If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw how excited I was for the release.
So desperate to try out some #FentyBeauty 😍 I'm digging the hexagonal packaging— Meghan Baxter (@meghanbaxtermua) September 7, 2017
Isn't it crazy that it took @rihanna to bring diversity to consumers? Brands have been in the industry DECADES and still not figured it out pic.twitter.com/v0nfhXwvs5— Meghan Baxter (@meghanbaxtermua) September 8, 2017
When this image made the rounds, so many people commented that most brands had 40 or more shades of foundation, so why was this anything special? I'll tell you why.
Very very few brands actually launched their lines with 40 shades. Actually, I can't think of anyone who did that. Foundations are apparently hard for brands to get right, so having 40 unique colours - let alone starting with that many - is unheard of. I also feel like it's incredibly important to note that Rihanna is a musician, it says a lot that someone outside of the cosmetic industry was able to make an impact like this. There are well established brands that have been in the cosmetic industry for double, even triple my lifetime that aren't even close to having 40 foundation shades in just one formula. And those brands are headed with a team of cosmetic industry professionals. Basically, what Rihanna did is special.
What makes all this even more noteworthy is how vocal she's been about the importance of cosmetic diversity. That's why I'm living for Fenty right now. She didn't make 40 shades so that she could sell more product, she made 40 shades so that there was at least one brand out there standing for inclusivity. That's an important message to put out there. A quick trip to your local beauty store will probably show you that most brands have a handful of shades, starting at light-ish beige and ending at dark tan. If your skin is darker or lighter than most, you're going to struggle. Rihanna's aim was to have one brand cater to all skin tones, and while I'm not sure everyone could find their shade in Fenty, given the excitement about the brand, it's clear that a hell of a lot of people can.
I also find it interesting how other brands are taking the competition. It's quite clear that Rihanna is capitalising on a very real gap in the market, and that consumers are taking note. So much so, that industry giants seem to be having a wobble. MUFE - I'm looking at you.
The sly little digs across social media just goes to show that Fenty is making waves.
In my last post, you might have seen how I picked up a bottle of Pro Filt'r Foundatoin in the shade 100 (the lightest). I was apprehensively optimistic that this would be light enough for me, given that Illamasqua and Kat Von D are the only brands to even come close to matching my inconveniently pale skin. I'd also heard rumors that the foundation oxidises, which made me even more nervous. That being said, I was thrilled to find that it matched me perfectly! I've actually had so many compliments about how great my skin looks since wearing the Pro Filt'r foundation, which is always nice! Also, can we just take a second to appreciate the packaging. Next on my wish list is one of the Match Stix because of that dreamy soft pink hexagonal-ness.
Overall, Rihanna has seriously impressed me. I can't wait to see what's in store for the brand.
Have you tried Fenty Beauty? What did you think?
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