Sabrina Carpenter’s 2026 Coachella Glam Was a ‘Grown-Up’ Version of Her “Short n’ Sweet” Era (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Sabrina Carpenter’s longtime makeup artist, Carolina Gonzalez, reveals how she achieved the pop star’s glam for Coachella 2026

• The “Manchild” singer performed her first headlining set, dubbed “Sabrinawood,” at the festival on April 10

• Gonzalez, who has worked with Carpenter for almost a decade, collaborated with Armani Beauty on Carpenter’s festival look

Boy, does she know how to make us want to fall in love!

On April 10, Sabrina Carpenter performed at Coachella as a first-time headliner, two years after her debut at the festival in 2024. Pulling off the spectacle was no small feat, especially after she promised to deliver her “most ambitious show” ever.

The Grammy winner, 26, brought her own version of Hollywood — “Sabrinawood,” if you will — to the desert, singing hits “Manchild,” “House Tour,” “Espresso” and “Feather” in front of elaborate sets imbued with her take on retro stardom. There were outfit changes, flirty dance moves, plenty of surprise celebrity cameos (courtesy of Will Ferrell, Susan Sarandon, Corey Fogelmanis and Sam Elliott) and a finale moment of her basking in the pleasure of a literal fountain of tears.

Still, you can bet that even by the end of the 20-song set, her glam was going strong. How, you ask? Well, we got her makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez on the line for all the details, from the inspiration to the products.

Gonzalez, who has worked with Carpenter for nearly 10 years, notes that the pop star is “very collaborative” and comes to the drawing board with a “strong vision” of her aesthetic.

This time around, she wanted to showcase a “more grown-up version of the girl from Short n’ Sweet [in reference to her hit 2024 album]” through beauty and through fashion.

“It was about a softer touch of blush with an emphasis on the skin. You can really see her freckles,” says Gonzalez, who is part of a dream team with Carpenter’s stylist, Jared Ellner and hairstylist Evanie Frausto.

“The perfect amount of glow” was quite literally the foundation of the look. To create a base that translated exactly that, Gonzalez used Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation (a buildable product she loves to create a your-skin-but-better complexion), which she then layered with its sister concealer to brighten and contour. All was set with the Luminous Silk Glow Setting Powder.

The pro further describes Carpenter’s signature makeup as “doll-like” with an emphasis on “big eyes and full lips” that radiate “vintage, dreamy vibes” inspired by the timeless beauty looks of Catherine Deneuve, Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot with “a touch of” Marilyn Monroe. Plus, “a natural flush on the cheeks is really her thing.”

For Coachella, Gonzalez did her cheeks up using her own custom blush mixed with the Rosy Peach and Rosy Nude shades of the Luminous Silk Liquid Cheek Tint. She painted the singer’s eyes with the Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in warm taupe and brown hues deepened with a matte black shade and brightened with a shimmer on the inner corners.

Carpenter’s lips were done with a mix of the Lip Power Long-Lasting Matte Lipstick in a deep rose shade blended with a new pink cheek tint (windy weather conditions, says Gonzalez, determine if they do or don’t use gloss).

It takes quite a village to get Carpenter show-ready — and by village, we’re talking about Gonzalez’s makeup kit because whether it’s the tour or Coachella, she likes to bring a loaded kit.

“You should have everything with you, from jewels to glitter to creams to sparkle to lipsticks of every color of the rainbow,” she says. “I bring the same full set-up, even for something like Coachella. That way, we have the freedom to do anything we want, from super natural to full-on looks.”

Then comes the part of actually applying Carpenter’s makeup. There might be a buzz of excitement in the crowd counting down to a performance, but backstage, things look quite different.

“We always take our time in glam because it’s a moment for her to decompress, or for us to catch up on or fine-tune certain things,” says Gonzalez. “I like to just be present and supportive, without even saying a word. We’ll take a couple of hours, but it’s always more than enough time.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Then the rush comes five minutes before the curtain goes up. “We always touch up the lip and make sure we have enough powder, which is the most important because she’ll be out there sweating.”

Like her clients, Gonzalez has a job to do, and she’s got a routine for herself that gets it done. “When I’m working, I can’t really concentrate on anything else. I’m so hyper-focused.”

“Of course, I make sure that I have a big meal and prepare for a long day. I stretch out. I go for a walk. I listen to music. Most importantly, I stay hydrated and make sure that I have the most comfortable clothes because I’m very physical when I’m doing makeup. Like, if I gotta work on my knees, I work on my knees!”

Gonzalez continues to be inspired by Carpenter’s talent. “I just love being part of anything that has to do with her,” she says.

“She’s just one of those artists that I feel will be referenced even when we’re not here anymore. I love her music and I think she’s a real artist. I also feel like she speaks to all ages, from the youngest to the oldest. She’s seeing you. She’s speaking to you. Her music is happy. It brings you to good times, so for me, I just love being part of her artistry.”

Read the original article on People