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The Exact Makeup Breakdown of Rihanna’s 2023 Met Gala Look

Unveiling every product, technique, and inspiration behind Rihanna’s dramatic Met Gala 2023 makeup, from iconic lips to shimmering eyes.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Oct 2, 2025

Unveiling every product, technique, and inspiration behind Rihanna’s dramatic Met Gala 2023 makeup, from iconic lips to shimmering eyes.

When it comes to making an entrance, Rihanna never disappoints—and her 2023 Met Gala appearance was no exception. Arriving fashionably late, Rihanna set a new gold standard for iconic Met Gala beauty. From her bold red lips to her pearlescent, high-shimmer eye makeup, every detail was painstakingly crafted to both honor Karl Lagerfeld and redefine modern glamour. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of her entire look, the process behind it, and the Fenty Beauty favorites that made it happen.

Inspiration Behind the Look
Step 1: Expert Skin Prep
Step 2: Soft-Matte, Chiseled Complexion
Step 3: Glamorous High-Shimmer Eye
Step 4: Defined Brows
Step 5: The Iconic Red Lip
Step 6: Finishing Touches & Pro Tricks
Key Products in Rihanna’s Met Gala Kit
Expert Insights: The Artists Behind the Glam
Frequently Asked Questions

Inspiration Behind the Look

In 2023, the Met Gala theme celebrated the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, famed for fusing classic elegance with modern edge. Rihanna’s makeup—crafted by renowned Fenty Beauty Global Makeup Artist Priscilla Ono and supported by Hector Espinal—paid homage to Lagerfeld’s vision. The intent: pair a universally iconic red lip with a shimmering, futuristic eye, all anchored by a flawless, soft-matte complexion. The entire look fused Rihanna’s signature audacity with Chanel-inspired refinement.

Step 1: Expert Skin Prep

Rihanna’s radiant complexion wasn’t just pure makeup magic—it began long before foundation touched her skin. According to Hector Espinal, prepping her skin with meticulous skincare was key to achieving that signature glow and soft focus effect.

Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r Remove-It-All Cleanser: Cleanses and detoxifies, providing a smooth canvas.
Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum: Tightens pores, adds radiance, and evens skin tone.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Hydrates while providing broad-spectrum sun protection.
Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Eye Gel-Cream: Reduces puffiness and revitalizes the under-eye area for a wide-awake look.

Layering these steps ensured her skin was hydrated, plump, and optimized for makeup application, allowing everything laid on top to appear extra smooth and flawless.

Step 2: Soft-Matte, Chiseled Complexion

Rihanna’s signature matte-but-luminous complexion is the result of careful product layering—a “double-blur” technique perfected by Priscilla Ono.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (shade 300): Provides a lightweight but full-coverage veil, layered thinly for a natural effect.
Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation adds further soft-focus coverage, setting the look and preventing shine without causing heaviness.
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer (in shades I$land Ting and Bajan Gyal): Sculpted and bronzed key facial areas, adding warmth to the skin.
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush (in Petal Poppin and Cool Berry): These shades imparted a healthy flush, balancing the overall matte effect with a touch of dewiness.
Invisimatte Blotting Powder: Applied strategically to absorb any excess shine and set the final complexion look.
Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder (in Butter): Locked in the base without caking, refining texture for hours of camera-ready wear.

Pro Tip: The trick is layering foundation and powder in feather-light applications, never heavy-handed—this prevents texture and ensures the skin still appears like skin, just flawless skin.

Step 3: Glamorous High-Shimmer Eye

Perhaps the most striking element of Rihanna’s 2023 Met Gala look was her “glamorous yet edgy high-shimmer, pearlescent eye.” Here’s a step-by-step of how that drama was achieved:

Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette: Blended shades from Smoky, Cool Neutrals, and True Neutrals (notably the Velvet Cuffs shade) sculpted her crease, defined the corners, and amplified dimension.
Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner (in Cuz I’m Black and Big Truffle): Dual lining in both black and brown for enhanced depth, subtle smoke, and a nod to classic cat-eye glam.
Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (in Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal and Trophy Wife): Applied to the inner corners and brow bone, delivering a metallic, light-catching finish.
Diamond Bomb Triple Drip All Over Diamond Veil Palette: Layered on top for a glittering, ethereal effect.
Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara & Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara: Lashes were finished with immense volume and separation, even given extra drama beneath her signature eyelash-adorned sunglasses.

Product	Purpose
Snap Shadows Palette	Sculpting, blending, and adding metallic shimmer
Flypencil Eyeliner	Description and definition
Killawatt Highlighter	Spotlight effect on key areas
Diamond Bomb Palette	Glittering, multidimensional finish
Mascaras	Length, definition, and volume for dramatic lashes

The overall effect: a bright, futuristic gaze worthy of the Met steps (and her unforgettable sunglasses, whose edges were also adorned with faux lashes!).

Step 4: Defined Brows

Rihanna’s brows were perfectly balanced between natural fullness and sculpted definition—a true power brow to match her bold eye.

Fenty Beauty Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler (in Light Brown and Medium Brown): Allowed for realistic, hair-like strokes with just the right mix of structure and softness.

Step 5: The Iconic Red Lip

No Rihanna glam is complete without a statement lip—and for this high-profile night, she clung to a classic: the universally admired, Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored.

Lip Prep: Before any color, lips were treated with Fenty Skin Plush Puddin’ Intensive Recovery Lip Mask and Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss’r Lip-Loving Scrubstick. This deep hydration, applied at the start of the glam process, plumped and prepped Rihanna’s lips for an ultra-smooth, bold color payoff.
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint (Uncensored): Delivers an intensely pigmented, all-day wear true red—a go-to for Rihanna at major events, thanks to its universally flattering undertones and virtually budge-proof formula.

Artist’s secret: Allowing the lip mask to soak in during the entire makeup routine (while other steps are done) ensures the actual lipstick glides on and feels comfortable even after hours on the red carpet.

Step 6: Finishing Touches & Pro Tricks

Invisimatte Blotting Powder was deftly swept over key areas for a lasting, soft-matte finish.
Setting spray (unspecified): Used to lock everything in, ensuring humidity resistance and camera-readiness.
False lashes on sunglasses: Perhaps the most playful detail—faux lashes were affixed to the lenses, echoing the beauty look even with her shades on.

The resulting effect was both luxe and original—a modern interpretation of classic glamour with unmistakable Rihanna edge.

Key Products in Rihanna’s Met Gala Kit

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored
Fenty Skin Plush Puddin’ Lip Mask
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer
Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette
Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner
Fenty Beauty Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler
Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara
Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb Triple Drip All Over Diamond Veil Palette
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r Remove-It-All Cleanser
Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Eye Gel-Cream
Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss’r Lip-Loving Scrubstick

Expert Insights: The Artists Behind the Glam

Rihanna’s transformative look was conceptualized and executed by Priscilla Ono, Fenty Beauty’s Global Makeup Artist, and acclaimed artist Hector Espinal. Their approach focused on layering, skincare-first principles, and a keen attention to both timeless beauty icons and Rihanna’s ever-evolving style philosophy. Ono’s signature double-blur techniques and Espinal’s emphasis on hydrated skin helped deliver the luminous, long-lasting finish needed for the high-energy event. Their top recommendation? Always hydrate and prep skin before applications for maximum staying power and photogenic texture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What lipstick shade did Rihanna wear at the 2023 Met Gala?

A: Rihanna’s striking red lips were created using Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored, a true red liquid lipstick she has worn for several major events.

Q: How did Rihanna achieve such glowing, matte skin?

A: She wore multiple fine layers of Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, lightly set with powder foundation and blotting powder for a seamless finish, alongside a hydrating skincare prep.

Q: Which eyeshadow palette was used for her shimmering eye look?

A: Rihanna’s glam was built using shades from Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette in Smoky, Cool Neutrals, and True Neutrals, enhanced with metallic and highlighter accents.

Q: Was all the makeup from Fenty Beauty?

A: Yes, Rihanna’s entire 2023 Met Gala glam was created exclusively with Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin products, showcasing the versatility of her own brands.

Q: How can I replicate Rihanna’s Met Gala lips?

A: Start with a nourishing lip mask, exfoliate with a scrub, and then apply a true-red liquid lipstick like Stunna Lip Paint. Let the lip prep soak in during other makeup steps for smoother results.

Celebrity-Approved Glam: Takeaways for Your Own Routine

Rihanna’s 2023 Met Gala makeup isn’t just red carpet fantasy—it embodies techniques anyone can adopt for major occasions:

Always begin with great skincare: A smooth, hydrated, and protected base makes all the difference for glow and longevity.
Layer light, blend thoroughly: Build up your foundation and powders in gradual, featherlight layers, focusing on blending for that second-skin effect.
Cherish your signature feature: Whether it’s a bold lip, radiant cheekbone, or sparkling eye, choose one focal point and emphasize it with confidence.
Personalize the finish: Mix textures like matte and shimmer to capture light while maintaining structure—just as Rihanna’s team did.
Have fun with details: Think “accessories” for your makeup, like lashes on sunglasses or a dramatic brow, for a playful final touch.