There are beauty launches, and then there are Fenty Beauty launches. The kind that overtake feeds and flood the group chat. Rihanna doesn’t believe in quiet drops, and the minute the new Sun Stalk’r Soufflé Pressed Mousse Cream Bronzer was teased, beauty lovers were already plotting their shade match and checkout strategy. Now, the wait is officially over.
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The frenzy started early at this year’s Met Gala, when Rihanna arrived looking like a straight-up goddess—warm, sculpted, crystal-dusted skin that had me zooming into every inch of her face. Her longtime makeup artist, Hector Espinal, layered the new Soufflé Bronzer with cream blush and highlighter to create a seamless and ethereal glow. “I’ve been using this product secretly on Rihanna for a while—we’ve used it all over the world from Paris to New York,” Espinal told Cosmo. “Let me tell you, this lasts. It’s waterproof and transfer-proof, too. I think my favorite thing about it as a makeup artist is that it gives skin this blurred, airbrushed finish.”
Fenty Beauty
Rih has always understood that bronzed skin isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your glow should feel personal. This bronzer brings that philosophy to life with a lightweight pressed-mousse texture (think: pliable putty) that melts into skin, blurs like a filter, and delivers warmth instead of overly obvious contour. “So many people think you should use bronzer to create definition in your face. Bronzer should warm up your complexion—it’s a skin-finishing tool, not a sculpting tool,” Espinal explained. “Different shades can absolutely create definition, but bronzer should really be about adding a sun-kissed glow to your complexion and creating overall warmth.” It is available in eight shades, retails for $39, and is designed to look like a true reflection of your skin. And as someone who has played with these babies for the past few months, I’m hooked.
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Ahead, Rihanna talks about the inspiration behind the launch, why the Fenty Beauty glow just hits different, how her beauty routine has changed since having baby girl, Rocki (making her a mom of three), and what it really takes for her to get ready and head out the door.
This new bronzer is all about that soft, airbrushed glow—what gap were you trying to fill in your own routine when you created it?
I’m a Caribbean girl. That sun-kissed glow is in my DNA; it’s my baseline beauty look. Bronzer is a category we work really hard on because I want it to be right and to be real. Bronzer isn’t about sculpting or contouring; it’s about adding warmth. I wanted a bronzer that just melted into my skin and added a warm glow while also improving the texture of the skin. It gives that airbrushed finish and just feels incredible. It is soft and bouncy and looks delicious on the skin.
Fenty Beauty has always been about accessibility and real-life wear. How does this launch push that mission forward in a new way?
Anyone can get in on bronzer—you just have to find the right shade so it doesn’t look muddy or shiny or show uneven textures. We specifically created these shades to bronze based on your undertone, which most bronzers don’t take into consideration—they focus more on the superficial finish and not how to match beneath the surface. There are no cool tones in the range; it will warm up the skin with neutral and golden undertones and is really buildable, so you don’t have to be intimidated by it.
You’ve mastered the art of glow over the years. Has your idea of what “radiant skin” looks like evolved recently?
Oh, absolutely. Radiance isn’t about just throwing on your favorite highlighter, which, let’s be honest, I love to do. It has to come from within. It’s the little things of self-care—sleep, hydration, a good bath ritual—that set the foundation for radiant skin. And I’ve realized how important a consistent skin care routine is. Nourishing and loving your skin in its barest form is how you really achieve that radiance. The makeup is just there to have fun with after and show off what we naturally have. You gotta protect, hydrate, and cleanse your skin every day. Slather on that Hydra Vizor SPF, deeply nourish your skin with all those good-for-you ingredients, and wash that makeup off before you go to bed. Love your barest form, and your radiance will shine through.
Welcome to baby Rocki! How has motherhood shifted your relationship to beauty and self-care?
Motherhood has taught me that you have to find ways to be quick with beauty. Find those routines that make you look good in a hurry.
What are the first lessons about beauty and self-image you hope to pass down to your daughter?
Everything I learned about beauty first came from my mother. She introduced me to fragrance and foundation, and that’s when my love affair with beauty began. Most importantly, I want my kids to love themselves as they are, I want them to have fun and be creative and express themselves however feels right.
With a busy life and growing family, what does “getting ready” look like for you these days?
Looking for those fast beauty hacks has become a full-time job now! I’ve gotten really good at an on-the-go routine. I always have my mini Fenty Beauty Invisimatte on me; it lets me do my makeup anytime, anywhere, and keeps my complexion in check. I’ve been carrying around the Fenty Skin Dew N Plump Mist because it just revives my skin whenever I need it. And I’ve learned that a little lip color goes a long way. Getting ready looks different every day. Sometimes I just need that full glam where I take my time and it’s just for me. Other days, we’re go, go, go, so we bring the beat with us.
Well, you always look dope!
A swipe of Gloss Bomb can instantly lift my mood, and a spritz of The Mista hair mist can make a vibe. Gotta fake it till we make it, sometimes!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Julee Wilson is Beauty Editor at Large at Cosmopolitan. Previously, Julee was Beauty Director at Cosmo and Global Beauty Director at Essence and has held various editorial positions at Huffington Post and Real Simple. She counts herself lucky AF that she gets to play with beauty products for a living and tell dope stories. And if you’re as obsessed with beauty as she is, make sure to follow her on Instagram for plenty of product recs, natural hair inspo, skincare testing, and Black girl magic shenanigans.