Fenty Beauty Cosmetics Review: The Ultimate Guide to Rihanna‘s Game-Changing Brand
Hey there, beauty lover! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in makeup. And when it comes to innovative, inclusive, and just plain fabulous cosmetics, it doesn‘t get much better than Fenty Beauty.
In case you‘ve been living under a rock, Fenty Beauty is the brainchild of none other than music and fashion icon Rihanna. Launched in 2017, the brand quickly made waves in the beauty industry for its expansive shade ranges, high-performing formulas, and message of "Beauty for All."
As a self-proclaimed Fenty fanatic, I‘ve tried pretty much every product in the line. (What can I say? I‘m dedicated to my craft!) In this ultimate guide to Fenty Beauty, I‘m spilling all the tea on the brand‘s must-have makeup, with plenty of real-talk reviews, application tips, and insider info. Plus, I‘ve scoured the internet for what other Fenty fans, beauty experts, and industry insiders have to say.
So whether you‘re a Fenty newbie or a die-hard Rihanna stan, consider this your one-stop shop for all things Fenty Beauty. Grab a snack, settle in, and get ready to glow like a diamond.
Why Fenty Beauty Is a Game-Changer
First things first: let‘s talk about what makes Fenty Beauty so special. From day one, the brand set out to revolutionize the beauty industry with an unprecedented commitment to diversity and inclusion.
You see, for far too long, makeup brands catered primarily to lighter skin tones, with very limited options for people of color. A 2018 study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 70% of African American women struggled to find makeup that matched their skin tone, compared to just 41% of Hispanic women and 36% of Asian women.
Enter Fenty Beauty, which launched with a groundbreaking 40 shades of foundation. (For context, most brands offer fewer than 20 shades total.) Fenty‘s Pro Filt‘r Soft Matte Foundation range spans from very fair to very deep, with a variety of undertones to suit every complexion.
Fenty Beauty didn‘t stop there. The brand‘s concealers, powders, blushes, bronzers, and even lip products all come in similarly extensive shade ranges. The message is clear: there‘s no such thing as a "one size fits all" approach to makeup.
Beyond just shade range, Fenty Beauty has also been at the forefront of other industry trends. The brand helped popularize the "no-makeup makeup" look with skin-focused products like the Pro Filt‘r Instant Retouch Primer and Hydrating Longwear Foundation. And let‘s not forget the impact of Fenty‘s Gloss Bomb, which sparked a resurgence of lip gloss and a new appreciation for glossy, lacquered lips.
Of course, none of this would matter if the products didn‘t perform. But as I can attest from personal experience, Fenty Beauty delivers on both quality and quantity. The brand has racked up countless industry awards and earned high marks from consumers: the Pro Filt‘r Foundation, for example, has over 13,000 reviews and a 4.5-star average rating on Sephora.
In short, Fenty Beauty isn‘t just another celebrity makeup line. It‘s a game-changing, industry-disrupting force for inclusivity and innovation. And as a beauty lover, I‘m here for it.
The Best Fenty Beauty Makeup Products
Now that you‘re up to speed on what makes Fenty Beauty so fabulous, let‘s dive into the products themselves. I‘ve tried dozens of items from the line, but these are the ones I reach for again and again.
Pro Filt‘r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
The product that started it all, Pro Filt‘r Foundation is a medium-to-full coverage matte formula that comes in 50 (yes, 50!) shades. It has a lightweight, almost mousse-like texture that blends seamlessly into the skin for a smooth, pore-diffused finish.
I wear shade 310, which is described as "medium with warm golden undertones." It‘s a perfect match for my skin tone and undertone, which is no small feat. I‘ve found that the Pro Filt‘r shades are very consistent across the range, so once you find your match, you can easily find corresponding concealers and powders.
One thing to note is that this foundation sets quickly, so you‘ll want to work in sections and blend it out fast. I like to apply it with a damp beauty sponge for a more natural finish, but you can also use a brush for fuller coverage.
The wear time is impressive: I can get a solid 12 hours of wear without touch-ups, even in hot and humid weather. And while it‘s a matte formula, it doesn‘t look flat or dry on the skin. I do recommend starting with a hydrating primer if you have dry or textured skin, though.
Pro Filt‘r Foundation retails for $36 for 1.08 oz of product, which is fairly standard for a high-end foundation. But considering the quality and shade range, I think it‘s worth every penny.
Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
I am a highlighter junkie, and the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter is one of the best I‘ve ever used. This cream-powder hybrid comes in a range of shades from subtle champagne to bold tangerine, each with a seriously intense metallic shine.
My go-to shade is Hu$tla Baby, a peachy-gold with flecks of silver glitter. It gives my cheekbones an otherworldly glow that‘s somehow both natural and dramatic. The texture is incredibly smooth and creamy, so it melts into the skin without emphasizing texture or pores.
The pigmentation is no joke, so a little goes a very long way. I like to use my fingertips to tap it onto the high points of my face for a more subtle sheen, or a small highlighting brush for a bolder strobe effect. You can also layer it over liquid or cream highlighters for even more intensity.
At $36 for 0.28 oz, the Killawatts are definitely a splurge. But they last forever (I‘ve had mine for over a year and barely made a dent), and the uniquely creamy formula sets them apart from other powder highlighters on the market.
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
If there‘s one product that embodies the Fenty Beauty ethos, it‘s the Gloss Bomb. This universal lip gloss promises to be the ultimate finishing touch for any makeup look, with a nourishing formula and flattering shimmer.
I have the shade Fenty Glow, a perfect rosy nude with flecks of gold shimmer. The gloss has a thick, cushiony texture that feels plush and hydrating on the lips, never sticky or tacky. It‘s infused with shea butter to soften and condition, so it actually improves the look and feel of your lips over time.
The pigmentation is sheer but buildable, so you can wear it on its own for a glossy wash of color or layer it over lipstick for extra dimension. The shimmer is incredibly fine and subtle, so it looks luminous rather than glittery.
My only complaint is that the gloss doesn‘t last very long on the lips—I find myself reapplying every 2-3 hours. But the packaging is sleek and portable, with a doe-foot applicator that makes touch-ups a breeze.
At $19 for 0.30 oz, the Gloss Bomb is definitely on the pricier side for a lip gloss. But for a truly universal shade and comfortable, non-sticky formula, I think it‘s worth the investment.
Pro Filt‘r Instant Retouch Concealer
Fenty Beauty‘s Pro Filt‘r Concealer is the perfect companion to the brand‘s namesake foundation. Available in a whopping 50 shades (sensing a theme here?), this creamy liquid concealer provides medium-to-full coverage with a naturally radiant finish.
I use the shade 310, which matches my foundation perfectly. The formula has a thin, almost watery consistency that belies its impressive coverage. It layers beautifully over foundation or on its own, blurring dark circles, redness, and blemishes without caking or creasing.
One of my favorite things about this concealer is the oversized doe-foot applicator. It‘s big enough to cover larger areas like the under eyes and cheeks, but still precise enough for targeted spot concealing. I like to blend it out with a damp makeup sponge for the most seamless finish.
The wear time is impressive, too. I can get a good 8-10 hours of crease-free wear, even in my notoriously dry under-eye area. And like the Pro Filt‘r Foundation, the concealer is humidity-resistant and non-comedogenic, so it won‘t slide around or clog pores.
At $26 for 0.27 oz, the Pro Filt‘r Concealer is definitely an investment. But a little goes a long way, and the shade range and performance make it worth the splurge in my book.
What Real Fenty Beauty Fans Are Saying
Of course, you don‘t have to just take my word for it. To get a fuller picture of how Fenty Beauty performs for different people, I scoured online reviews from real customers. Here‘s what Fenty fans have to say about the brand:
"I have never found a foundation that matched me this well," one Sephora reviewer raved about the Pro Filt‘r Foundation. "It literally melts into my skin and stays put all day."
"The Killawatt Highlighters are some of the most pigmented highlighters I have ever used," YouTuber Tiara Willis gushed in a video reviewing the best products for dark skin. "They‘re so beautiful on deeper skin tones."
"This is the only lip gloss I‘ll ever need," a Fenty Beauty website reviewer declared about the Gloss Bomb. "It makes my lips look plump, juicy, and healthy."
Not everyone is a fan of every product, of course. Some reviewers with dry skin found the Pro Filt‘r Foundation too drying and clingy, while others noted that it oxidized throughout the day. A few found the Killawatt Highlighters too glittery or metallic for their taste.
But overall, the consensus seems to be that Fenty Beauty lives up to the hype. The brand has earned high marks from customers and industry insiders alike, racking up multiple awards and accolades. And even the most critical reviewers tend to praise the brand‘s extensive shade ranges and commitment to inclusivity.
Is Fenty Beauty Worth the Hype?
So, is Fenty Beauty worth the hype? In my opinion, 100% yes. No brand is perfect, but Fenty Beauty comes pretty darn close. The products perform beautifully, the shade ranges are unparalleled, and the brand‘s mission of inclusivity is genuinely groundbreaking.
As a woman of color, I can‘t overstate how meaningful it is to see a brand that truly caters to all skin tones. For too long, the beauty industry has treated people of color as an afterthought, with limited shade ranges and marketing that centers whiteness. Fenty Beauty has helped shift that paradigm by making inclusivity a core part of its brand identity.
But even beyond the politics of representation, Fenty Beauty just makes damn good makeup. The formulas are high-quality, long-wearing, and gorgeously pigmented. The packaging is sleek and luxurious. And the brand is constantly innovating with new launches and limited-edition collections.
Of course, all that quality comes at a price. Fenty Beauty is firmly in the high-end, prestige category, with prices to match. The cheapest products in the line (the Gloss Bomb and Mattemoiselle Lipsticks) start at $18, while the most expensive (the Fairy Bomb Shimmer Powder) will set you back $42.
But in my experience, you get what you pay for with Fenty Beauty. The products last forever, and a little goes a long way. I‘d rather invest in a few high-quality staples that I know will perform than waste money on cheaper products that don‘t deliver.
That said, Fenty Beauty does offer some ways to save. The brand has a rewards program that lets you earn points on every purchase, which you can redeem for discounts and freebies. Fenty Beauty also offers occasional sales and promotions, like a recent 25% off sitewide deal. And if you shop at Sephora, you can use the retailer‘s regular coupons and promo codes on Fenty Beauty products.
Ultimately, whether Fenty Beauty is worth it comes down to your personal preferences and budget. But if you‘re looking for high-performance, inclusive makeup with a side of unapologetic swagger, I can‘t recommend the brand enough.
The Bottom Line
Whew, you still with me? I know I just threw a lot of information at you. But as a true Fenty Beauty stan, I could honestly go on for days about why this brand is so incredible.
To recap: Fenty Beauty is a groundbreaking makeup line that offers an unparalleled range of shades and high-quality, long-wearing formulas. The brand‘s mission of inclusivity has helped push the beauty industry in a more diverse and equitable direction, while still delivering on product performance.
My top picks from the line are the Pro Filt‘r Soft Matte Foundation, Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter, Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, and Pro Filt‘r Instant Retouch Concealer. But honestly, I haven‘t tried a single Fenty product I didn‘t love.
Of course, everyone‘s skin and preferences are different, so what works for me might not be your holy grail. But if you‘re in the market for some new makeup, I highly recommend giving Fenty Beauty a try. Start with a product or two that catches your eye, and see how you like the formulas. Who knows—you might just find your new favorite brand.
I hope this ultimate guide to Fenty Beauty was helpful, informative, and maybe even a little entertaining. If you have any questions or want to chat more about all things makeup, hit me up in the comments. Until then, keep shining bright like a diamond (or a Killawatt Highlighter).
