Since its launch earlier this month, Fenty Beauty has caused global frenzy both on social media and in stores. Having already cemented her status as a fashion icon, singer Rihanna has moved into the world of cosmetics, and she has done so with a bang!
With shoppers queuing out the doors and items already out of stock, getting your hands on one of the items in the line isn’t the easiest task, however, with a trip to Harvey Nichols and a little perseverance, I managed to snap up some of the oh-so-coveted products.
The full Fenty Beauty line is currently on sale worldwide in select stores, the official UK stockist being high-end department store Harvey Nichols. Feeling dazzled by the launch and itching to get my hands on some of the products, I headed over to the store at the Mailbox in Birmingham, where I was met by plenty of equally as excited shoppers frantic to get their Fenty fix.
The first product I chose to look at was the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation. Being a loyal fan of Estée Lauder Double Wear, I am a harsh critic of any other foundation that claims to provide great coverage whilst leaving the skin looking natural, so I was looking forward to seeing if the Fenty foundation could topple Double Wear’s hard-earned crown.
My first observation of the product itself was the runny liquid formula, but I was really pleasantly surprised at how well the foundation covered and blended out on my face. The fluid nature of the product leaves the skin feeling breathable and allows you to build up to higher coverage if you need it, something which I took advantage of. I have some red areas and spot scars around my chin and this did a good job of masking these without looking cakey at all… so far so good!
In terms of durability, the foundation stayed put fairly well throughout the day and remained fresh for a good amount of time, although I did need to touch up red areas where the coverage was visibly less opaque. The product retails at £26 but it definitely stands up to the more expensive high-end foundations, making it really impressive for its price tag.
The range of shades is unquestionably one of the best on the market at the moment – it really does offer something to fit everyone! One small drawback to this is that it’s more difficult to pick your perfect shade without testing the products out in person, so a visit to a store is highly recommended before buying.
My next choice of product was the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, a pretty gloss that claims to complement every skin tone. As well as being gorgeously fruit scented, the applicator and packaging definitely have a ‘luxe’ feel that makes this product a pleasure to carry around with you and definitely gives you the urge to show it off in public, something which I have shamelessly (but proudly) done on multiple occasions! The colour is a dark peachy, rose gold hue with a pretty sheen that sets it apart from other glosses, and the shade appears very natural on everyone who tries it out. This is a product where one size really does fit all, it’s as if Rihanna created the shade especially for you – that in itself is enough to justify the £16 price tag!
The product I fell the most in love with was undoubtedly the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife, a striking gold cream-powder highlighter in Fenty Beauty’s trademark hexagonal shaped packaging. At £26, it’s not a bargain product but nonetheless, it has been flying off the shelves since the line’s launch. Using the highlighter on your cheekbones requires very little product to make an impact, a little really does go a long way! Being fair-skinned, the highlight on my cheeks made me a little too reminiscent of a BAFTA award to pull it off as an everyday look, so I opted instead to apply the product to my eyelids. The pigment transferred incredibly well, even with my slapdash fingertip application in the middle of the busy store, and I was thrilled to see it last throughout the day, still looking fresh and glowy long into the evening. For me, this is definitely a holy grail product – it is a real eye catcher that radiates glam sophistication and would be perfect for special evening occasions.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line has been received exceptionally well by critics, especially praised for its inclusivity and suitability for people of all skin tones. Not only are the products well made, packaged and presented but they also pull their weight in terms of performance. Rihanna has stunned us all with her first launch of Fenty Beauty and I, along with crowds of other beauty aficionados, can’t wait to see what comes next!
