Do you watch or follow along when the annual Met Gala comes around? It was this past week, and I really enjoy seeing what outlandish, beautiful, or boring things the celebs show up wearing! I know there’s controversy around many things about it, but I choose not to get too caught up in that and just like to focus on the looks these attendees create!
But there was one young celebrity whose makeup stood out to me as so classy and gorgeous. So, of course, I just had to try to recreate it for myself!
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
I know—it may seem funny taking makeup inspiration from a 26-year-old pop star when you’re closing in on 50, but Sabrina Carpenter’s soft but sweet, red carpet glam was actually packed with techniques that flatter mature skin beautifully.
Sabrina Carpenter’s 2026 Met Gala makeup look was the definition of modern Old Hollywood glamour—and the best part? It’s surprisingly wearable for us over 40+ women who want polish without heaviness, but includes a bit of drama!
A bit on her clothing look before we get into the makeup tutorial. Her custom Dior gown was inspired by the classic film Sabrina, with Audrey Hepburn, with actual film strips woven into the design as a nod to timeless cinema. She also wore 48 Chopard diamonds total in jewelry and in her tiara! That same vintage elegance carried into her makeup—soft, romantic, and refined rather than overdone.
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Sabrina looked expensive and tasteful with that makeup look —it was conceptual couture and wearable art at the highest level. Here’s how to get this look for yourself and the products that can get you there.
The Skin: Soft, Focused, and Polished
Start with skin that looks youthful and not completely covered up. Sabrina’s longtime makeup artist, Carolina Gonzalez, is known for using lightweight, luminous formulas like the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $69, which she is an ambassador for. So Gonzalez truly believes and uses their products on her celeb clients to create a blurred, natural finish that looks very healthy. (I’m wearing shade 4.5 in this tutorial)
For mature dehydrated skin, here are a few keys to recreate skin like this…
- Use a hydrating milky toner like this one by Byoma, $15, that I love love, and then a moisturizer like ROC Hydration moisturizer with SPF 30, $26, on top as your skin prep. Dry, unprepped skin is a recipe for disaster that will absolutely lead any foundation to settle into any lines. Even the expensive ones!
- Use a very damp original Beauty Blender sponge, $20, to apply a thin layer of luminous foundation only where needed – usually in the center of the face. Tap the sponge into the skin, no swiping.
Finish by adding powder where needed to take down unneeded shine under the eyes, around the sides of the nose, and the middle of the forehead and chin. Leave everything else alone. Gonzalez has been known for praising the Armani Luminous Silk Glow Setting Powder, $69, as what she uses every time to set Sabrina’s makeup with when she’s on tour. I don’t own it (but now I want to!), so I used the Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow veil powder, $17, in shade “sunrise.”
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The Eyes: Soft, Smoky, and Lifted
Instead of harsh liner, Sabrina wore a mix of what seemed to be cooler browns, softly smoked eyeshadow to define her eyes, while keeping everything lifted and elegant. And I think she just wore mascara – not even fake lashes!
Recreate it by:
- Start by focusing on full brows first, as the framework (think Audrey Hepburn brows!). I filled mine in with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Volumizing Brow Gel, $26, in soft brown. This stuff definitely adds good, realistic volume to barely there hairs!
- Use a simple brown shadow palette, like the Natasha Denona Mini Eye Sculpt, $29, a brilliant and very wearable palette for all! Take the lighter browns in the center of the lid and up pretty high, then smudge the darker browns just onto the outer corners. Do a light sweep of medium brown along the lower lash line, too.
- Smudging close along the lash line with a black shadow instead of drawing a sharp line with a liquid or pencil. I use my teeny tiny BK Beauty precision eyeliner brush to do this, so it doesn’t get sloppy! I did tightliner the upper waterline, however, with my Victoria Beckham kajal pencil in “cocoa,” $35, I’m majorly obsessed with.
- The biggest difference and drama maker – Highlighting the inner corners for brightness with a bright white or champagne colored highlight. I, of course, used my holy grail Dior Backstage Glow highlighter palette, $48, in the white shade. Ladies, I truly hope you have this in your beauty arsenal by now. All 4 shades can be used on the eyes, cheeks, and cheekbones. It’s incredible with a glow that never feels glittery.
Finish with curling the lashes and then a lengthening + volumizing mascara for that wide-eyed, feminine effect. I used the Maybelline Falsies lash lifting mascara,$11, which I would compare the formula and brush to that of the iconic Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.
The Blush: Romantic and Diffused
Blush is everything in this look. Gonzalez leans into creamy, buildable blushes in soft pinks and mauves, blended with no harsh edges.
To recreate:
- Apply it higher on the cheeks and blend outward—it lifts the face instantly and gives that youthful flush without looking “done.”
- Try mixing two shades – a neutral one to mimic a natural bronze flush almost, then stacking a pinker shade right on top.
- I used Makeup by Mario’s soft pop plumping cream blushes, $34, in “barely blushing” first, then “perfect pink” on top.
- And I always prefer using this Rare Beauty Soft Pinch blush brush, $26, to apply any cream or liquid blushes to make it look airbrushed and not streaky. Very important tool!!
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The Lips: The Perfectly Polished Effect
Sabrina’s look featured a warm nude rose lip with clearly defined edges using a lip liner —a soft, yet modern take on glamour without a stark red or too bold a lip.
To recreate this lip:
- Start with a warm, deep mauve liner like “Whipped” from Morphe’s Signature lip liner, $7 collection. I have almost all of these liners, and they’re awesome, creamy, and cheap! You can see me use a few shades on this Instagram reel here I created. *Be sure you’re following along with me on Instagram if you haven’t already! Would love to see you there.*
- Press with your finger to diffuse the edges of the liner on the insides of the lip.
- Then add a satin nude rose lip color like this Charlotte Tilbury Happikiss lipstick balm, $37, in shade “enchanting kiss.” It’s such a pretty shade, y’all, and feels so comfortable and balmy on the lips with just enough shine.
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The rest of my look details:
Art deco-type earrings that elevate even a basic black tank top! I found so many options for you here from Ettika, $55, Bauble Bar, $38, and Anthro crystal drops, $35. // Similar black high-neck tank tops you need as a wardrobe staple here from the Gap, $29, and Banana Republic, $50. // My Kendra Scott knuckle rings are old, but lots are available on Poshmark here! I’ve worn mine for years! Such a cool piece.
The Takeaway
What makes this look so beautiful—and so wearable—is restraint. It’s not about piling on products. It’s about softening, blending, and enhancing what’s already there.
I know Mother’s Day is literally tomorrow, so if you still need last-minute beauty-centered gift ideas, check out my Mother’s Day gift guide here. (or if you’re planning on treating yourself to something in the near future!)
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