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When I was offline, Rihanna released her new brand called Fenty Beauty with Kendo (the cruelty-free branch of beauty at LVMH/Sephora). I managed to get my hands on most of the products that they first launched with and it appears there is more on the way. And I can’t wait to try that out as well, but I probably won’t get all of it all at once. Mainly for the sake of my bank account. And they’re launching more products this month, I’m probably only going to get the eyeshadow palette as gloss is not my thing even though I know it’s super trendy at the moment. I just don’t like the feel of it. So I’m going to pass on that when it comes out. But as for the base stuff, I’m in love so let’s jump into my first impressions on the base collection of Fenty Beauty by Rihanna.
First Impression Video
Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 110
I got the shade 110 which is the very fair foundation with cool undertones, which I thought would be perfect for the winter and looked the best when I was swatching it at Sephora. Though 120 also looked pretty close so I might get that one in the future just to have the fair option for when my skin is ever so slightly darker. But each foundation costs $34, and 110 is perfect so I can always just bronze up my skin if I think it’s too light on any given day. Or mix it in with one of other foundations.
This foundation is more of full matte not a soft matte, so if you have any dry patches it will show though this foundation is supposed to be for all skin types. I have normal to sensitive skin so this isn’t really an issue as long as I make sure to put on moisturizer and primer first. I used to love L’Oreal Infalliable Pro Matte foundation, but since becoming cruelty free I haven’t found a matte foundation I loved as much. So learning that Fenty Beauty by Rihanna was coming out with a matte foundation I was over the moon. And just had to give it a try.
There are 40 shades in total ranging from very fair to deep. It is supposed to instantly smooth, diffuse pores, give you a shine-free finish, and medium to full coverage. It’s apparently oil-free to it’s resistant to sweat and humidity without clogging your pores. And is supposed to be light-as-air and longwearing.
I love this foundation so far and it really reminds me of the matte foundation of the L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte, but with the liquid consistency and build-able feel of the NYX Total Drop Foundation. Which is one of my favorite foundation ever, so I can definitely say this is going to be one of my favorite foundations of all time. After filming the video where I tried this for the first time, I wore the foundation for around 9 hours and it didn’t budge. So it is longwearing? Hell yeah!
Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer
This is a shine-stopping, pore-diffusing primer and is supposed to smooth for better foundation application as well as give a longer wear with an instant retouch effect. It is also apparently oil-free and is supposed to be light-weight without looking dry or chalky as it mattifies your skin while evening skin tone and texture. I used to love Benefit Porefessional Primer until I went cruelty free. Then I’ve been using Wet’n’Wild PhotoFocus Foundation Primer and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which have both been fine but not as loved as the Porefessional. So I’m hoping this primer comes close to that. The Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer from Fenty Beauty by Rihanna costs $32. Which is around the same for the Benefit Porefessional and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.
I love how foundation sits on time of this primer. I did see that it mattified my skin and made my skin tone/texture look even. I never can tell about my pores, with any primer as I can never tell if they look minimized or not. But this primer really reminds me of the Benefit Porefessional primer, and will probably join one of my favorite primers of all time.
Match Stix Matte Skinstick
These are magnetized makeup sticks that can be combined with other sticks (matte or shimmer) to form a honeycomb pattern. The formula is supposed to be a longwear, light-as-air matte formula to conceal, correct, and contour. There are 20 shade that cost $25 each, but the only one I picked up was the contour shade amber which is a cool toned contour. Which is generally what I reach for when I try to contour. I didn’t end up getting any for concealer as they were all too dark for my skin tone or didn’t look right on me. So I decided to skip on getting a lighter shade. Plus I love my Tarte Shape Tape and Wet’n’Wild Concealer way too much to switch from those two.
I would not apply this directly to the skin as it will pick up your foundation, but applying it either to a brush or to clean fingers to dot the skin, then blend out it works amazing. It does sheer out and look like a natural contour for me. Which I really love. And will continue to use in the future as a base for my powder contour (either Kat Von D shade and light contour palette or NYX contour palette).
Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick
There are 10 shades in total each costing $25, but only two of these I could honestly use as a highlighter, plus I’m not really into cream highlighters though I do love the ones that I got from ColourPop. Though you can also use these skinsticks as bronzer. I did get three shimmer skinsticks as I wondered if my opinion would change. Or if I would be pleasantly surprised as I was with the ColourPop highlighters. The shades I got were the following:
- Starstruck: Iced-Out Pearl
- Trippin: Gold-Glazed Apricot
- Confetti: Iridescent Opal
Similar to the matte skinstick, do not apply directly in your face as it lifts up your foundation. But Yacht Lyft is the perfect blush for me that gives me a natural flush. Though I would probably not reach for it over my other drugstore blushes that can do the very same effect for me. Granted when I first tried them on in store I was walking around the mall singing “shine bright like a diamond” much to my roommate’s annoyance. And I’m probably going to use the others (Starstuck and Confetti) as a base to my powder highlighters. Mainly my NYX Strobe of Genius palette that I reach for most days. Or the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighters that Fenty Beauty also came out with.
There are six highlighters in total that cost $34 each. Two of the highlighters are one shade while the other four are dual highlighters. I picked up the shades:
- Lighting Dust (Soft Pearlescent Sheen)/Fire Crystal (Supercharged Pearlescent Shimmer)
- Mean Money (Soft Champagne Sheen)/ Supercharged Peachy (Champagne Shimmer)
- Girl Next Door (Soft Pink Sheen)/ Chic Phreak (Pink Shimmer).
The shade on the left gives you a soft or subtle glow from within which I prefer on my forehead, chin, and cupid’s bow. While the right shade gives you a blinding highlight that I love on my cheek and center of my nose. So depending on how you like your highlight you might only prefer one of the shades on the dual highlighters. Since I enjoy a mixture of both I know it will get a lot of use. But it is something to note before purchasing. Plus these shades I can totally see myself living in.
What are your thoughts on Fenty Beauty by Rihanna?
