Last Updated on May 5, 2023
I’ve been chasing the perfect red lip since I started wearing makeup at age 15(ish). The year was 1995, and La Santa Selena had just been taken from us thanks to the evil Yolanda Saldivar. Selena’s image was everywhere, and her signature red pout was well on its way to the icon status it always deserved.
After scouring all the English and Spanish fashion magazines, I discovered that her signature color was Brick Red by Chanel, and it immediately became a staple in my beauty routine. That is until Chanel discontinued the shade sometime during the late 90s to early 2000s.
I’ve been searching for an adequate dupe ever since, to no avail. Sure, other red lipsticks have suited my olive Latina complexion. Ruby Woo and Russian Red by MAC have been close contenders, but neither popped against my skin quite like Brick Red.
Enter Rihanna.
I’ve dabbled in Fenty beauty products since Sephora started carrying the brand several years ago, but I mainly stuck to face products like foundation and concealer. I never felt compelled to try the lip products, mainly due to the hefty price tag. That is until Rihanna graced the Superbowl stage wearing a shade of red lipstick so smoking hot that it set the internet on fire.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that she was wearing Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in The MVP. While figuring out the lipstick’s name was easy, getting my hands on it… not so much. Apparently, everyone has the same idea I did, and the shade was sold out for weeks.
But alas, I have finally gotten my hands on this viral lippie, and it was worth the wait.
First Impressions
The deep red shade looks amazing against my warm olive skin tone and garnered tons of compliments the first time I wore it in public. Granted, I only went to school pickup and Starbucks, but still, a win is a win.
Packaging
The packaging is gorgeous, and it’s clear that RiRi and her team spared no attention to detail. The tube is sleek, well designed, and has a lucite topper that is simply chic. I also love the doe foot applicator as I find it best for gliding matte formulas across the lips.
Pros
To say I’m in love is an understatement. As I mentioned above, the shade looks great and suits a huge variety of skin tones. It also feels great on the lips, which is hard to achieve with matte formulas that tend to dry out and look cakey. It’s also super long-wearing and survived several iced coffee breaks and a poke bowl lunch.
Cons
The price point is definitely more on the luxurious end at $29 for 0.19oz of product. Also, there’s no matching lipliner as of yet. To some, that may not be important, but alas, I am a lipliner girl.
Final Verdict
Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in The MVP is well worth the $29. It’s the closest thing to Chanel Brick Red I’ve found in years and has earned a permanent place in my makeup bag.