La Mode Entrepreneur Excellence Grant

If there’s one place to serve a beauty moment that actually sticks, it’s Coachella and Olandria Carthen understood the assignment perfectly.

During the festival, the rising star linked up with YSL Beauty at its immersive Drive Thru experience, stepping out in a full face of the brand’s products. The look? A sun-drenched, desert-inspired glam that felt equal parts effortless and intentional.

Carthen

Fresh off fronting both a fragrance and skincare campaign, Carthen is clearly stepping into a new phase—and this beauty moment only confirms it. Consider this her official beauty era.

Inspired by the warmth and glow of the California desert, her makeup leaned into YSL Beauty’s signature aesthetic: timeless, radiant, and quietly bold. Think bronzy eyes, softly sculpted skin, and that lit-from-within finish that hits best at golden hour.

Carthen

The brand describes the look as “sunkissed desert warmth, sculpted glow and shimmering radiance”—and honestly, it delivers. There’s a subtle drama to it, but nothing feels overworked.

For the base, Carthen wore the Make Me Blush Powder in “Honey Moon,” adding a soft flush that complemented the overall warmth of the look. Her eyes carried the moment, built using the Nude Hour Couture Eye Clutch Palette, paired with the Lines Liberated Eyeliner in “Bronze” and finished with Lash Clash Mascara in Black for depth and definition.

Carthen
Olandria Carthen

And then, the final touch—the lip combo that quietly ties everything together. A ‘90s-coded finish featuring the Kiss Shaper Sculpting Lip Liner in “Sienna Rebel,” topped with the Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick in “Salted Caramel.” Glossy, warm, and just nostalgic enough.

If this is what desert glam looks like right now, consider this your sign to lean all the way in.

Author

Daniel Usidamen is Fashion Editor & Chief Critic at La Mode Magazine. Known for his sharp takes and unapologetic voice, he writes about runway moments, rising African designers, and the cultural pulse of fashion on the continent. Expect insight, a little sass, and zero filter.

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