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- Rihanna’s Makeup Artist Priscilla Ono Reveals How to Get the Singer’s Signature Beauty Look
Rihanna’s Makeup Artist Priscilla Ono Reveals How to Get the Singer’s Signature Beauty Look
by
Basmah Qazi
Getty Images
Something everyone can unanimously agree on is that Rihanna is a fashion and beauty icon. Aside from being a successful artist, she’s also the brains behind Fenty Beauty and is building an empire through different business ventures.
The truth is, anything she touches turns to gold. Now that she’s expecting her first child with rapper A$AP Rocky, all eyes are on the ‘Diamonds’ singer for her stunning pregnancy style, in which she proudly shows off her growing baby bump.
But behind Rihanna is a team of people who help curate her image, one of them being Fenty Beauty’s global make-up artist Priscilla Ono.
Ono’s elevated, soft-glam beauty looks have become synonymous with RiRi and of course, herself. She’s polished, feminine but still bold, something that’s reflected in the looks she creates.
Starting out working for Sephora, Ono has come a long way since her days on the shop floor. With the launch of Fenty Beauty’s Icon Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick, POPSUGAR Australia had the chance to speak with Ono about her favourite beauty products and how she creates Rihanna’s signature makeup.
POPSUGAR Australia: Could you tell us the secrets to achieving Rihanna’s signature makeup at home?
Priscilla Ono: We call Rihanna’s go-to signature makeup routine the “Fenty Face”, and it is the easiest, most universal method for achieving a glowing and defined complexion. It is easily achieved in 3 steps, so it’s perfect for your everyday routine.
First, she applies her Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation for a flawless, soft matte base. I recommend applying a primer first to smooth your skin for better foundation application and longer wear. I also recommend using the Full-Bodied Foundation Brush 110 to give you the most even, natural-looking application.
Brushes are key! She’ll also use Pro Filt’r Concealer to brighten her undereye and conceal specific areas that might need a little more coverage. The second step is to add dimension and colour. She contours to add dimension with the Matte Match Stix Skinsticks or Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer and then adds colour with Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter or Cheeks Out Cream Blush. The last step is to remove shine and set her makeup using Invisimatte Blotting Powder. It has a translucent finish, so Rihanna also uses it for touch-ups throughout the day. And she never leaves the house without a lip – she’s loving the new Icon Lipstick or will even just apply Gloss Bomb Lip Gloss for a touch of shine.
PS: What are your three absolute must-have Fenty Beauty products?
PO: Oh gosh, how to choose?! If I had to pick 3, I’d start off with the Matchstix because they’re just so versatile! You can use the matte shades to bronze and contour the face, and the shimmer shades as blush, highlighter, eyeshadows or even on the lips. The Invisimatte Blotting Powder is a game-changer! I use it to set my makeup always so it doesn’t budge, and also to touch up and remove any shininess from my face throughout the day. It removes excess oil, without making your makeup look dry or cakey. The Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is the one product I can’t live without. It provides enough coverage to even put my skin and conceal any imperfections, yet your skin will still look like skin. It doesn’t look like you’re wearing any makeup at all!
PS: With the launch of the Fenty Beauty Icon Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick, Which shade could you not live without?
PO: Anyone that knows me knows I love a good red lip, so The MVP is my current go-to! It has this beautiful blue undertone that really suits anyone, so it’s quickly become a staple in my kit. I know you only asked for one, but I couldn’t not mention Scholar Sista, it’s the perfect everyday rosy neutral shade. The ICON formula is super long-wearing and pigmented but contains vitamins C & E and hyaluronic acid which hydrates the lips — unheard of for a semi-matte formula!
PS: When creating Rihanna’s makeup looks, is it a collaborative effort? Or are you the one calling all the shots?
PO: It’s definitely a collaborative process. I draw inspiration from ideas that Rihanna has or her outfit, the event, or a lot of times she has a vision or idea that we start with. For example, in her Met Gala look in 2018, the theme of that year’s met gala was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” that Rihanna co-hosted, we were originally planning to do a look inspired by stained glass, and Rihanna was feeling inspired by a no eyebrow look.
I’ll admit I was a little hesitant. That’s a very editorial look, which can sometimes look amazing in an editorial, but doesn‘t translate to a red carpet. But we went with it. And then she was actually between two outfits and decided to change it last minute. I suggested we add a smokey eye to the look to add a little edge, and then we incorporated the original stain glass concept by adding pink highlighter on her nose, cheeks, and forehead. The final look still gave her that stained glass look in real life.
PS: Finally, what’s up next for Fenty Beauty?
PO: You’ll just have to wait and see!