From South America to Coachella: Sabrina Carpenter's Signature Makeup Look Stays Put Thanks to These 12 Stage-Proof Products

Sabrina Carpenter is synonymous with a certain makeup aesthetic—it’s wide-eyed, big-lashed, and blushy. Some people say it has a vintage pinup vibe; others choose to describe it with adjectives like "baby-doll" or "coquette." Her longtime makeup artist and Armani Beauty Collective member, Carolina Gonzalez, is open to all of the internet’s interpretations and even struggles to describe it herself. "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 very big inspiration for me as an artist,” she says. “That’s my world, sketching and watercoloring and all that stuff. That’s where my love began. I grew to love his work, especially the makeup in his paintings and watercolors.” Using Vargas’s work as both an inspiration and a reference, she created the now-signature makeup look in collaboration with Carpenter herself, adopting watercolor and oil-painting techniques into the makeup application process (more on that in a minute).

Recently, Carpenter took her show on the road, performing on the Lollapalooza South America tour. Then, she headed straight to the California desert to headline Coachella—no biggie. Despite the hot, humid environments, bright stage lights, and long, sweaty sets, Carpenter’s makeup continually looked flawless, and I can think of two reasons why: 1) Gonzalez’s aforementioned art-inspired application technique and 2) a 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 being backstage, teaches us how to layer makeup for a long-lasting look, and even clues us in on the exact products Carpenter wears.

Did you set out to create Sabrina’s now-signature look, or did it happen naturally?

Sabrina is a person who really knows who she is and what she likes. She’ll come with inspo pics, and then from there, we collaborate. It really is a collaboration. I can’t take full responsibility. I just interpret, and together, we’re like, "More or less…" It just developed into that. It’s something that organically happened.

I love that she's just one of the girls with bringing an inspo pic.

She is. Most of the time on tour, it's just her. I don't know if people know that. I'm like, "Girl, I don't think you need me." She goes, "I need you!" I'm like, "Sometimes I see your looks, and I'm like, I wish I did that."

She's so good at makeup on her own, then. That’s impressive.

She knows her face. She has an eagle eye. She'll be like, "This side is longer, just by like 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 really see what artists are about on a carpet. You can't hide that. If you're doing editorial, you can always retouch pictures, but on carpets, those Getty [images] do not lie.

On stage, she's moving; she's dancing. It has to be locked in, and then we have the quick change. We're just dabbing off sweat, reapplying a lip if we have to.

There has to be a primer. I use the Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating & Glow-Extending Primer ($48), and I work in layers. I do like an oil-painting makeup [technique] because I find that it really locks everything in. Then, I set it with the Luminous Silk Glow Setting Powder ($69). [The quick changes] are all about the powder, a lip, an eye drop, and dab the sweat—you have no time, and it's back out there. So makeup prep is really the key. It's always the key with everything but especially for performances—the prep is dire.

What are the top three Armani products you take if you're going to do Sabrina's makeup?

The Cheek Tint ($40). Right now, we are loving the new color, 63, and I'll put a drop of 13 in there. I mix those two, and I could also do that for lips, too, if I need to. Next, I'd definitely say the Luminous Silk Foundation ($69) because it looks like skin. I can build that if I need more coverage anywhere and a lip [product]. Right now, I’m mixing the Matte Lip Power in 603 and 207 ($48). It’s like a berry mixed with a brown. I mix a lot. As long as she has a cheek, a lip, and her skin [done], we’re good.

Do you and Sabrina ever switch up her makeup look based on the specific show she's doing, outfits, or hair?

We always switch it up because of wardrobe and hair. It's all a collaboration. It's not just about makeup; it's about how we put things together. A lot of it has to do with what she's wearing.

For Argentina, we wanted everything very reflective, so I used the Armani [Eye Tint] Shimmers ($39). I just built those shimmers up. We did Prisma Glass Lip Gloss ($40). In the middle of the show, we just dabbed it off, and we kept it more on the matte side.

We play with different Cheek Tints, too. To lock it in for the stage, I will put a Luminous Silk Natural Glow Blush ($40) on top. It sets that blush and keeps the integrity of the glow, without being overly reflective. If it's like, “Okay, we're gonna carry on from the red carpet to events to the after-party,” then I'll set the Cheek Tint with a Glow Blush.

That's such a good tip. Can you tell me how it comes together before each show? Is Sabrina texting you her inspo pics hours before?

If she doesn't, then I ask. Or I'll ask her sister because the girl is doing so much! The girl is doing a million and one things at once. Sometimes it's just easier to ask her sister to get it or if she already has a look in mind. Her sister has a lot of input. She has a great eye, and she has good taste. Sarah is amazing.

Do you ever get stressed?

The only stressful part is packing up in time. I'm trying to get out the door. I love what I do. I love creating. I love the whole process of everything coming together with stylist Jared [Ellner] and hairstylist Evanie [Frausto]. I get into the feeling of things. I'm a very emotional person, and I calm myself down so much to be her weighted blanket so that she's ready to do what she has to do. That, for me, is such a blessing and an honor to do for all my clients. It's a very special moment. I treat it like a wedding. I treat it like a wedding every time.

I can't even imagine the adrenaline or the anticipation of performing for that many people.

I like to make sure my clients feel good and ready and that they can count on me for that support.

I’d love to know about the process of putting together makeup, especially when it's that layered oil-painting or watercolor effect. How long are you actually spending on Sabrina's makeup before she hits the stage?

It depends on the time they give us. She actually likes to have time to herself because, I guess, it's also meditative. And she has to prep her voice. She has to do these things, so she makes sure that she gives herself the time for that. She's great that way. Most of the time, we have two hours or two and a half hours with setup. There are breaks between those two hours. She's going to eat, go to the bathroom, you know? Sometimes it's an hour and a half. Sometimes she's like, "Just give me an hour beat."

Do you have any tips for someone who wants to re-create Sabrina's blushy watercolor look?

You can't go wrong. I’m so honored to be part of the Armani family because the makeup is amazing. Period. I'm always like, "Thank God they resigned me." Everything is buildable. You just layer it. Everything's layerable. That's the beauty of Armani.

[The] Eye Tints ($39) are perfect for wearing throughout the day. You're not going to have to reapply—same with the Luminous Silk Foundation. It looks like that's your skin. It looks natural in the daylight. I'm not seeing areas that are harsh or not blended in. That’s the beauty of it.

If you have perfect skin and you don't need anything, then do the Luminous Silk Concealer ($42). It’s buildable. Everything's buildable! That's my whole thing. As I said, I build the makeup. It's basically oil painting for me. So I would say either the Luminous Silk Foundation or maybe just the concealer. Then, a Cheek Tint. You can always double the Cheek Tint for the lips.

Or I would use Prisma Glass Lip Gloss. If you want something more matte, then I would use the 603 Lip Power Matte ($48). It looks like dark burgundy, but it's not. I would just tap that on. And the Vertical Lift Mascara ($32). It really lengthens, separates, and it's not overpowering, but then again, you can always add layers. Those are my go tos. Oh, and 99 Eye Tint as an eyeliner. That is my go-to because once it's on, it doesn't shift. 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 place it?

I go from where your highlight would be (the top of the cheekbone), and then feather it out. I just buff it into nothingness. I don't bring it too low. When it's [up and out], it snatches you; if you're bringing in [toward the center of the face], it kind of pulls you down.

It's like a blush highlight but feathered into the eye. It always just needs to melt into the skin. That’s also 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 just disperses beautifully and blends right into the skin. We also do the tip of the nose. We like it to look like she just got a little sunburn or maybe she was crying a little.

Sometimes I apply it with my fingers. Sometimes I use a wedge sponge. Then, I put the Glow Blush on top with an angled blush brush. I stamp it on top lightly to set everything.

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