Sabrina Carpenter is synonymous with a certain makeup beauty — it’s the wide eyes, voluminous lashes, and blush. Some say it has a vintage pinup vibe; Others choose to describe it with adjectives such as “baby-doll” or “coquette”. Her longtime makeup artist and Armani Beauty Collective member, carolina gonzalezThe Internet is open to all interpretations and even it struggles to describe itself. “Pinup watercolor? I don’t know, pre-war? I don’t know what you want to call it!” However, she knows exactly what, or who, inspired it: Alberto Vargas, an accomplished Peruvian American pinup artist.
“Alberto Vargas was a huge inspiration to me as an artist,” she says. “He’s my world, sketching and watercoloring and all that stuff. That’s where my love started. I started liking his work, especially his paintings and makeup in watercolour.” Using Vargas’s work as both inspiration and reference, she collaborated with Carpenter herself to create her now-signature makeup look, adopting watercolor and oil-painting techniques into the makeup application process (more on this in a minute).
Recently, Carpenter took his show on the road, performing on the Lollapalooza South America tour. Then, she headed straight to the California desert to headline Coachella — no big deal. Despite the hot, humid environment, bright stage lights and long, sweaty sets, Carpenter’s makeup consistently looked flawless, and I can think of two reasons: 1) Gonzalez’s aforementioned art-inspired application technique and 2) her selection of some incredibly long-lasting, high-performance makeup products. Ahead, read our exclusive Q&A with Gonzalez, where she opens up about what it’s like to be backstage, teaches us how to layer makeup for a long-lasting look, and even tells us the exact products Carpenter wears.
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Carpenter performs on stage in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Did you set out to create Sabrina’s now-signature look, or did it happen naturally?
Sabrina is a person who knows exactly who she is and what she likes. She will come over with inspection pictures and then we will collaborate from there. It’s really a collaboration. I cannot take full responsibility. I just explain, and together, we’re like, “More or less…” It just evolved into that. It’s something that happened naturally.
I love that she’s one of the girls who brought the inspection photo.
he is. Most of the time it is just her on tour. I don’t know if people know this or not. I said, “Girl, I don’t think you need me.” She says, “I need you!” I’m like, “Sometimes I look at you, and I think, I wish I did that too.”
Then again, she’s very good at doing makeup herself. that’s impressive.
She knows her face. He has eyes like an eagle. She’d be like, “This arm is longer, by exactly a millimeter.” And I’m like, “You’re right.”
Is doing stage makeup, especially for a long set, more difficult than doing makeup for a photo shoot or anything else?
Yes. It’s also like a red carpet – you actually see what the actors are doing on the carpet. You can’t hide it. If you’re doing editorial, you can always retouch pictures, but on the carpet, they don’t lie Getty (Picture)
On stage, she is moving; She is dancing. It has to be locked and then we have a quick turnaround. We’re just wiping off the sweat, re-applying a lip if necessary.
There should be a primer. i use armani Luminous Silk Hydrating and Shine Enhancing Primer ($48), and I work in layers. I love oil-painting makeup (technique) because I feel it really locks everything in place. Then, I set it with Glossy Silk Shine Setting Powder ($69). (Quick Change) It’s all about powder, a lip balm, an eye drop and wiping off the sweat – you have no time, and it’s back to the same. So makeup preparation is really important. This is always important in everything, but especially for performances – the preparation is rigorous.
If you were going to do Sabrina’s makeup, what are the top three Armani products to get?
cheek tint ($40). For now, we are liking the new color, 63and i’ll add a drop 13 Over there. I blend them both, and I can do the same for the lips if needed. Further, I would definitely say Luminous Silk Foundation ($69) Because it looks like skin. If I need more coverage and lip (product) anywhere I can build it up. Right now, I’m mixing matte lip power in 603 And 207 ($48). It’s like berry mixed with brown. I mix a lot. As long as she has a cheek, a lip and her skin, we’re good.
Sabrina Carpenter is pictured backstage in Paraguay.
Do you and Sabrina ever change your makeup look based on a specific show she’s doing, outfit or hair?
We always keep changing it because of wardrobe and hair. It’s all a collaboration. It’s not just about makeup; It’s about how we put things together. It has a lot to do with what she’s wearing.
For Argentina, we wanted everything very reflective, so I used Armani (Eye Tint) Shimmer ($39). I just made those flickers. we did Prisma Glass Lip Gloss ($40). In the middle of the show, we just took it off, and we put it on the mat side.
We also play with different shades of cheeks. To lock it on stage, I’ll put a Shiny Silk Natural Glow Blush ($40) on top. It sets that blush and maintains the integrity of the lashes, without being overly reflective. If it’s like, “Okay, we’ll continue from red carpet to events to after-parties,” then I’ll set the cheek tint with glow blush.
This is very good advice. Can you tell me how it comes together before each show? Is Sabrina sending you her inspection photos hours in advance?
If she doesn’t, I ask. Or I’ll ask her sister because the girl is doing a lot! The girl is doing a million things at once. Sometimes it’s easier to ask your sister to get it or if she already has an idea in mind. Her sister has a lot of input. His eyes are very good and his taste is also good. Sarah is amazing.
Do you ever feel stressed?
The only stressful part is packing on time. I’m trying to get out the door. I love what I do. I like to create. I love the whole process of everything coming together with the stylist Jared (Elner) and hair stylist Ivany (Frausto). I start feeling things. I’m a very emotional person, and I calm myself down enough to be her weighted blanket so she’s ready to do what she needs to do. For me, it is a blessing and an honor for all my customers. This is a very special moment. I treat it like a marriage. I treat it like a marriage every time.
I can’t even imagine the adrenaline or anticipation of the performance for so many people.
I like to make sure my clients feel good and prepared and that they can count on me for that support.
Sabrina Carpenter adopts her signature makeup look in Bogota, Colombia.
I would love to know about the process of applying makeup, especially when it’s a layered oil-painting or watercolor effect. How much time are you actually spending on Sabrina’s makeup before she comes on stage?
It depends on how much time they give us. She really likes to take time out for herself because, I think, it’s also meditative. And he will have to prepare his voice. She has to do these things, so she makes sure she gives herself time for it. She’s very good that way. Most of the time, we have two hours or two and a half hours with setup. There are breaks in between those two hours. She’s going to eat, go to the bathroom, you know? Sometimes it is one and a half hours. Sometimes she says, “Just give me an hour.”
Do you have any tips for someone who wants to recreate Sabrina’s watercolor red color?
You can’t go wrong. I am so honored to be a part of the Armani family because makeup is amazing. Duration. I always say, “Thank God they made me resign.” Everything is buildable. You just layer it. Everything is layered. This is the beauty of Armani.
(The) eye color ($39) are perfect for all day wear. You won’t have to reapply—same is the case with Luminous Silk Foundation. It feels like it’s your skin. It looks natural in daylight. I’m not seeing areas that are harsh or not blended. That’s the beauty of it.
If your skin is perfect and you don’t need anything, then do this glitter silk concealer ($42). It is buildable. Everything is buildable! That’s my whole point. Like I said, I do makeup. It’s basically oil painting for me. So I would say either Luminous Silk Foundation or maybe just concealer. Then, a cheek tint. You can always double the cheek tint for the lips.
Or I’ll use Prisma Glass lip gloss. If you want something more matte, I would use this 603 lip power matte ($48). It looks like deep burgundy, but it is not. I’ll just tap on that. and this vertical lift mascara ($32). It’s really long, different, and it’s not overpowering, but still, you can always add layers. Those are my goals. Oh, and 99 Eye Tint as eyeliner. This is my attempt because once it’s on, it doesn’t change. It doesn’t move. That’s my goat. That’s the holy grail for me.
last question. Her blush is so iconic. How do you keep it?
I go from where your highlight would be (the top of the cheekbones), and then wing it. I just turn it into nothingness. I don’t bring it down very much. When it happens (up and out), it snatches you away; If you’re bringing in (toward the middle of the face), it pulls you down.
It’s like a blush highlight but blends into the eyes. It always needs to melt into the skin. This is why the cheek tint is so important to me because all the products just melt into each other. It’s not like you can see where something starts. It spreads beautifully and blends straight into the skin. We also do the tip of the nose. We like it to look like she just got some sun or maybe she’s been crying a little.
Sometimes I apply it with my fingers. Sometimes I use a wedge sponge. Then, I applied Glow Blush on top with an angled blush brush. I lightly stamp over it to set everything.
Carpenter is pictured backstage in Santiago, Chile.
Shop Sabrina Carpenter’s Exact Makeup Products
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Luminous Silk Natural Glow Smudgy Liquid Foundation
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Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer
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Luminous Silk Hydrating and Shine Enhancing Primer
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Cheek Tint Longwear Lightweight Liquid Blush – 63 Rosewood Pink
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Cheek Tint Longwear Lightweight Liquid Blush – 13 Brick Brown
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Glitter Silk Smudge Natural Glow Powder Blush
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Glossy Silk Shine Setting Powder
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Prisma Glass Hydrating Lip Gloss with Squalane – 06 Amber Shine
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Lip Power Matte Lipstick – 603
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Lip Power Matte Lipstick – 207
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Eye Tint Long Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow – 99M Abondy
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Vertigo Lift Longwear Lengthening Mascara – Obsidian Black
