Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation review: a beauty editor tries the game-changing base

If you’re yet to try Rihanna’s brilliant makeup range, let my Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation review get you started with one of the brand’s first products – and a run-down of why it’s one of my favorite bases on my oily skin. 

Quickly cementing itself as one of the best foundations on the market, the release of Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 2017 is one that really can be described as game-changing. The then-40 shade selection spanned a broad and inclusive range that – while there’s still a long way to go for this to be universal in beauty – sparked noticeable change across the rest of the industry.

Shade range aside, the foundation is a hit with makeup artists, beauty editors, and influencers alike who can't get enough of its flexibility and staying power making this not just one of the best foundations for dark skin, but one of the best of the best, period. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including pictures of what it looks like on the skin and my honest thoughts about how it wears throughout the day. 

Our beauty editor's Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation review

Fenty Pro Filt'r Foundation packaging

If you’ve seen anything of this brand you’ll know that Fenty Beauty products all look classy. This frosted glass bottle features a stadium shape, a chunky base, and a white lid, all of which give it a chic feel. The brand name is emblazoned on one side in the signature capitalized style. It's cool but not try-hard. 

The formula is dispensed through a pump, which gives you a nice amount of control when dispensing your desired amount of foundation – it’s hard to overdo it! Other than that, there’s nothing particularly special about the packaging technology-wise, but it’s very aesthetically pleasing all the same. 

The foundation formula

Now the most important part: the stuff inside. Having launched with an already impressive 40 shades, Pro Filt’r Foundation now comes in a massive 50, catering to all skin tones and undertones. It was pretty easy to guess my foundation match, 150, as I know I’m usually a neutral undertone, but Fenty has a virtual try-on tool as well as a shade-matching quiz to help you find yours. I also recommend the site Findation, which is a go-to for me, as it works out your shade in most foundations on the market based on matches you already know from other brands. 

This particular formula is non-comedogenic, the technical term that simply means none of the ingredients will clog your pores – a plus for me as I have oily skin. Billed as a long-wear foundation, an even snazzier feature is the 'climate adaptive technology' that works with your skin to stave off sweat, oil, and humidity to maintain that shine-free finish. The formula is also vegan and, as with everything in the Fenty Beauty range, cruelty-free. 

How does it look and feel on the skin?

Despite its fairly thick formula, Pro Filt’r Foundation stretches quite a long way and is very buildable. One pump yields nice medium coverage, while two is plenty to create the best full coverage foundation look, as above. Although you still have a bit of leeway to build on any areas that you feel need more coverage than the rest of your face. At the time of testing, I had a couple of blemishes, and one that was particularly red and angry needed a bit of concealer to ensure that it was completely covered. Other than that, this foundation's coverage is brilliant. 

You will probably want to use a tool to work this into the skin, so take your pick between a foundation brush vs sponge. Once applied, I loved how this foundation looked. It of course helped that my shade match was bang on for me, I found that this is just the right amount of matte without looking one-dimensional or flat. Instead, the skin looks healthy and flawless. I like that it’s flexible; you could pare it down and use a little for everyday wear, or build up to very full coverage for special days. I was already plenty impressed, but that was nothing compared to how wowed I became after full days of testing. 

How about after a day of wear?

I would like to start this section of my Fenty Beauty foundation review by saying that, the first time I tested it, I really pushed this foundation’s abilities to the max. I wore it for a full day, then headed out for dinner, followed by an East London pub sesh. My skin is oily and so it’s pretty normal for me to develop a bit of shine towards the end of a day or night, even when wearing the best foundations for oily skin. To that end, I don't mind touching things up a little if I'm out and about for a long time. 

But back to my evening out and, unflattering bathroom lighting aside, I was shocked when I went to the ladies’ and saw my face was still matte. This is unheard of for me, particularly so far into a day of wear with no touch-ups whatsoever. As well as being shine-free – to the point that my sister, who has oily skin like mine, even commented – the tone was still completely even. Color me impressed. 

Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation review: My verdict

Fenty Pro Filt’r gets a resounding yes from me. I’m rarely shocked by a foundation’s longevity but this really did go the distance. As the foundation's reputation suggests, the huge range of shades for different undertones meant that I was able to find my perfect match. But most importantly, I can't fault the staying power. 

Drier or dehydrated skin types who don’t have a shine-free requirement may not get on with it quite as well as I did, but there’s a hydrating edition that’ll give your skin an ethereal glow. Because it’s buildable and stretches far, you can get natural, everyday coverage as well as building up for evenings out (as my own road test proved). I’ll be going back to this foundation for an upcoming winter wedding – resisting shine on the dancefloor will be the ultimate test.