Since its inception, Fenty Skin has amassed fans in influencers, skin experts and beauty editors alike. But as well as the highs, we’re all familiar with the lows of celebrity beauty lines and, since dropping, Fenty Skin has gained as much criticism as it has praise. Though the products appear in #shelfies all over Instagram, skincare obsessives have pointed out Fenty’s use of fragrances and astringents like witch hazel, both of which are known to cause irritation in some people. Rihanna took to YouTube to address these concerns, explaining: “We never use more than 1% of a synthetic fragrance, and if we do, we don’t hide it. You will always know about it.” She also shared on Twitter that she has super sensitive skin herself and kept that at the top of her list when creating the line.
I was curious to try Fenty Skin for myself, particularly to see how it would fare on my dry and often sensitive skin. When it comes to moisturiser, I love Facetheory’s grapefruit-scented Amil-C Whip M5 SPF 30 – my skin laps it up like it’s never been moisturised before. Would my skin like Fenty’s offering just as much? Like a lot of people, my skin isn’t consistently sensitive but it flares up depending on the time of the month, the amount of stress I experience and the weather, too. Could Fenty Skin become my new go-to?
Intrigued by the hype, I tried a full Fenty Skin routine for 10 days and here’s what I’d recommend buying.
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The packaging
First up, packaging. You can tell that they really thought about this and have worked not only to make it look good (I like the pretty lilac colour scheme) but also on its efficiency and eco-impact. Fenty Skin promises to use post-consumer recycled material wherever possible and details how to recycle used Fenty Skin products. Sure, it’s not perfect, but there aren’t many brands working this hard at this price point.
Unfortunately, the brand’s Auto-Replenish + Save scheme (smart, refillable packaging that you buy once and top up when you need) is only available in the US right now. Here’s hoping it makes its way across the pond soon.
Fenty Skin Four Our Fans Bundle, $, available at Fenty Skin
Total Cleans’r, £21
I love washing my face in the shower so when I opened the box of Total Cleans’r, I was a little taken aback: twist caps are no friends to slippery, wet hands. If you’re the same, there’s no need to fear. Rather than the usual twist cap that detaches from the tube, Total Cleans’r has a cool twist-seal opening. Inside, it’s packed with goodness – Barbados cherries (loaded with more vitamin C than your usual oranges), ginkgo extract (helps to control oil and clarify skin), green tea and fig (rich in antioxidants) – and infused with minerals to condition skin.
It has quite a sweet, powdery smell, which I’m not the biggest fan of, but the fragrance doesn’t aggravate my skin. The silky cream quickly lathers up on contact with water and doesn’t leave my face feeling tight or dried out. This two-in-one cleanser has been pretty good at removing makeup as well as the day’s oil and dirt. I’m still going in with Pai’s Light Work Cleansing Oil but that’s just because double cleansing with two products has been drilled into my head. If I were travelling and only had space for one product in my wash bag, I would be happy to stick to Fenty Skin.
Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r Makeup-Removing Cleanser, $, available at Fenty Skin
Pre-Show Glow, £36
This is Fenty Skin’s newest addition and there has been a lot of hype surrounding its release. It’s touted as your ticket to a Rihanna-level glow and I haven’t been disappointed! After just one week (using it twice as directed) my skin appeared smoother and my pores tighter. My skin looked dewy rather than slick under makeup. But how? A powerful concoction of natural ingredients: exfoliating glycolic acid, and papaya, pomegranate and cranberry enzymes, which help to dissolve dead skin cells and unclog pores. Rooibos (yes, like the tea) apparently soothes irritation, too.
To use, simply wet skin and the reusable applicator, apply a penny-sized amount of product and gently scrub your face for 30 to 60 seconds. As it includes glycolic acid, which can make skin more sensitive to sun damage, I would always recommend using SPF in the morning, like Fenty’s Hydra Vizor SPF 30, £34. If you’re applying it at night, follow with Fenty’s Instant Reset, £38.
I will admit I’m not a huge fan of Pre-Show Glow’s smell, which is stronger than the cleanser. But I’m happy to overlook it for all the benefits, especially if I’m only using the product twice a week.
Fenty Skin Pre-Show Glow Instant Retexturizing 10% AHA Treatment, $, available at Fenty Skin
Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner-Serum, £27
I was sceptical about this one. Fat Water is touted as a must-use by Fenty fans but since it contains witch hazel, I thought it would irritate my sensitive skin. It didn’t, though. Instead, the niacinamide has helped to brighten the acne scars and discolouration around my nose. It’s oil-free, which is amazing for all skin types but especially my excessively oily friends. Other ingredients are said to hydrate the skin but my thirsty complexion is in need of a bigger dose of moisture. I’m keen to keep using Fat Water following Pre-Show Glow but I’ll layer it up with Q+A’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum, $, available at Fenty Skin
Flash Nap Eye Gel-Cream + Eye Massage Tool, £29
Say hello to my new favourite eye cream. No, really. Ever since my usual Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin ran out, I’ve noticed a huge difference. Unlike a traditional, heavy eye cream, Fenty Skin’s Flash Nap is a water-based cream-gel, like those recommended by TikTok skincare experts. Hyaluronic acid hydrates, horse chestnut reduces puffiness and green tea defends from environmental aggressors like pollution. The real selling point, though, is the eye massage tool that comes with it. The metal roller combined with the cool, gel-like formula feels soothing and refreshing on tired eyes. In just a few days I noticed my dark circles lighten and puffiness decrease. My bank account’s a little happier, too, as it’s cheaper than my previous go-to. All I ask of Rihanna is to start a Fenty beauty storage collection. I need a cute, matching, lilac dish to hold my eye roller (and the Pre-Show Glow applicator).
Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Eye Gel-Cream, $, available at Fenty Skin
Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturiser SPF 30, £34
Fenty’s clever packaging strikes again. With the Hydra Vizor, you can buy refillable tubes which slot easily into the outer holster — all you need to do is twist to open. Formulated with oil-reducing niacinamide, hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe, this is a really nice, lightweight, oil-free moisturiser. I’m usually one for thicker creams in winter but this made my skin feel well hydrated. A two-in-one SPF, I love that this cream sinks in instantly and doesn’t pill under makeup. Rihanna was adamant that this would look truly invisible on all skin tones and fans have praised it for not being ashy on dark skin. The sweet, floral scent is lighter here, too, which I appreciate. While I’m still a sucker for my Amil-C Whip M5 SPF 30 for winter hydration, I’m planning to switch to Hydra Vizor in the summer.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Refill Invisible Moisturiser SPF 30, $, available at Fenty Skin
Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream, £38
Fenty’s Instant Reset is a gel-cream and feels amazing on the skin. It’s a cool and restoring end to your nighttime routine that nourishes and renews skin as you sleep. After just one night using this, I woke up to a visibly glowing, dewy face thanks to ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. I love that this is another refillable product and I rate the lid design, which hides a handy spoon applicator.
Fenty Skin Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream, $, available at Fenty Skin
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