Every new drop from popstar Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty makeup line – from her universal lip glosses to her blinding highlighters and inclusive foundation ranges – has garnered much attention.
Since realistically you can’t buy everything from RiRi’s makeup collection, we’ve swatched, swiped and tested our way through some of Fenty Beauty’s bestsellers in Sephora Singapore. Are the products worth the hype? Were they able to impart that coveted Bajan glow that Rihanna naturally has? Read on to find out.
What it is: The Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation($55) is a longwear, lightweight and buildable powder foundation that comes in 50 shades. It promises a soft matte finish, and resistance to sweat and humidity.
The review: “Using the sponge that comes with this powder foundation (I’m using 130 for fair skin with warm olive undertones), I can hardly notice a difference after applying, though my colleague commented that my skin looks more blurred and filtered. I appreciate the matte finish but the coverage is too light for my liking — it doesn’t help to lighten my pigmentation.
Rihanna recommends layering this on top of liquid foundation for added coverage, but this sounds too cumbersome for my minimalist beauty routine. All in all, this isn’t the game-changing foundation that I’d expected it to be. That said, given how lightweight and sweat-proof it is (it didn’t transfer to my mask when I was outdoors for a few hours!), I’m saving it for days when I’m out for casual events and want a “no-makeup” makeup look.”— Estelle Low, digital editor
What it is: The Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder($46) is a superfine, weightless loose setting powder that comes in eight sheer and delicious-sounding shades (think lavender, butter and honey) to extend makeup wear for that filtered, photo-ready finish. It can also be used on bare skin for an instant filter effect.
“I’m blown away by how insanely fine and weightless this loose powder is. I can’t feel it on my skin, yet it gives an instant mattifying, softening and brightening effect! I especially love how it reduces shine in my T-zone, and makes my skin look smooth and poreless without any trace of product on my face.
This will be my touch-up essential before any camera-on meeting from now on. I only wish the set came with a powder brush or some form of applicator for convenience.” — Estelle Low, digital editor
What it is: The Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara($39) is a do-it-all mascara that’s supposed to volumise, lift, lengthen and curl lashes, while being water-resistant and long-wearing.
“I have many misgivings about mascaras because I’ve never been able to nail the application, ending up with heavy, clumpy and/or uneven-looking lashes most of the time. I’m also not fond of having to curl my stick-straight lashes as the process is tedious to me. Unfortunately, this mascara isn’t able to curl my lashes as promised — I still have to use a lash curler beforehand. I’m also unable to layer the mascara as my lashes will end up clumpy.
Just one or two steady swipes at most, and I get longer and more defined lashes that look quite natural. The surprisingly clean and weightless finish restores my hope in mascaras. Overall, this is a less-is-more product that I’d use only if I have five more minutes to spare in my makeup routine.” — Estelle Low, digital editor
What it is: The Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation ($55) is a soft matte, longwear foundation with buildable coverage. Comes in 50 shades.
“What’s not to love about this foundation. After many years of trying different foundation formulas, I would have to say that this Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation by Fenty Beauty really impressed me. It’s lightweight, almost-transferproof (when you don’t set it) and it’s really kind to my dry skin even though it comes with a matte finish. In fact, my skin doesn’t look flaky and it’s quite long-wearing and sweatproof – which is a bonus because you don’t have to worry about it melting off of your face.
Of course, I also love how easy it is to blend with my foundation brush or even with my fingertips, and I like how it’s buildable and it doesn’t look cakey too. In my opinion, I found it easier to apply the foundation with my foundation brush for even coverage because the foundation does dry up pretty quick. And since it’s a matte formula, I also made sure that my skin was moisturised and I prepped my skin with Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer so the foundation stays on for longer.” — Shazrina Shamsudin, digital writer
What it is: The Invisimatte Blotting Powder ($44) is made to work with all skin tones. It’s said to wick up excess sebum and blur pores.
“I’ve never been a huge fan of blotting powders but this particular one from Fenty Beauty is quite the gamechanger.
I’ve been using this blotting powder for the past year, and there’s something about it that’s making me think twice about pressed powders – in a good way of course. Besides mattifying your face, this powder has amazing capabilities when it comes to concealing your pores. It’s as if I’m using an Instagram filter IRL.
While I don’t use it daily, I do find myself reaching out for it on warmer, sunnier days to cover up that unsightly midday oil slick come mid-afternoon.
However, I’m not a big fan of the puff that comes with the compact as it can be a little flimsy after a few uses, but nevertheless, it still does the job.” — Shazrina Shamsudin, digital writer
What it is: The Match Stix Matte Skinstick ($41) is a matte makeup stick that can be used as contour, highlighter, colour corrector and concealer.
“The iconic Match Stix Matte Skinstick has been around for quite some time and it’s still a hot hit amongst the masses for good reason. It’s really easy to use and it blends quite well when you’re blending it with your fingertips.
Depending on the shade that you choose, the stix can be used to conceal, highlight or contour your face. In my case, I chose a darker shade to use it as a contour and I really liked how it gave a subtle finish that doesn’t look like I have an unnatural chiselled face.
Upon application, I found that it was easier to blend with my fingertips, rather than a brush. The consistency was a little thick but definitely buildable.
However, my only concern about the Match Stix is applying it directly onto your skin as it may be difficult to clean the stick every once in a while for maintenance.” — Shazrina Shamsudin, digital writer
What it is: The Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer ($50) is a shine-stopping, pore-diffusing primer that preps your skin for foundation application.
The review: “This primer works just like a beauty filter. It temporarily fills in pores on my cheeks to create a smooth, glowy base for my foundation to sit on. It also absorbs shine around my T-zone, without accentuating dry patches on my cheeks and chin.
My foundation definitely stays on longer with this primer and it doesn’t oxidise as quickly. A little goes a long way. Warm a tiny bit between your fingertips and tap it into the oilier parts of your face (e.g. T-zone and nose) before working it onto the rest of your face.” — Letty Seah, associate beauty editor
What it is: The Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint Foundation ($45) is a lightweight skin tint that offers a light-to-medium coverage. Available in 25 shades.
“I have really high expectations when it comes to foundations, but this one checks all my boxes. It offers just the right amount of coverage to conceal blemishes but still lets my skin breathe. Plus, it stays on all day (even under a mask)!
Since it has a thicker consistency that dries down fast, you’ll need to work fast to prevent streaks. I got mine in the shade 07 and it fully matches my skin tone.” — Letty Seah, associate beauty editor
What it is: The Snap Shadows Eyeshadow Palette ($39) is an eyeshadow palette with six pigmented, blendable shades in two finishes – matte and shimmer.
Super travel-friendly. Besides coming in a small and lightweight case, at the bottom of each palette, you’ll find a groove, which can be attached back to back with another palette. It also has a decent-sized mirror which is great for touch-ups.
The matte shades blend seamlessly on the eyes and feel buttery soft. With the metallic shades, while pigmented, do look quite patchy without a primer underneath. I would suggest using your fingertips instead of a brush when applying the metallic shades to get the best colour payoff.
What it is: The Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($33) is a sheer, shimmery lip gloss that comes in six shades.
The review: “Since it was launched in 2017, it has become a mainstay in my makeup routine. I don’t usually gravitate towards lip glosses but this one from Fenty doesn’t leave your pout sticky or tacky like some glosses.
Besides hydrating the lips, the gloss also has a deliciously addictive vanilla scent and the doe foot applicator makes it super easy to apply. I don’t even need a mirror with this. FU$$Y is one of my favourite shades because it imparts a nice sheen and doesn’t wash me out.” — Letty Seah, associate beauty editor
Text: Letty Seah/HerWorld