When Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, she did so with 40 different shades of foundation. This inclusive debut collection—and its massive success—disrupted the beauty industry, making it clear to other makeup brands that there was a demand for a wide, diverse range of tones. Rihanna pretty much set a new standard in the space. And she’s not stopping.
Rihanna announced that Fenty Beauty will be introducing Pro Filt’r Concealers. And they’ll be even more inclusive than the brand’s initial launch, available in 50 shades to suit customers’ skin tones. Oh, and you don’t have to wait long to shop them—the drop is only 10 days away.
Giving life to hungover souls on New Year’s Day, Fenty posted a few Instagrams on January 1 to announce the launch. “New year, New #FENTYBEAUTY! ??♀️ We got #THECURE to your #newyearseve hangover! On January 11, we’re dropping 50 BRAND NEW shades of creamy, creaseproof, and longwearing #PROFILTRCONCEALER! Get it at fentybeauty.com, @sephora, @harveynichols, and #SephorainJCP!!”
That’s right: In less than two weeks, Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Concealers will be shoppable at FentyBeauty.com, Sephora (both in stand-alone stores and those in J.C. Penney)—and, for anyone reading this across the pond, at Harvey Nichols.
“We all got a lil’ something to cover up!” reads another Instagram from Fenty announcing the launch. “Blemishes, dark circles, bags, and even hangovers, #PROFILTRCONCEALER is #THECURE to hiding it all in a creamy formula that’s longwearing and creaseproof. Who’s ready to get it on January 11??”
Rihanna herself put up a Pro Filt’r Concealer video tutorial on Youtube, so we know exactly how to apply it when the time comes.
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The product covers; it brightens; it can even be used as highlighter (she applies it on the bridge of her nose and brow bone.) In the video, Rihanna that if you know your Pro Filt’r Foundation shade, there’s a concealer shade that corresponds—taking the guesswork out of finding the perfect shade. She also eliminated one of our pet concealer peeves: “Especially with a formula like this that dries down and matifies eventually, you expect it to start getting tacky, but this formula does not,” she says in the video.
Also dropping January 11? Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Setting Powder in eight translucent shades…
… plus, 10 more Pro Filt’r Foundation Shades—to match the 50 concealer shades, naturally—and great new tools to complement the products: a Powder Puff Setting Brush, Lil Precision Makeup Sponge Duo, and a Concealer Precision Brush.
Asking a beauty professional—whether it’s a celebrity hairstylist, makeup artist, or Instagram influencer (hi, 2018)—for advice is always a safe bet. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find there are plenty of other women out there who are legitimate authorities in their own right. In our column, Unlikely Experts, they give real reviews and recommendations. Whether it’s surfers on the best conditioners, bikers on the best cleansers, or ballerinas on the best foot creams, it’s fair to say these women know best.
Plenty of things come to mind when you think of New York City during the holidays: Christmas lights, packed department stores, and of course, the Radio City Rockettes. Every year, the Rockettes team up to sing, dance, and kick line in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular—and each season, despite the altered hairstyles and new costumes, one detail of their look remains the same: their bright red lipstick.
The catch? Their makeup, including their red lip, needs to last through an entire performance, which includes eight costume changes and one sweaty Santa-inspired beard. Oh, and here’s another thing: each Rockette is in charge of her own hair and makeup. The only rules they need to follow are wearing their uniform hairstyle, false eyelashes, and the very best red for their complexion.
So with plenty of trial and error, it’s no surprise that these women have landed on the best shades and formulas in the game. Which is why they’re sharing them, here. And just in case you’re so inclined to see these shades in action for yourself, they’ll be performing at Radio City Music Hall through January 6.
The most exciting Fall 2018 nail color is one you’ve probably never thought to grab off the polish wall: Green in all its variations. The shade has been permeating Instagram leading up to autumn, and there are a handful of particular shades that seem to be the most popular, from mossy forest green to Nickelodeon-level slime green.
We could have the runways to thank: Verdant greens gained steam last season thanks to designers including Tom Ford, Valentino, Sonia Rykiel and it continued during this past fashion month at Prada, Miu Miu and Maryam Nassir Zadeh.
But—because not everyone can or wants to rock a neon green Versace suit like Blake Lively—the color trend made its way into beauty. First it was through hair, when celebrities like SZA, Kim Kardashian and Dua Lipa went for bright shades, then it trickled down to nails, which is decidedly less noticeable but just as cool, as evidenced by Instagram:
Green nails look good running through your hair. They also look good while holding broccoli. As evidenced by pop star Kim Petras, neon green nail polish is so powerful it can even make a french tip cool again. It’s is also a great way to add color to an outfit without overdoing it. Plus, uploading a picture of your green nail manicure means you have an excuse to caption it with every green emoji possible. Finally, the T. Rex and Kiwi emoji can get the respect they deserve. Shop below for the best green nail polish shades for fall 2018.
Photo: OPI
Buy It: OPI Infinite Nail Polish in To The Finish Lime!, $12.50, Amazon
PHOTO: Nordstrom
Buy It: CHANEL Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in 536 Emeraude, $28, Nordstrom
Not long after Rihanna debuted Fenty Beauty and its whopping assortment of 40 foundation shades, it became clear prioritizing diversity wasn’t just good for shoppers—it was good for business. Shades on both ends of spectrum that catered to skin tones previously ignored flew off shelves, and quickly, competitors followed suit. Dubbed the “Fenty Effect,” in the past year alone, Lush, CoverGirl, Maybelline, Flesh, and Dior, to name just a few, have all launched or expanded their foundation lines to include their own magic number of 40 shades.
Now, not to be outdone, MAC Cosmetics is making a big statement of its own: 60 is the new 40. Starting September 6, the brand will be offering an additional 18 shades of its best-selling Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 foundation, bringing the total of hues up to—you guessed it—60. According to the brand, the expanded range accommodates both more skin tones and undertones.
That’s not all its adding to its roster though. The brand is upping the offerings for its entire Studio Fix line. Along with its long-wear matte foundation, MAC will now carry 53 shades of its Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, 33 shades of a brand-new 24-Hour Concealer, plus additional shades of its contour palettes, conceal and correct palettes, and Perfecting Powder.
The only downside to having a dizzying amount of options to choose from, is that shade matching naturally becomes more difficult. The brand has thankfully taken this into consideration and is launching a shade finder tool online.
With fashion week just around the corner too, the shade expansion comes at a pivotal time. MAC is one of the biggest makeup sponsors backstage, and as shows become increasingly more diverse, so too does the need for products that are suited for deep skin tones. Your move, RiRi.
As far as lipstick goes, we’ve seen—and tried—them all. So when someone asks us the ever-important questions “What’s your favorite?” or “What color will look good on me?” we’re more than equipped to reply. The answers lie in the so-called cult classics; the lipstick shades that crop up regularly in articles and conversation as the best of the best for their ability to look incredible on everyone. They’re so iconic, they’re known alone by sight, number, or name.
To see if their claims truly do hold up, we recruited Glamour staffers to try on five of the most raved-about shades. Get their honest opinions below.
MAC calls this a vivid red with blue undertones and a true matte finish. We call it the most universally flattering red ever—and it’s got the sales to back that up. According to the brand, it’s the number one best-selling shade in the U.S. “Ruby Woo is the ‘Little Black Dress’ of makeup,” Gregory Arlt, director of makeup artistry for MAC, once told Glamour. “It’s an essential red that’s chic, matte, sophisticated, playful, and timeless. I’ve only ever seen it look amazing on every skin tone and every age.” Here’s what our team thought.
Maureen Choi, beauty editor: “I’m now totally convinced this blue-based red looks dope on just about everyone. I didn’t think it would work on my pinkish skin tone, but it was surprisingly flattering and jazzed up my blah face with very little effort. It’s a bit drier than other mattes, so next time, I’d do a lip scrub and balm underneath so it glides on a bit better.”
Ana Colón, digital fashion editor: “This ticks off all the boxes for me when it comes to lip color: It’s red, it’s matte, and it’s bold but not too bright.”
Christina Draper: fashion credits editor: “Good reds are so hard to find and I absolutely love this one. It has that deep crimson red finish that isn’t too orange nor too burgundy. If you like a true red, this is the color to go for. I’d wear it all day but it definitely can register nighttime red. I also noticed I got a strange amount of compliments on my cupid’s bow, that little divit on the top of your top lip. Someone actually asked if I had put on lip liner. So it gave my lips awesome definition. Definitely will be wearing this one a lot more.”
Smriti Sinha, senior social media manager: “I love reds. They best complement my skin tone, make my features more prominent, and get me ton of compliments, and this matte shade is perfect. It’s definitely on the drier side of the scale, so go slow when you put it on and maybe start with a lip balm first.”
Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor: “For years I thought I couldn’t pull off red lipstick. Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking either. The blue undertones look great with my fair, neutral skin tone and the color instantly makes it look like I tried. I keep a tube at my desk for whenever I need a little something extra.”
This deep, blackened violet only looks dark in the tube, because when you glide it on, it leaves behind only the faintest sheer tint. Clinique launched it in the early seventies and it instantly became a best-seller. The brand now ships one tube of Black Honey every three minutes.
Maureen: “This sheer plum is the perfect entry-level lip shade. It went on like butter and kept my lips juicy and plump, while adding just a hint of color and shine. It doesn’t make a major statement, but that’s the point—nice and subtle.”
Ana: “I liked how moisturizing it is. It feels like a tinted lip balm. When I wear lipstick, though, I like to go full-throttle with color and this one really is super-sheer. You have to apply layers on layers to really get the super-pretty purple hue.”
Christina: “Truth be told, this one did nothing for me. It actually looked like I had nothing on but gloss. It was too similar to my natural lip color but with shine like a lip gloss, which is also not a me thing. It didn’t look bad; it just didn’t pop.”
Smriti: “I liked how this formula is just a dash of color to make you feel like your lips aren’t naked, and yet, it doesn’t scream, ‘I’m wearing lipstick!’ when you enter a meeting. It definitely has the moisture I’m looking for in a lip color too. This is definitely going to become my go-to when I’m not reaching out for my favorite red.”
Lindsay: “New. Favorite. This buildable shade is now at my desk, in my bag, and on my nightstand. Yes, I have three of them.”
This hot pink with cool undertones and a velvety, semi-matte texture is named after iconic fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who was famously known for wearing a bright pink lip. “It’s probably one of the most-loved pink lipsticks,” makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes once told us. “I love it because it has a blue undertone, so it’s very flattering and makes your teeth look super white.”
Maureen: “This is my beauty equivalent of a double shot of espresso: Just one swipe makes me look alive. I like dabbing some on straight from the tube and then using my finger to smudge the color out to the edges; no need to be precious about it. The creamy formula is very forgiving.”
Ana: “This was…pink. I tend to feel comfortable in the red/berry lipstick color family, anything too bright makes me feel too conspicuous. And even though I can objectively see how this shade looks good with my skin tone and hair color, it’s still too pop-y for my taste. I felt like I was cast in a reboot of Saved By the Bell.”
Christina: “I love this shade. I’ve actually been wearing it for about three years now. It’s bright and bold without being clown-y. I can wear it with just about any outfit in any color. It’s as classic as a red. I liked the old more matte formula since it lasted longer, but will definitely keep buying this one.”
Smriti: “I do my fair share of experimentation with lip colors and yet I‘ve not been convinced that a hot pink is for me. It‘s definetely one of those shades that I felt I‘d need to pull off perfectly or I‘d end up giving Barbie vibes. But I was surprised by how encouraging everyone was when I tested it. It made my undertones and blush pop more too. I ended up keeping it on for date night.”
Lindsay: “One of my best friends, who’s pale with jet-black hair, looks like a total babe in this shade, and I’ve never been convinced it’d do me the same justice. But! I wasn’t mad at it, especially with the amount of compliments it got me.”
By far the oldest of the bunch, Revlon first came out with this glossy, orange-red in 1952, which, if nothing else, should tell you about its staying power.
Maureen: “Sleeper statement-lip hit of them all! To me, a zing of coral is what makes this sassy shade werk. It’s amazingly glossy, which makes it easy to swipe on—with or without a mirror. I’ll definitely be adding it into my regular rotation.”
Ana: “This color made me feel like I was in a Revlon add from the nineties, and I loved every second of it. Even though I tend to go for matte, more purply reds, the hint of orange in this lipstick made it feel peppy and summery.”
Christina: “This is one of those reds that’s personally too orange for me. It also went on a bit sheer. It was, however, very moisturizing.”
Smriti: “What’s not to like about an orange-red that pops like a dream and makes you stand out? I loved the price point too because every other red I love is costlier than this. It’s so glossy though I don’t think I’d be able to wear it when I’ve to do anything other than look pretty. It’s got the kind of finish that’ll leave marks behind on everything.”
Lindsay: “I tend to gravitate toward blue-based reds and purples. But holy wow am I reconsidering that now. I loved this orange-red, and after three seasons of wearing matte, it was nice to go back to a creamier formula.”
This warm matte brown was created in—you guessed it—1993 and was inspired by the year chokers, baby tees, and brown lipstick became the things we all needed. It was also the first of Urban Decay’s matte shades to sell out. “1993 is the perfect gateway shade for anyone who is looking to dip their toes into this nineties trend,” Amanda Rodriguez, Urban Decay global artist, says. “The color is a bit muted and has the perfect touch of rose to it so there is never a fear of things going murky.” Consensus says? Agreed.
Maureen: “I have to admit: I was totally psyched to resurrect the nineties brown lipstick of my youth. I loved it back in the day and still love it now. This one isn’t as intense as the Kate Moss-inspired cocoa shade I used to rock (matching lip liner and all), but that’s a good thing. It’s got a creamy matte consistency and a sharp tip that makes precise application a cinch. Think I’ve found my new go-to nude.”
Ana: “This is perhaps the most accurately-named lipstick shade I’ve ever come across. The brown feels very retro—or maybe I’ve been re-watching Friends too much?—and I liked how it looked on me. But, honestly, seeing my fellow testers try it on, too, I definitely loved the color on them more. It feels like the lipstick I’d see on someone and immediately compliment them on.”
Christina: “This was another miss for me. I do love matte lipsticks but similar to the Clinique it had a skin tone vibe. Browns on brown skin are tricky. You either get a good nude look or something that’s just a bit off. It may be because I have a summer tan. I’d try it again come winter and see if suits me more then.”
Smriti: “I loved this color! I’ve always looked for lipsticks that are a so-called ‘nude’, but when I put this on I realized I’ve been doing it wrong this whole time. This brown makes the perfect nude on me. It’s like a your-lips-but-better situation. Obsessed.”
Lindsay: “I’m a Kylie Jenner stan, and this shade makes a great dupe to her lip kits. A word of warning: I’ve personally found it looks best with full-coverage skin; but that could be because I have a lot of redness.”
Additional reporting by Julianne Carell. Design by Aimee Sy.
The third and final film in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, Fifty Shades Freed, hits theaters in just a few weeks, and fans are flipping out. It seems like just yesterday college graduate Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) was beginning her kinky and occasionally problematic relationship with billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan)—but so much has happened since then. The two of them still have wild sex on the reg, but they’re now engaged and dealing with vengeful ghosts from the past: Ana’s former boss, Jack, and Christian’s former…erm, something, Elena.
A major portion of Fifty Shades Freed centers on Ana and Christian facing off with Jack and Elena. Of course, when they’re not doing that, they’re banging in Christian’s Red Room. And when they’re not doing that, Ana’s finding out she’s pregnant. Yup. Didn’t see that one coming, did you?
Well, you did if you read the books—but that doesn’t make the reveal any less exciting. Yes, my friends, Ana becomes pregnant in the third Fifty Shades film, and this new trailer shows her hearing the news for the first time.
It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. In the last four seconds of this trailer, which debuted last night, someone—presumably a doctor—tells Ana, “It seems you’re pregnant, Mrs. Grey.” All you see is Ana’s face drop to the floor before the trailer abruptly ends. Ahhh, cliffhangers! Check it out for yourself, below:
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It’ll be interesting to see how Ana’s pregnancy plays out in the film compared to E.L. James’ 2012 novel. Add this to your ever-increasing list of reasons to check out Fifty Shades Freed when it drops on February 9.
