Fenty Skin just launched with a 3-step skincare routine — here's our review of the multitasking products
- Rihanna recently launched the long-awaited Fenty Skin line with three multitasking products.
- The Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser ($25), Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum ($28), and Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen ($35) make up an uncomplicated routine that should be all you need for glowy skin.
Rihanna has a lot of people wondering what she uses on her luminous skin. Now, you can buy it yourself.
When news of the Fenty Skin launch dropped a few weeks back, the internet went wild. After the success of Fenty Beauty, a skincare line seemed like the logical next step. To say that fans were ready for it is probably an understatement.
Fenty Skin aims to be the uncomplicated answer to all of your skincare questions. The multitasking products give you a full routine in just three simple steps. The line was created out of the idea that great skin makes great makeup, with Fenty Skin being the perfect canvas.
Fenty Beauty keeps inclusivity top of mind with its cosmetics and Fenty Skin is no different. The brand is all about products that serve everyone, no matter your skin tone, type, or gender. This value shines through in the brand's marketing campaigns, which feature all different people using the skincare products.
Beyond making products that are effective for everyone, Rihanna wanted to make all of the products accessible, through both affordable price points and a routine that's easy to use.
This isn't just another celebrity slapping their name on a product; you can tell that everything has been well thought out. The packaging is minimal, sleek, and gender-neutral with muted lavender tones. All of the products have twist-tops that make it easy to get to the product without creating a mess. Many of the ingredients, like Barbados cherry, are inspired by some of Rihanna's favorite ingredients.
To see if Fenty Skin lives up to all the hype, I gave it a try. While I think the cleanser might be, I'm not sold on the sunscreen and toner-serum just yet. You can read more about my first impressions below.
Step 1: Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser, $25
The first product in the lineup, and also my personal favorite, is a two-in-one cleanser and makeup remover. I was pretty skeptical about this, as most cleansers aren't usually strong enough to scrub away makeup. To my surprise, the cleanser worked wonders at getting rid of makeup and grime, and it felt amazing while doing so.
The Total Cleans'r has a soft, creamy consistency that foams up as soon as you rub it on to your face. I usually shy away from foam cleansers as the nice lather they give is usually made possible by harsh sulfates, which can be drying, but this one is really gentle. There's a light cotton candy scent, something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to fragrance, but since this is a cleanser that you quickly wash off it didn't bother me much.
If you're only going to buy one product from Fenty Skin, I'd say go for this one. The consistency feels great, it's gentle and effective, and it left my skin feeling soft and smooth. It's also now back in stock after initially selling out.
Step 2: Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum, $28
Fat Water is a toner-serum hybrid that's intended to refine the look of pores, brighten up dark spots, and even out skin tone. Just like the name says, the consistency is a thick, viscous liquid — it feels more like a serum than a toner. The name and texture made me think this would be a really hydrating product, so I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't. While there are some great ingredients in Fat Water, like vitamin C-rich Barbados cherry and texture-improving niacinamide, I couldn't help but notice witch hazel as the second ingredient on the list. While witch hazel is certainly less drying than a toner with alcohol, it's still an astringent that I find too drying for my own skin.
This product pats in really nicely and creates a nice glow. But, it also made my skin feel a bit itchy and tight after each use. My skin is pretty sensitive, reactive, and on the drier side, so I think this product would be better suited for those with oily or combination skin.
Step 3: Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, $35
Sunscreen is an essential part of any skincare routine, so I love that SPF was included in the first launch of Fenty Skin. Everyone needs sunscreen, but far too often are those with dark skin told they don't really need it. I love that Rihanna is stressing the importance of SPF for all skin tones.
One of my favorite things about the Hydra Vizor sunscreen is the packaging. It's refillable, so you can pop out the tube of sunscreen when you're done and get a new one to put in the same lavender case. A Hydra Vizor refill costs $30.
This sunscreen rubs in like a dream — it feels like a face moisturizer, not a thick SPF, and blends in so you don't even see it. You will want to keep in mind that it uses chemical filters like avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate. But again, the main goal of the line was to create products that work for everyone. Mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast on darker skin tones, so I understand why chemical sunscreen was chosen here. It's important to do your own due-diligence though so you can decide whether mineral or chemical sunscreen is right for you. My skin felt really smooth and looked glowy after using this sunscreen-lotion hybrid.
Another thing to note about this product is that it's not sweat- or water-resistant. I didn't know this at first and used the sunscreen on my face before a sweaty outdoor workout. It dripped into my eyes, which did not feel great. This product is also the most fragrant of the trio. While I love the pink color, I didn't love the citrusy scent. The fragrance didn't really irritate my skin, but I haven't used it enough to know if it will become an issue with time. Tiara Willis, a licensed esthetician, tweeted this great suggestion about using the sunscreen on her body rather than face due to the strong fragrance.
Bottom line
I haven't used these products long enough to give more than my initial thoughts, but I'll start with this: Making a skincare line that works for everyone is a tall order. Oily skin and dry skin react differently to different ingredients, and while I love how much Fenty Skin champions inclusivity in so many ways, I think the line would need more than just three products to really work for a wide range of people.
What I do like about the line is that it makes skincare inclusive and affordable in a way that feels totally genuine. I also love that this launch covers all the basics of a good skincare routine: a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. And, the products are all vegan and cruelty-free.
I found the fragrance to be a lot for sensitive skin, but Rihanna wanted to create a tropical sensory experience, so I understand that it's there for a reason. If you aren't sensitive to fragrance, you'll probably enjoy the scents.
All that being said, I didn't have any horribly adverse reactions and the scents and textures weren't unpleasant by any means. I was really only wowed by one product — the cleanser — but everyone's skin is different, so how you'll feel about the products really comes down to how your skin reacts. Ultimately, I'm excited to see how (and if) Fenty Skin expands to make products that are more specific to different skin types.