Fenty Hydrating Foundation review: We rate the new foundation for dry, thirsty skin.

Raise your hand if you love Fenty Beauty? I know, silly question.

Because ever since Rihanna launched her inclusive makeup line in 2017 with a foundation in an industry first 40 shades (now 50 shades), every woman and her beauty blender has been obsessed with the brand.

Quite frankly, the lady has not put a foot wrong.

Now, the 31-year-old singer and mogul has done those of us with dry skin a solid by making a hydrating version of her best-selling matte foundation. Even better, it’s hitting shelves on Thursday, August 15.

Before we get into, we asked a makeup artist exactly how to cover under eye dark circles in the video below. Post continues after video.

How is the Fenty hydrating foundation different to the Fenty matte foundation?

The Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation ($52) is everything The People love about the original Pro Filt’r Soft Matte version, but more hydrating as not to highlight your flaky bits.

It comes in 50 shades from 100 through to 498, and is medium to full coverage. The product also claims to deliver the same all day staying power Fenty foundation wearers are used to, but with a plump, juicy finish.

While the cult matte formula is designed to be non-shiny above all else, the hydrating foundation features Grape Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate to give skin the nourishing hydration it needs to stay comfy all day.

Oh, and it’s sweat and humidity resistant, and won’t clog your pores or settle into fine lines.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

COUNT ‘EM UP….50! ???????? Our new #PROFILTRHYDRATINGFOUNDATION is a new hydrating formula with Grape Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate in a natural finish that’s perfect for normal to dry skin — AND it comes the same 50 shades as our original #PROFILTRSOFTMATTEFOUNDATION! Mark your calendars and grab it on August 15 at fentybeauty.com, @sephora, @harveynichols, @bootsUK and #SephorainJCP!

A post shared by FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA (@fentybeauty) on Aug 11, 2019 at 9:44am PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Have been testing the new @fentybeauty hydrating foundation for dry skin out Thursday (praise be!!!) to review in Saturday’s @mamamiabeauty newsletter ???????? Don’t tattoo it on the back of your calf just yet, but this tinted moisturiser lady may have found The One. Link in bio to subscribe and make sure the newsletter hits your inbox. ???????? *Disclaimer: I’m the last mate on Instagram yet to try the new @patmcgrathreal foundation.

A post shared by Amy Clark (@theamyclark) on Aug 8, 2019 at 1:56am PDT

This is very exciting for me as my skin is perpetually thirsty, so I nabbed a sample to give it a crack before it goes on sale.

And, you should know… it’s goooooooood.

Here’s my many faces of the Fenty foundation. I was wildly impressed with the result.

Applying the Fenty Hydrating Foundation.

The product comes in a cute squeezy tube with a pump, and has a light, thin and buildable consistency. The shades are also a 1:1 match with the shades in the matte foundation range, meaning you won't need to be colour matched again.

To apply, I've been putting a blob of the foundation in shade 200 on the back of my hand before dotting it over my face. I then use a damp beauty blender to blend the product out - it melts beautifully and gives such a natural finish, so I find myself going in with more product over the top.

You can also apply it with a kabuki brush or fingers, as this foundation is best when pressed and buffed into the skin.

For me, the biggest plus was how Rihanna (or Rihanna's product development staff) managed to strike the perfect balance between coverage and sheerness. As you can see, the formula completely knocks the redness out of my skin tone while still letting my freckles shine through. The finish doesn't feel powdery, nor does it cling to the dry bits of skin hanging off my runny nose.

Wearability-wise, the foundation just passes the 9-5 test. I've been wearing it with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer ($46) underneath and my face hasn't eaten up the foundation by the end of the day, which is nice. That said, the photos above show where I've lost coverage under my eyes and over my cheeks.

Side note - beauty guru Leigh Campbell shares her advice for applying foundation on this episode of the You Beauty podcast. Post continues after audio.

Fenty Hydrating Foundation review.

My verdict? I've always been a staunch supporter of tinted moisturisers because a lot of the foundations I've tried either a) cover my freckles b) feel too thick or c) are too much effort to apply.

BUT I really, really rate this new Fenty one as a great mid-priced option for anyone new to foundation, or whose face is just too parched for matte formulas.

Rihanna, you've bloody done it again.

The Fenty Beauty The Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation ($52) launches exclusively at Sephora stores and online on Thursday, August 15.

Do you love the original Fenty Beauty matte foundation? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Want more helpful, honest beauty reviews? Read more below:

• ROAD TEST: We tried Fenty Beauty's new Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer.
• GOOD NEWS: The ghd Glide straightening brush is back in stock. Here's our review.
• Scrunchies and spray: I got bouncy, wavy hair without using a single hot styling tool.
• Women are flocking to Bunnings to grab a cloth that'll remove your make up.
• MCo Beauty's $3.50 Cheek and Lip Tint is the best thing you'll put in your supermarket trolley all week.
• The Inkey List skincare just launched in Australia and it's the new 'The Ordinary'.
• Is The Ordinary's new $21.90 Salicylic Acid 2% Masque any good? Here's our review.