When I saw Sabrina Carpenter live for the first time in 2022, I knew she was something special (and yes, I do feel superior that I knew she was a superstar well before “Espresso”). Standing 5’0 with those curtain bangs seen ‘round the world, the singer commands a hell of a lot of attention and has officially become a mainstay on my beauty mood boards. Her makeup looks are constantly referenced on Cosmo beauty sets when we want models’ skin to look ethereal and doll-like. And after a meeting with her makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez, I can confirm the reason she always looks so glowy and flushed is a specific blush technique.
Last year, Carolina gave me a quick touch-up (and I also tested out her lash collab with Velour Lashes). She replicated the exact method she uses on Sabrina on my cheeks, and I finally got it. I looked the best I ever had: Lifted cheekbones, bright under-eyes, fresh skin. Is this what being a popstar is like?
The technique:
The key to Sabrina’s flush is mixing a few shades to add a slight highlight and draw attention to the apple of your cheeks. Carolina will often mix these shades on her hand (shown below), but when I’m in a rush, I’ll just dab a dot of each one on my cheeks where I want, then blend with a brush right on my face.
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
For Sabrina’s signature pink glow, Carolina relies on Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tintin shades Bold Pink and Delicate Mauve, but lately, she’s also opted for Rosewood Pink for a more neutral rosey shade (this is what Sabrina wore on stage at Lollapalooza Brazil). I love Sabrina’s pink flush, but often will use this same method using Rosy Peach and Sunlit Sienna. Heck, sometimes, I’ll even opt for mixing pink and peach to create a true neutral shade. That’s the meat of the hack here: Combine shades to help create your custom color, then blend across your cheeks for a full flush.
For a super long-lasting blush look (important for dancing on stage á la Sabrina), Carolina will go over the blush with a powder formula (she loves Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush). For an even more radiant cheek, I’ll tap on the Armani Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer, or mix it in with my blush on the back of my hand. This makes my cheekbones look seriously shimmery, making them even more pronounced and lifted.
Obviously, starting with a dewy base helps. Sabrina and I both love Armani Luminous Silk Foundation because it has medium coverage but still appears skin-like.
The result:
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
Since I discovered this hack, I rarely wear my blush any other way. It makes me look alive again—something I haven’t said since the start of fall. Plus, the blush on my apples, spread across my whole cheek, even brightens up my under-eyes and makes my bags and dark circles appear less noticeable.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.
