with a beauty blender or dab gently with your fingers.
Slightly add a tiny bit of the remaining blush on your sponge or fingers on the tip of your nose. Add a touch of highlighter on cheekbones or bridge of the nose for that whispery glow.
Visual Reference: ⇨ Elizabeth Bennett’s Cheek Makeup
Lips: Berry Stained Lips
Use a rose or berry lip tint and dab it with your finger. Blur the edges. No bold lipstick, no gloss, just tinted balms or naturally stained lips from berries or tea. Your lips will look naturally bitten and flushed like a main character with many words left unsaid.
Visual Reference: ⇨ Elizabeth Bennett’s Lip Makeup
Final Thoughts
This look isn’t about trying too hard. It’s about capturing that wild, sharp softness Elizabeth carried. You can wear this makeup look anywhere whether on dates or grocery shopping, you’ll look absolutely timeless and full of wisdom too.
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