It’s not quite summer yet, but in her latest cover for Harper’s Bazaar, Rihanna brings us the heat.
After all, who better to pick for the cover of a beauty issue than Rihanna, a global pop star who parlayed her star power to launch one of the most buzzworthy beauty brands in the last few years?
The 31-year-old pop star/mogul/actress posed for the magazine’s May issue dripping in heavily saturated hues, recalling all your favorite tropical drinks. While she rocked a Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano couture jumpsuit and hat, Rihanna’s makeup (and before you ask, yes, it’s Fenty) is the real star of the show.
Let’s first discuss the technicolor dream palette coating our cover girl’s eyes, done up by makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench: heavily saturated teals, oranges, reds, pinks, and royal purples offset Rihanna’s piercing hazel gaze—and that dash of sunshine-yellow at the corner of her eyes? A stroke of brilliance.
The look is finished off with a sweep of metallic green lipstick across the Guava Island star’s lips.
Behind the look—as you might guess—is a whole lotta Fenty. More specifically, Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in Chili Mango ($25), Summer Daze & Summer Nights Iridescent Lip Luminizer Trios ($32) and Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter in Mimosa Sunrise/Sangria Sunset—if you want to try recreating the look for those summer day parties that are right around the corner.
Rihanna carries that same kaleidoscopic energy into the pages of the magazine, in a feature entitled “The Art of Being Rihanna” (please make this your next tutorial video, Rihanna, tysvm). One standout ‘fit is a rainbow fringed jacket, dress and shoes by Givenchy. (Imagine taking a botanical garden and running it through a paper shredder. Voilà! A look!)
Because we stan a marketing genius and each gorgeous photo snapped by Dennis Leupold—including one on-the-nose but not inaccurate shot of Rihanna posed on a platform among marble statues, a literal work of art in silver sequined shoes—is complimented with the Fenty products used to create each corresponding makeup look.
And in that vein, Rihanna has one more surprise for us. A new product—one showcased, but not named, on the new Harper’z Bazaar cover, teased by the Fenty Beauty Instagram account.
In a still taken from the magazine, Fenty Beauty added the caption: “We spy something coming soon on @badgalriri’s May cover of @harpersbazaarus...stay tuned!”
Underneath the photo, a flurry of Instagram users are speculating what the new product can be—some guessing a new array of rainbow eyeliners or eyeshadow palettes, others wondering if new color mascaras could be in the mix. For what it’s worth, bold, unconventional mascara colors were a frequent theme in the inside spread; were I a betting woman, that’s where I’d put my money.
But I’m not, mostly because Rihanna snatches up far too much of my coin for me to engage in such a hobby. Alas. Alack.
Finally, we know you’re perched and parched for new music, but until that glorious morning when Rihanna drops that much anticipated album, you will eat your food and savor these looks as long as Ms. Fenty is willing to serve ‘em.