Fenty Beauty. Yasss RiRi!
Rihanna has been the inspiration for many of my makeup looks. A quick scroll through the photos on my phone would reveal more than a few screenshots of RiRi that I’ll use for later makeup inspo. So, I had no doubt that I would LOVE her new makeup line, Fenty Beauty. Sold exclusively at Sephora (my home away from home), Fenty Beauty’s debut includes a line of foundation, concealer/contour, and highlighter, in addition to, a primer, powder, lip gloss, and a few applicators. For my first dabble into the world of Fenty Beauty, I chose a foundation, a highlighter, and the lip gloss.
Now, before I get to the nitty gritty, I must mention the amazing Fenty Beauty ad campaign. Fenty Beauty features images not usually seen in major cosmetic campaigns — freckled faces, gapped teeth, shaved heads, and skin tones that represent a wide range of races, cultures, and ethnicities. There is an emphasis on natural beauty accentuated with makeup which is refreshingly different from the current beauty landscape filled with over drawn eyebrows, over drawn lips, and double lashes. But don’t think for a moment that Fenty Beauty is boring. It’s anything but boring. This is BadGalRiRi after all.
The foundation line offers 40 different shades — yes, 40 shades. With that many shades, it would be hard not to find a color that’s at least a good match, if not a perfect match. My shade is 300, which is pretty spot on. The formula is matte, but it doesn’t make your skin look dry or dull. The finish is actually very natural. I found the best way to apply the foundation is with a Beauty Blender. Fenty Beauty has a sponge applicator similar to the Beauty Blender, but I haven’t tried it yet.
The coverage is medium even after a few layers. Medium coverage basically means that it will even out your complexion and cover redness, but it won’t conceal major blemishes or dark spots. I prefer a medium coverage over a full coverage because I like my skin to show through a little to give a more natural appearance.
What impressed me most about this foundation is its staying power. I have oily skin and most foundations usually slide off my face by mid-day. Or, I have massive oil slicks around my nose and forehead that often overwhelm my poor blotting papers. However, with Fenty Beauty’s foundation, my oil slicks were easily managed by my blotting papers. And not only did the foundation stay put all day, I have to use a makeup remover to remove every little drop — I usually just use face wash.
The Shimmer Skinstick highlighters come in 10 shades. I had a hard time choosing between Sinamon (cinnamon bronze) and Trippin (gold-glazed apricot). The Sephora Consultant pointed out that depending on the light and angle, Trippin can appear gold or peach. And since I’m easily amused, Trippin won. I love the portability of the Shimmer Skinsticks. I can easily throw it in my purse for touchups, or to add a little more glow for after-work shenanigans.
The lipgloss, or Gloss Bomb, is touted as a universal gloss. While I can’t speak for the universe, I can attest that it’s a very flattering shade on me. Just the right amount of color, glitter, and shine.
The Takeaway
Rihanna knocked it out the park with her cosmetic line. And based on what I’ve seen so far, I can’t to see what else Fenty Beauty has in store. Yasss RiRi!
