Popstar Sabrina Carpenter has inspired countless “get the look” articles as fans clamor to replicate her style, her bombshell blond waves, and her seemingly-perfect complexion.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of TikTok videos have been dedicated to detailing every aspect of her beauty looks. In fact, a quick search for “Sabrina Carpenter makeup” on the app reveals more than 114,000 videos.
But while much attention has been given to the “Espresso” singer’s favorite lip gloss or bronzer, the chart-topper has one secret weapon in her beauty arsenal that has flown somewhat under the radar: her longtime aesthetician, Renee Rouleau.
For years, Rouleau, who is based out of Austin, Texas, has been working with the songstress to help her maintain a “perfect” complexion, even as she cycles through a grueling schedule of tours, photo shoots, and red carpets.
Now, the skin-care pro and beauty brand founder is sharing some of her best secrets for achieving a Carpenter-worthy complexion – and she insists they aren’t going to be found in the latest viral TikTok. This is because Rouleau knows better than most that beauty is not a “one size fits all” industry. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.
Keep reading for three of her top skin tips.
Tip 1: See a Professional
“I feel like people have really lost their way with their skin because they’re following advice online, TikTokers with product recommendations. But a lot of these people who are promoting these products, they don’t know skin, and they certainly don’t know your skin,” Rouleau says.
“I think we’re taking advice based on people we admire but not looking at it and thinking, ‘Is this right for my skin?'”
Rouleau’s first piece of advice for anywhere hoping to replicate Carpenter’s complexion is to get to know their own skin as intimately as possible, preferably with the help of a professional.
“It’s time to go back to basics and people really need to learn their skin type – what it needs, how it changes – and oftentimes this means seeking an expert, such as an aesthetician that actually touches and feels skin, and truly knows skin,” she explains.
For those who can’t see a professional aesthetician, Rouleau directs them to her newly revamped skin type quiz, which identifies nine different skin types and helps people choose the best products to address each one.
Tip 2: Wear Foundation More
Among her other skin-care secrets is one that might seem counterintuitive, particularly for those who have been taught time and time again that the best way to maintain a healthy complexion is to eschew makeup and allow their skin to breathe.
According to Rouleau, that’s not the case. In fact, she tells her clients to “wear foundation makeup every day,” noting that it is one of the best ways to avoid premature aging of the skin.
“I consider it a form of skin care,” she says. “As an aesthetician, in theory, my job is to get people’s skin so perfect that they never even have to wear makeup. And I will get their skin so perfect. But, I insist that people wear makeup because foundation – even if it doesn’t say it has an SPF – it has iron oxides. And iron oxides are essentially like titanium dioxide, so they act like sun protection. So it’s another layer of protection [against UV rays].”
Of course, you should also be wearing sunscreen every day. Rouleau pulls no punches when discussing the need for people to be better about protecting their skin from UV rays, stating that “nothing else will age the skin faster.”
“Not smoking, not genetics, not even time,” she goes on. “The number one cause of premature aging is UV light seeing your skin. Of course, you want to find [a foundation] that is compatible with your skin type and doesn’t cause problems, such as breakouts. But wear makeup every day.”
Tip 3: Follow the “Golden Minute Rule” After Cleansing
The third – and final – tip in her skin-care rulebook is to follow something that Rouleau calls her “golden minute rule,” which allows you 60 seconds between washing your face and applying the next product in your routine.
“If you don’t seal water in, it will start to evaporate through a process called osmosis,” she says. “Water attracts water like a magnet and this will actually pull water out of your skin and go into the air so you dehydrate more. Particularly if you’re in a dry climate or during winter.”
Of course Carpenter, as well as Rouleau’s other A-list clients like Demi Lovato, Madelaine Petsch and Lili Reinhart, has some very specific skin-care considerations to take into account as a result of their prominent positions in the industry.
Not only do they feel added pressure to look “perfect” in front of the cameras, they are also trying to achieve a flawless complexion while wearing heavy stage makeup and standing in front of glaring lights – a difficult feat at the best of times.
But Rouleau says that it is the “emotional” toll of this pressure that does the most damage, and leaves some clients feeling self-conscious, even if their skin appears perfect to the outside world.
“They are scrutinized all the time for every little thing and it makes them really self-conscious knowing that the world is going to talk about them. There’s a lot of pressure for skin perfection, so I think emotionally that’s really hard,” she says. “Hot lights, performing, and they want their skin to look perfect all the time, so they are someone who wears makeup all the time and they tend to wear it heavier because in photos and out in the world, they’re trying to hide every little thing under there.”
Charlie Lankston is a freelance beauty, fashion, and lifestyle writer and media strategist based in New York City, having relocated to the US in 2014 from her home in London. Charlie spent 10 years working at DailyMail.com, where she oversaw the website’s style, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle content. Charlie also appears as an on-air royal and celebrity correspondent.
