Since its launch in 2017, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has shown no sign of slowing down. From a 50-shade line-up of foundations and concealers to a slew of vibrant, matte lipsticks and bold eyeshadow palettes, there’s a product for every step of your makeup routine. Except your lashes – until now, that is.
In an Instagram post, the brand revealed its Full Frontal Mascara (£21), promising fanned-out lashes that volumises, lifts, lengthens and curls. There’s an exhaustive list of reasons to love it, but does it live up to the hype? I put it to the test to see how just how it measured up.
I already own the Universal Gloss Bomb Lip Gloss (£17) and a Pro Filt’r Concealer (£19) which are staples in my usual makeup regime, so I have high hopes for this new Fenty product. Having long loved the Pixi Lashlift 188 Mascara, (£16), I’ve used nothing else for my eyelashes over the past 18 months, will this knock it off the top spot?
On first impressions, it’s a thick tube with an inoffensive smell to it and fits neatly into my makeup bag. The brush is described by Fenty Beauty as ‘Flat-Fat’, and with one swipe on my top lashes, the bristles pick up every hair and evenly distribute the product.
It’s easy to navigate onto those tiny lashes in the corner of my eye using the flat side, which is normally a recipe for disaster and involves a frantic rush to find a cotton bud to wipe remnants of mascara off my nose, but with this it’s a clean application.
It’s buildable too, I apply a couple more coats to get the length that I like, and the formula doesn’t dry out as I’m doing it, nor is it so wet it smudges. It adds instant length and definition, separating out each lash, and doesn’t clump at all. There’s no gloopy, excess product on the end of the wand either.
For my bottom lashes, which are short and almost undetectable without mascara, I use the flat side of the brush and am immediately impressed that it coats them but doesn’t overload them with product. So far, so good.
They’re noticeably longer, and the fanned-out finish it promises certainly delivers. It doesn’t thicken lashes however, which I have no qualms about, but it might be something to consider if that’s a priority for you. Throughout the evening, there’s no crumbling under my eyes and my lashes stay looking lifted.
To remove it with the rest of my makeup, I use The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser (£5.50), a balm that melts into an oil, and comes off without a bother using a warm flannel. There’s no tugging on my lashes to make sure I’ve got every last bit. It’s as easy to apply as it is to remove.
Final verdict
Mascara is a product that often doesn’t require spending lots of money on to get a good one, with brands such L’Oreal and Maybelline doing stellar ones for less than a tenner.
That said, I do think this is worth the £21 price tag. It lengthens, curls and lifts, without being messy or weighed down with too much product. It doesn’t smudge, crumble or clump my lashes together either. The only issue is the fact that it’s not overly volumising, which isn’t an issue for me.
It’s a yes from me. Is there anything Rihanna can’t do?
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