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Olandria Carthen has officially entered her MAC Cosmetics era, and honestly, it makes sense. The model and reality TV favourite appears in MAC’s latest MACzine feature alongside UK-based makeup artist Ngozi Esther Edeme, better known online as Painted By Esther. The beauty story focuses on Esther’s signature gradient blush technique, Olandria’s love of bold cheek colour and the new Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush.
It is a very clear reminder that Black women have been shaping makeup trends long before brands decided to package those trends for the mainstream. And this time, MAC put that influence front and centre.
Olandria and Painted By Esther make blush the main event
MAC’s feature positions Painted By Esther as one of the artists helping redefine how blush is worn, especially on deeper skin tones. Her approach is simple but effective: one blush is never enough.
Esther told MAC that something “has to pop on the face,” and blush has always been the product she reaches for. Her signature look is not about a timid dusting of colour. It is about building a gradient, layering tones and letting the cheeks become the focus.
Olandria clearly agrees. In the MACzine feature, she says blush brings out her features and encourages women with deep, dark skin tones not to be afraid of using it. That point matters. For years, beauty marketing pushed soft pinks, barely-there tones and “natural” shades that often did very little for deeper complexions. Esther’s technique rejects that. The colour is meant to show.
That is the real beauty of this MAC moment. It is not asking Black women to shrink their glam. It is telling them to add more colour.
The Olandria blush combo MAC fans are shopping
According to MAC, Olandria’s blush combo includes Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush in Snob, LaLaLavender and Candy Yum Yum. The idea is not to rely on one shade to do all the work. Esther recommends using at least three blushes: a transition colour, a main colour and a deeper shade to blend everything together.
That technique creates dimension, especially on deeper skin. It also explains why Olandria’s makeup reads as soft, polished and dramatic at the same time. The blush does not just sit on top of the face. It shapes the whole look. For anyone trying to recreate that Olandria-inspired MAC glam, the blush is the obvious place to start.
Shop MAC Cosmetics Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush
Best for: blush lovers, soft glam fans and anyone who wants colour that actually shows up.
The MAC Lip Pencil adds structure to the look
A strong blush moment needs balance, and that is where a lip pencil comes in. MAC Lip Pencil has long been one of the brand’s signature products because it helps define the lips, shape the look and make the rest of the makeup feel more intentional. For an Olandria-inspired glam, a lip pencil works especially well because it gives the face structure without taking attention away from the blush.
Think defined lips, glowing cheeks and a polished finish. This is the product to shop if you want the look to feel complete without doing too much.
Best for: defined lips, soft glam makeup and anyone who wants a more finished beauty look.
The Studio Fix Powder gives the glam a matte finish
Blush may be the star, but base makeup still matters. MAC’s Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation with 24HR Oil Control Blur Matte Finish is a smart addition for anyone who prefers a more blurred, polished base. It fits the overall Olandria glam mood because her MAC look is not messy or overly casual. It is feminine, sculpted and camera-ready.
A powder foundation also makes sense for shoppers who want something easy to carry, easy to touch up and useful for controlling shine throughout the day.
Again, this is not about copying every product used on Olandria’s face. It is about building a MAC-inspired makeup bag around the same beauty language: smooth skin, bold cheeks, defined features and a finish that photographs well.
Shop MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Best for: matte makeup lovers, touch-ups and anyone who prefers a polished base.
The Studio Fix Fluid Foundation keeps the base classic
For shoppers who prefer liquid foundation, MAC’s SPF 15 Studio Fix 24hr Matte Foundation is another way into the look. The Studio Fix line has been a MAC staple for years, and it fits perfectly into this kind of full-glam beauty story. If the powder is for touch-ups and oil control, the liquid foundation is for building the base from the beginning.
Pair it with a strong blush placement, a defined lip pencil and a little glow, and you have the bones of an Olandria-inspired MAC face. The key is not to hide your features. Painted By Esther’s whole philosophy is about letting the muse shine through. The base should support the look, not erase the person wearing it.
Shop MAC Cosmetics SPF 15 Studio Fix 24hr Matte Foundation
Best for: full-glam routines, matte foundation fans and anyone building a classic MAC base.
Why this MAC moment feels important
The most interesting part of the Olandria and Painted By Esther feature is not just the products. It is the message behind them. For a long time, blush was marketed as something soft, delicate and almost invisible. On darker skin, that often meant products that barely appeared or shades that were never designed with deep complexions in mind.
Esther’s work flips that script. Her blush is intentional, the colour placement is bold, and her technique celebrates Black women’s features instead of muting them. That is why Olandria is such a strong muse for this MAC story. Her beauty appeal is not about looking generic. It is about looking feminine, confident and fully herself.
MAC choosing to spotlight that feels significant. It puts a Black makeup artist, a Black muse and a Black beauty technique at the centre of the conversation.
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