REVIEW: Is Fenty Skin Good for Acne Prone Skin?
Rihanna released a new skincare line this Summer call Fenty Skin. A celebrity skincare line that promises to make your skincare routine easier with dual-function products. Made from ingredients all over the world, these unisex products are designed to provide all people, of all skin-types, access to quality skincare at an affordable price. These products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, packaged from recycled plastic, and ethically sourced.
Can Fenty Skin really do it all? And is this a serious skincare line? I got early access to the products and so far have been using these products for the past 2 months. Let’s talk about Fenty Skin.
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This is the Total Cleans’r from Fenty Skin. It retails for $25 CAD. This product promises to be both a makeup/SPF remover and a water base brightening cleanser all in one. Remove it all in one step. Some of the notable ingredients are Barbados Cherry (vitamin c), Ginko Biloba for oil control, Green Tea, Fig, and Quince.
I am a huge fan of double cleansing. I have some products that I truly love that have been working for me so when I first heard of the cleanser it was not at the top of my list (honestly). When you have a good routine, you don’t mess with it. But I decided to give this a try and I am so happy I did.
This cleanser is a thick, moisturizing cleanser that dissolves makeup and SPF so effortlessly. It feels so creamy and luxurious almost like applying a moose to your skin once you add water. It washes off nicely and does not leave the skin feeling stripped. I would still recommend using this as a double cleanse (going in once to dissolve makeup, oil, and SPF - then once again to actually allow the ingredients to cleanse the skin itself).
I was shocked at how well it works. You really don’t need a lot of this product, a little goes a long way so this will last for a long time. Now, it does contain fragrance which is an ingredient that I am not the biggest fan of. I do personally prefer fragrance-free products (specifically because I have mildly sensitive acne-prone skin) and fragrant products can be irritating. With that being said, I did not experience any irritation from using this cleanser. I do think the scent (citrus, fruity, and sweet) is quite strong however because it is a wash-off product I would say that is okay.
This is the Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner from Fenty Skin. It retails for $28 CAD on the FentySkin website. This is a lightweight, serum/toner hybrid that hydrates calms, and brightens the skin. Some notable ingredients are the Barbados Cherry (vitamin c), Niacinamide, Green Tea, and Fig among others.
The serum itself is very lightweight. It feels like a thin gel as the name suggests. What’s nice is that you can apply this without the need of a cotton pad. It has a lot of hydrating ingredients that truly leave the skin feeling soft and supple.
This was truly the product I was excited about because of how interesting the packaging, the story behind it, and so on. The only thing that made me look at it sideways was the high concentration of Witch Hazel. Many skincare enthusiasts, like myself, have commented on this. Witch hazel has gotten a bad rep in the last few years because with constant use it can make the skin drier. It is a lovely ingredient for getting rid of excess oil on the skin, predominantly in the T-Zone. However, all over the skin is another story.
I found that it absorbed really quickly but it didn’t leave my skin with a hydrated feeling or appearance. It just disappeared. I have combination-oily- acne-prone skin and I do enjoy a well-hydrated, supple finish. Not oily but a skin-like dew. This product just didn’t do that for me.
This is the least scented product out of the line which is refreshing because I like my scents to be muted and subtle. I actually enjoy how this smells.
In terms of “Pore Refining” which is the predominant function of the product, I really don't see that big of a difference. I suppose the witch hazel and niacinamide are supposed to provide that purpose. My skin did feel smooth and clean; therefore “tight” which is probably the effect that they were going for. I prefer my serums to be more hydrating so it would not be a repurchase for me.
This is the Hydra Vizor from Fenty Skin. It retails on their website for $35 CAD (you can also purchase the refill for $30 CAD). It is both a moisturizer and an organic SPF 30 combined meant to speed up your morning routine. Hydra Vizor has a lightweight texture, it is oil-free, and it doesn’t leave any flashback. It soaks into the skin very nicely and wears well under makeup.
The main ingredients are Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Octisalate which protect against both UVA and UVB rays. If you have melasma you may want to stay clear of organic SPF in generals they absorb light and disperses it as heat on the skin. They made it a point to ensure their product is reef safe so it doesn't contain Oxybenzone or Octinoxate.
It has some great ingredients such as Safflower Oil, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, and Kalahari Melon which delivers some great anti-oxidants. More than that, it cruelty-free, vegan, and refillable. This is something we don’t see too often in sunscreens but I love the idea of reusable packaging. Also to note, the products are packaged with PCA plastic which basically means they are recycled plastic.
It is a great unisex, coral reef safe, broad-spectrum SPF that is meant to be used by all skin types, shades every day.
This product does contain “parfum.” It has a sweet, tropical, slightly citrus scent which smells amazing. But it’s not my favourite ingredient for people with damaged skin barriers, inflamed skin, acne, or any skin conditions. It isn’t overbearing however it is the number one cause of contact dermatitis. I hope perhaps in the future there will be a no-fragrance version of the product because the ingredients are amazing. There are some tweaks I would make to this line and we’ll get to that a little later.
Total Cleans’r on the left, Hydra Vizor on the right.
Overall
My final thoughts are that this line is a serious brand. I truly enjoyed this line and how simple it made my skincare routine. I am a true believer that less is always more and this line makes that easy.
I do want to mention that the Hydra Vizor is not meant to be used at night. Very important to point out. SPF is meant to be worn in the daytime (aka “sun”screen) and I really hope people are aware of this. Hopefully, we will be seeing a nighttime moisturizer in the near future. Also, you will need about 6-7 pumps of this moisturizer to get adequate SPF protection so be sure to use enough. This fact might make the Hydra Vizor quite an expensive product because it only comes with 50 ml (like most SPFs but this is a bit more pricey).
As someone with acne-prone skin, I wouldn’t recommend this line if you are looking for something to treat specific skin conditions (aka acne, hyper-pigmentation…) because it is definitely not a treatment line. If you are currently dealing with skin issues this may make the problem worse so be aware of that.
All in all, if you are someone who needs a basic routine with good ingredients, or you are just getting into skincare this is definitely a line to try. I do believe there are some improvements to be made and products to add to the line but it is the best celebrity skincare line I have seen in a while.