Rarely does Rihanna step out without it becoming a moment. The 37-year-old hitmaker and Fenty Beauty founder’s latest outing in New York City was no exception. She was spotted with A$AP Rocky, seemingly trying to fly under the radar in sunglasses and a Yankees hat—but like many beauty obsessives, I immediately zoomed in on one detail: her juicy berry-red lip, which felt anything but low-key.
Luckily, the breakdown was right there waiting. The makeup artist behind the look, Hector Espinal, shared the details on Instagram, rightfully calling it "the baddest berry lip combo." He also posted close-up shots by celebrity stylist and photographer @freshmadeit, showing a defined lip with a softly faded center.
The products behind the look were Fenty Beauty’s Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner ($22) in the deep mahogany shade Whiskey, paired with Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick ($26) in Black’r Berry. If you’re new to the formulas, the lip liner is waterproof and creamy, with staying power that holds up for hours. The Gloss Stick adds shine and moisture, giving the look the finish of a gloss with deeper pigment and a more comfortable feel.
He also shared the application details: “To create a natural fade over time that still maintains the integrity of the deep berry shade, I lined the lips first to define and then also filled in the entire lip before applying the gloss on top,” says Espinal. “This gives the whole lip look more longevity and reinforces the wash of color at all levels, creating a really natural fade in the center of the lip over time.”
Ahead, the exact products used to create Rihanna’s berry-red lip.
