It seems these days, an entertainer just can’t be an entertainer, they need to be a brand. And if said entertainer is a beauty icon, it’s almost logical that they launch a line of beauty products. Rihanna, who just celebrated her 29th birthday yesterday, is following in the footsteps of Kylie Jenner and Drew Barrymore by launching a new cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, this fall.
The collection, sold at Sephora, a/k/a Ulta for people who make good money (I shop at Ulta, just saying), stars what is touted as holographic lipstick. The lipstick was featured at the Fenty x Puma spring 2017 fashion show in Paris last fall. It’s pretty, but I don’t see the holographic aspect of it. (Holographic lipgloss does already exist.) Not to say I wouldn’t give it a go though. I do love me some cosmetics.
This collection isn’t the first bearing Rihanna’s name. She has had multiple fragrances, including her latest,
kiss, and released four cosmetic collections through MAC under the RiRi [hearts] MAC name. Her RiRi Woo, part of the MAC collection, sold out quickly, so it’s pretty much a sure thing that her Fenty Beauty line will also generate lots of fan demand. There hasn’t been an official announcement about which products will make their way to stores (and a Fenty Beauty Instagram page, @fentybeautycosmetics, has already disappeared), speculation includes brow pencils, bronzers and eye shadows, all of which were part of her MAC collections.
In addition to the mysterious new cosmetic line, Rihanna also started up her own LA-based talent agency, called Fr8me, in November of last year. The agency represents hairstylists, makeup artists, manicurists, groomers, photographers, and fashion stylists. Rihanna told The Hollywood Reporter that the reasoning behind this new agency was that, “Hair, makeup and styling play an important role in creativity. I am very involved with that part of my process, so this agency was an organic thing for me to do.”
It’s odd that every mention of the Fenty Beauty line has been taken down. (In addition to the Fenty Beauty Insta page disappearing, a post of Rihanna on makeup artist Erik Soto’s Instagram page, presumably showing off some of the new products, is also no longer available, but Glamour did snag a screenshot.) Is the mystery just added hype to drive demand for the products? I must admit I’m curious to see what happens with this line, even though I know I can’t afford it.
Photo credit: WENN.com, Getty Images, Fame Flynet
Is she really involved in any of this stuff or is she just sticking her name on a bunch of products in order to make easy money?
i think she is involved and i think it is easy money. Let’s be honest, making big money in music is hard.
I have not heard that she is the best in concert and that is really where musicians make the money, not on album sales.
I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that people buy a product only because a celeb advertises it or puts their name on it. Their degree of involvement or lack thereof notwithstanding, I don’t get it. I’ll never look like RiRi, even if I buy the boots she put her name on, her scent (ugh) or her cosmetics. So, then, why? I’ve been in marketing for twenty years, I know it works, but I swear I don’t understand. Just like people buying Goop stuff or her book. (I know some CBers did and had good things to say about it, but between successful bloggers, chefs and nutritionists whose life work is food, would I ever buy Goop’s book? Absolutely not.)
OK, rant over…
@ vauvert, I am so with you. A close friend works in marketing and years ago announced with glee that he was going to start working with “human brands”. I found it so dystopian. Little did I know.
This stage where not extremely talented celebrities who rely on teams such as Rihanna (that I adore by the way) start branching out perpetuates two depressing ideas: a) that you don’t need to study/work extremelly hard to develop a skill (ahem Victoria Beckam) b) that people will preferrably buy a name than a person who is starting a well thought of brand.
The only upside is when they promote talent with their millions such as film producing etc. It seems that that what she’s doing with Fr8me.
@vauvert – I’m with you. I have never bought anything with a celebrity’s name on it. I can’t bring myself to.
She licenses her name and maybe ensures that the product matches her branding. I doubt this is something she spent longer than an hour a week working on for a month. Its critical that her target market not understand that though, so expect lots of media stories about her sleepless nights spent calculating just the right pigment combination to produce that perfect shade of mauve.
I bought an eye-shadow kit from her MAC line and it SUCKED. Poor pigmentation, hard to apply and very cakey.
Saying that I don’t use any sephora products, are they better than MAC?
The Sephora brand items are hit and miss – read the individual product reviews on their site. I stick to the Urban Decay, Marc Jacobs, Tarte, etc.
This won’t be a Sephora branded product, it will just be a Sephora exclusive, like Kat Von D.
MAC pre-made palettes almost always suck unfortunately.
Kat Von D is also available through her own web site. The Kat Von D line is awesome. I started with her tattoo cover up (one of my tattoos was competing with a formal gown I was wearing) and now I use her products almost exclusively.
Kat also has a holographic palette that kind of rocks.
To be fair, personally I find that most MAC items barring the lipstick are no no good especially the foundation ESPECIALLY if you’re dark skinned like me.
I saw the fenty beauty insta page, while it was still up, it was very basic. Only a few photos, mainly the one with the girl holding the ring in her teeth. No one missed anything on that front.
Side note, it was Rihs 29th bday yesterday too!
How is it that she’s “following in Kylie Jenner’s footsteps” when she’s already been assosciated with four other cosmetic collections? Plus the fact that Kylie is ten years younger, and her face is entirely manufactured, compared to Rihanna’s pretty effortless beauty.
I side-eyed that for a moment, too. But I think it’s the following with respect to a full eponymous beauty line. Rihanna has had other collaborations, but not in her own name.
I remember her being involved with Almay I think? Whatever brand it was, they had mascaras with a slight color to them to make your individual eye color stand out better. I had one – it was a decent drugstore mascara.
I’m a beauty fan, but I don’t know about the holographic lipstick stuff. I tend to use traditional lipstick.
On other note, what beauty products are you eyeing? I really want the Burberry liquid lip velvet, it got really high rating from temptalia, but my lip and liquid lipstick don’t get along very well ugr
I can’t wait. Her make-up is always perfect and she’s not afraid of alternative looks.
Her MAC collections were a huge hit, the lipsticks from that first collection were some of the best sellers MAC’s ever had, so yeah, the hype for this brand is going to be crazy.
the perfume add: I wish the hairline of the wig was less obvious. The eyes should have been looking straight to the camera as opposed to up though i understand it’s to make her eye pop but still.. the earrings are to die for. Other than that I am not a Mac fan. I found their products clownish.. i understand it’s more for “in your face” than going for subtle look.
I want the lipstick. Also, you can afford one thing I’m sure.
This has been Rihanna goal ( make up like, fashion etc.) she talked about ten YEARS ago during her second album and to see that she has achived everything inspires me sooo much as someone who’s been a fan sense day. She’s been working on it since 2015 actually so it’s not something she just slapped her name on like Kylie etc. Her Mac lipstick are still my favorite ever ( talk that talk is life ). Ok lemme stop gushing over her 😩. Btw english isn’t my first language, sorry for my grammar.
I’m having a Holo Nails moment that I.cannot.quit so if such a Thing became available I don’t see how i wouldn’t be here in these streets running to get it
Please RiRi, make a good variety of colors for different skin tones. Look out for your fellow yellow undertoned Bajan over here.
I can’t believe RiRi is 29! I remember when she was just 17!
She’s made a lot of money and is obviously investing it in other business ventures. Hope they were out and she has good business partners. She seems like she’s cut back on partying in the last couple of years and is a bright young lady.
I love every expression Rihanna makes in her photographs, ever. That is all.