Just like we all remember where we were when Jennifer and Brad broke up or when Netflix announced it was bringing back four new episodes of Gilmore Girls or when Beyoncé dropped Lemonade, I vividly remember where I was when Sephora announced it would launch Rihanna’s makeup line, Fenty Beauty. I watched dozens of Fenty Beauty reviews and waltzed into Sephora, noticing that the Fenty aisle looked like a Toys R Us after Black Friday in the 2000s. “Sold Out” covered half the products in the gondola, but people were still lining up to see the products in the line, testing them across their hands (oh, the days).
Since those fateful days in September 2017, Fenty Beauty has grown into one of the biggest brands in the beauty business with a full range of products covering every category (and even foraying into skin and body care). Because the line is so big and contains a few products for every category, it’s hard to know where to start, what will work for you, and what’s actually worth it. Our team is breaking down the best of the best. Here is a bit more about the brand and the products we’ve personally vetted:
Our Reviews:
Complexion
Fenty Beauty
Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
Prior to trying the Fenty Matte Foundation, I was a ride-or-die CC cream user. I thought foundations, especially matte ones, were cakey, hard to blend, and simply more trouble than they’re worth. The Fenty Matte Foundation completely dismantled everything I thought I knew about foundation.
My skin can get quite oily, and this is truly the only product I’ve used that combats that without making my skin look and feel drier than the Sahara in a drought. While it definitely offers more coverage than a skin tint or cream, it’s buildable and feels lightweight no matter how little or much product I use. But this product’s real claim to fame? Its longevity. When paired with the Fenty primer, this foundation really stays put all day long. All of this, paired with the impeccable shade range, makes the Fenty Matte Foundation a no brainer to buy.
Fenty Beauty
Years ago, when the original Fenty matte foundation was released, I exclusively wanted to bathe my skin in glowy, dewy goodness. I remember running to the nearest Sephora the day this came out.
It’s a medium coverage with a very glowy finish, but it feels lightweight on my skin. Dewy foundations aren’t my favorite anymore because I find them sticky and hard to wear with a mask, but I still pick this up often when I want my skin to look radiant (especially when my skin has a hard time producing that same glow on its own).
Fenty Beauty
I’ve always been someone who loves a base product that’s more on the sheer side, so when Fenty came out with Eaze Drop, I ordered it the very first day and have loved it ever since.
While this product is definitely light coverage, there’s enough that it covers redness and imperfections. But what makes this skin tint so unique is its blurring effect. When I put this on, it feels like I have a filter on my skin, and it looks like my pores have completely vanished. I have very dry skin, but since this product has a natural finish and is hydrating, I feel like people who are both dry like me or as oily as can be would love it. I also feel like it has much more longevity than an average skin tint—I can put it on in the morning before work and it’s still intact when I get home at night. I’ve tried a lot of skin tints, but this one is by far my favorite.
Cheeks
Fenty Beauty
I’ve tried a lot of beauty products in my time, and it is very rare that I actually finish a product before I get bored of it and move on to something new. This cream bronzer by Fenty, however, is one of the only makeup products that I actually have used to the very last bit and want to repurchase again and again. It is perfectly blendable and gives a natural-yet-contoured look that I consistently get compliments on. Whenever someone tells me that my makeup looks good, I tell them that it’s because of this bronzer.
I am a blush fanatic, and since cream blushes became hot, I’ve hopped on the bandwagon and tried every one I could get my hands on. Just about every makeup brand has released a cream blush at this point, but this one remains one of the best on the market. It gives your cheeks a sheer, buildable wash of color that just looks like healthy skin. The colors look super bold in the pan, but every one is literally impossible to overdo and somehow give your cheeks just the right amount of color. Despite the other blushes I add to my collection, I find myself reaching for these constantly and can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t like them.
Lips
Fenty Beauty
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
I haven’t tried as many products from the Fenty Beauty line as I would like, but when the Gloss Bomb was first introduced, I knew I had to get it! I’m definitely not a lipstick or lipgloss gal by any means, but when I first got my hands on this and after figuring out what works best for me and my routine, I felt in motionnnn. By adding my favorite lip liner with this on top, it creates the perfect sparkle I need for a night out ?? On top of that, this doesn’t feel as sticky or thick as other glosses on the market—it’s the perfect amount of hydrating and shimmer without all the downsides of gloss.
The formula for the Stunna Lip Paint is truly a 10 out of 10! I always get really nervous about my lips drying out from matte lip products, but this lasts all day and feels super lightweight on my lips. The color I have, Underdawg, is a deep wine color and my go-to for the fall and winter. The applicator takes getting used to, but it’s super helpful for lining your lips perfectly, and you don’t need to make multiple passes on your lips for the color to apply evenly.
written by BETH GILLETTE