Anyone who loves Fenty Beauty knows that Rihanna is known for teasing its forthcoming releases, but just when you think you have her hints figured out, she throws us all a curveball. For example, the makeup mogul sneakily wore a limited-edition silver shade of her Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter, called Diamond Ball-Out, to the 2018 Met Gala... over her entire body.
"She was like, 'I'm wearing silver, I want silver all over'," the brand's global makeup artist Hector Espinal tells Refinery29. At first glance it appears to be an unconventional shade for a highlighter, but Espinal assures us it packs a flattering punch. "We're all used to using the traditional Champagnes and golds, so having a silver shade really causes an impact. It's more of a statement," he says.
The shade's a standout, that's for sure, but there's another layer to the new product. Every cent of the profits of this shade will benefit The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), a non-profit founded by Rihanna in 2012 that works to support and fund education, health, and emergency response programs around the world.
With its meaningful mission and fan-favourite creamy formula, we knew it was an easy add-on to our highlighter collections, but would it really look good on everyone? To find out, we asked five R29 staffers to try the shade and report back their findings. Check out all their unfiltered reactions, ahead, and mark your calendars for August 1, the official release date for the CLF Edition highlighter on fentybeauty.com.
Nana Agyemang, Content Strategist Associate Editor
"I usually don’t do silver anything — not makeup, jewellery, nothing. And the last thing I expected to love was this silver highlighter. At first glance, it catches your eye and you’re lured in, but then you apply it and you’re automatically transformed into Rihanna.
"The silver highlighter is pretty pigmented so I might have dramatized my look a little too much by applying it so heavy-handed, but I love that it pops on my skin tone. I didn’t think silver could complement brown skin, but I love the glow it gives me. It's different from my usual gold, shimmery highlight and brings out my skin even more now. I would say apply it with a light, fluffy brush because a little goes a long way."
Rachel Lubitz, Senior Beauty Writer
“This highlighter was very intimidating for someone who has super pale skin, but I think I figured out how to make it work. In pictures, the silver highlight is way more subtle than what you see IRL. It's perfect for selfies as is gives you a slight shimmer on your cheeks. In person, however, even the lightest application of this highlighter can look strange on fair skin like mine, and make it look like you've got some dirt or ash smeared across your cheekbones. My advice for other people with my complexion is to wear this highlighter for selfie-taking purposes, but maybe brush a bit of it off before you go out in public.”
Thatiana Diaz, Beauty Writer
"I have to admit that when I opened up the compact, I immediately assumed that the silver couldn't possibly work on my skin tone — the reason I also avoid silver jewellery. But boy, did it prove me wrong.
"I made sure to really dust off excess product from the brush, seeing how pigmented it was after swatching, so I blended it my fingers. One warning is that it will look harsh before blending, so be sure to really get in there and buff it out. After I worked it into my skin, I did not want to stop taking selfies from how much it brought out my cheek bones and gave me a RiRi glow. Contrary to what I thought, it can definitely work for the daytime, but for nights out I'd definitely pack more of the product onto my cheeks and even wear as an eyeshadow."
Sesali Bowen, Senior Entertainment Writer
"As a Black girl with brown skin, I was terrified to try a silver highlight. At the very least, I thought it would look extremely overdone in the middle of the day. But I was pleasantly surprised at the result. Here's what you should know: This is super pigmented, so make sure you tap the excess off of your brush before applying if. Start with a thin layer and add more if needed, and as with any powder, blend like your life depends on it. I loved how dewy my cheeks looked after it set. I'm sold."
Mi-Anne Chan, Beauty Writer and Host
"If you want to look like Zenon (Girl of the 21st Century) for the day, this highlighter is your ticket to it. Like Rih's Trophy Wife, this one is intense, so you'll need to do a lot of blending to get it to look somewhat natural. While I can't say I'd wear this on my cheeks daily, I love the way it looks on the eyes. It's the perfect true silver that looks gorgeous with lots of mascara.”
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