Rihanna: ‘Lipstick draws attention away from flaws, and guys are stupid’

Rihanna

These are photos of Rihanna in NYC on Tuesday. She’s wearing casual/workout gear and looks so ridiculously fantastic. I don’t know if RiRi is heading towards or away from the gym in these pics or is even thinking about working out at all. Whatever the case, this should be the look that Taylor Swift aims towards instead of the orchestrated, perfect gym exit pap shots.

Rihanna popped into a feature in the September issue of Elle (the one with Kristen Stewart’s desecration). Rihanna is promoting her new Viva Glam collection for M.A.C. She gives some really awesome quotes here:

Her pick for “world’s sexiest woman”: “Penelope Cruz is the sh-t. If I could wake up and look like her tomorrow, that would be great. Mia Wallace [Uma Thurman’s Pulp Fiction character] is gangsta. She’s epic. I’m going to do that bob again. Those bangs.”

Words to live by: “‘Avoid obviousness.’ That is a quote by Leonardo DiCaprio. That’s what makes you create something, that’s the excitement, that’s the thrill.”

Her favorite beauty product: “Lipstick. It draws attention away from any flaws. When someone is wearing lipstick, you just assume they’re wearing a full face of makeup. And guys are stupid–they won’t notice when you’re not.”

[From Elle]

Is it weird that Rihanna wants to wake up one day and look like Penelope Cruz? A lot of people would like to wake up and look like Rihanna. For real. It is hilarious how Rihanna quotes Leo DiCaprio (on the art of “avoiding obviousness“), who is Captain All-Too-Obvious these days. Fail.

Rih does know makeup though, and she’s correct about lipstick. Eye or lips are all dudes need to see. If you satisfy one of the two (and not both), then everything comes together. It’s true! Eyes and lips mesmerize, but double trouble is too overwhelming. I usually go for bolder lips and an understated eye (preferably with sunglasses), but any combination works for the lazy.

In other RiRi news, she may be getting with Drake again. Reports say they partied together at the same club in NYC last weekend. They both left at the same time. Yep. They’re doing it. I wish Rihanna would get with Eminem instead. Here’s the two of them performing in Pasadena last week.

Eminem

Rihanna

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN

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107 Responses to “Rihanna: ‘Lipstick draws attention away from flaws, and guys are stupid’”

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  1. Sarah says:

    I wish her taste in men wasn’t so obvious. Rihanna has her own uncool Bermuda Triangle

  2. LadyMTL says:

    Seriously, whenever I’m feeling a bit meh about my appearance (like if my adult acne is flaring up) I put on a great lipstick and immediately get a confidence boost. Rihanna hit the nail on the head there, lol.

    And I love her casual look, even if it is something that I might get arrested for wearing. Dang but that woman has a body to kill for.

    • Dani2 says:

      I wholeheartedly agree, there’s just something about it, like it forces you to feel good about yourself.

    • sasa says:

      Rihanna obviously knows what works as she rightly should. She is after all in the business of selling her appearance. It still bugs me a bit, the way she said it. It kind of implies that women pretty themselves up exclusively for men and I would argue that we also do it for other women as well as for ourselves. That would at least be a healthier message to send IMO.

    • QQ says:

      agreed! even this morning I was leaving the house looking super messy and the only thing i could think to do before facing the outside was PINK LIP!

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      She is STUNNING. Does she even work out? I don’t think she does and her body looks like THAT. B*tch.

      • Anna says:

        She’s gorgeous!!! Everything she wears she can make look so effortless and cool. She seriously looks good in anything

      • lana86 says:

        she looks fit and athletic. But I dont know about “stanning!”. I mean, is it so rare to see a fit young women nowadays? I see lovely figures all the time.

      • Lady Macbeth says:

        TOK

        I thought the same thing, she probably doesn’t even work out… Biotch! 😀

      • Artemis says:

        She certainly does. She gained weight during one of her tours a few years ago and while during that time she played it off as ‘I love to be thick!’, she actually lost weight pretty quick and has a trainer since then. She mainly does cardio but she doesn’t like working out so she has short sessions. She likes to tone her butt and legs because men like it.

      • qwerty says:

        Of course she works out, lots. Well not as in 2 hours a day like Megan Fox but in terms of regularity. Acc.to an article from may 2012 I found she does 25 mins 5 days a week wherever she is. And she definitely does strength training in addition to cardio, she’s very toned, cardio alone would not give you muscle definition like that.
        Not sure she worked out, say, in 2009-10. There is a big difference in her pics from that period, she wasn’t toned and her higher body fat percentage I think.

    • Rockymtnprincess says:

      She wears MAC’s Ruby Woo, when she is promoting it they call it RiRi Woo. It is the best red on the market. I use for all photoshoots. I have three tubes. It has a blue base so it makes your teeth seem whiter. Use a liner.

      • Tiffany27 says:

        Thanks for the info! I’m looking for a new red.

      • JennySerenity says:

        Rockymntn, thanks! All red lipstick, except a scant few shades w/ blue undertones, looks like sh*t on me. I will definitely try this.

        Also, agreed that Rihanna has been looking particularly stunning these days. If only…*sigh*

      • Lady D says:

        RiRi Woo? Try saying that one three times fast.

  3. Tiffany27 says:

    Rihanna is beautiful, but Drake, love yourself. Just walk away.

    • Jules says:

      I find her revolting………….

    • Dani2 says:

      Aubrey isn’t much of a catch either imo

    • Sarah says:

      Drake is no better, he just sleeps with Instagroupies and strippers. He’s indulged in the back and forth with both Rihanna and Chris Brown, stooping to making a song with Chris that presumably slams Rihanna.
      Basically he is a tween girl.

  4. mimif says:

    I love it when she smiles; she’s really lovely underneath it all.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      She is one naughty, beautiful woman. She’s many things I don’t like, but I like her anyway. There’s just something about her that’s vulnerable, sweet and funny underneath all that prickly, I don’t give a sh*t exterior.

      • mimif says:

        You articulated my teeny tiny 4am thoughts perfectly. 🙂

      • SpookySpooks says:

        Really? I fail to see her redeeming qualities. She has a pretty exterior but seems rotten underneath.

      • Tiffany27 says:

        Same tbh. I just like her.

      • Dani2 says:

        Me too 🙂

      • Kiddo says:

        Yes to both you.

        I can see why GNAT likes the naughty part, being a lady who likes to be tied naked to an anthill covered in honey. You go, girl. lol.

      • mimif says:

        Lmao Kiddo, and now her desire to roll around on the floor in a slutty wedding dress in front of thousands of people. NaughtyNamesAllTaken!

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Ahem, and to think I have tried so hard to perfect my ladylike image and this it the takeaway y’all have. Lol

      • SpookySpooks says:

        Would all of you feel the same about her if she wasn’t so beautiful? I mean, she does pretty much the same crap Miley does, but I’ve never heard anyone describe Miley as naughty, beautiful and vulnerable?

      • Kiddo says:

        Well, not just this. Booty shorts too.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        SpookySpooks, I’ll answer you honestly. Her beautiful face does probably have some effect. But I see Miley as a total fake, try hard, being exploited by herself and everyone else, humping teddy bears, licking wrecking balls, when she’s really just a confused little twit who decorates her bong with my little pony stickers and has no idea who she really is. Rihanna seems 100% authentic to me. She dresses in a way I would never dress and behaves in a way I would never behave, but she is who she is. She puts her soul out there with no apology. Maybe the sweetness and vulnerability I see is all in my head, but I see it.

      • Lady Macbeth says:

        @GNAT

        great comment! And ITAW everything you said!

      • SpookySpooks says:

        Thank you for the explannation GNAT. It’s funny how people can have completely different views on one person. The words “a total fake, try hard, being exploited by herself and everyone else” are exactly the ones I would use for Rihanna. I’ve never seen her put her soul anywhere, everything she does seems half arsed. I’ve also never seen her being sweet, ever.

      • mimif says:

        @SpookySpooks, I’m so used to seeing her look bad ass (I refuse to use the term fierce), that when I see her smile, my reaction is a visceral WOW, a welcome and refreshing change from “riri so tuff and stuff”. And yeah, I think I would feel the same way of any person, regardless of if they were “beautiful” or not. I like smiles; they are infectious and in turn make me smile. (Anything to stave off the cat-butt mouth!)

      • I Choose Me says:

        Agree with GNAT. There’s just something about her.

    • Dolce crema says:

      Indeed! <3

      • Chris says:

        Yes! A smile makes even more of a difference than lipstick. Meself, I’m rather Millie Tant against Rihanna and her persona, but a radiant smile suits her, I’d love to see more like this and less pouting.
        Re Ruby Woo lippy….it’s massively popular in the UK…all skin shades rave about it. I really should wear blue toned reds myself, but always opt for the orangey reds instead, and they definitely don’t flatter my teeth at all. 🙁

  5. Cynthia says:

    In the last post, you mentioned that this was a dream tour but it’s actually not. This girl is a bad performer. She’s that type that puts out the mic to the crowd when it’s time to hit and hold notes like she’s doing in the first picture . She can NOT sing. Beyoncé is better on that level, she almost takes pride in hitting those nearly impossible notes. Lol. Close to the point of showing off. This is not a dream tour. On The Run Tour was better and I would catch it again if I could.

    • Sammy says:

      Sorry to break it to you but Bey lipsyncs A LOT in concert she’s just better at hiding it with literal smoke and mirrors. Especially on big songs like love on top and drunk in love. I know first hand from seeing her live three times in the past two years.

      To agree with your point Rihanna is a terrible performer and extremely lazy. Her shows are like going to see Katy Perry or Britney, you know what you’re getting before hand.

      • Belinda says:

        They all have backing tracks though. Beyonce is way better at actually attempting to sing along. And her shows are way more physical so its easier to forgive when she lets a track play. I saw Riri afew years ago and I couldnt believe it. Her whole weeded up on xanax shtick means all she does is say some stuff over the mic and yodell on occasion. Her big finale move was that she WALKED up a flight of stairs and flipped her skirt up as she bent over. Lights out. Worst concert of my life!

      • Cynthia says:

        Lemme rephrase. We are used to mediocrity that we dunno when the real thing comes. Example, beyonce ‘s Grammy performance, some said here that she lipsynched the chair part. Why? Cos it was perfect.but she didn’t. I’ve seen enough to know she didn’t. Same way I’ve seen enough to know that I’m never going to a rihanna concert again. I just stop at buying her first two singles. Her albums have the worst fillers.

      • Anna says:

        That’s the biggest joke of the day Beyonce doesn’t lip sync at concerts. It’s really obvious that she’s singing live, look up any video of her performing, Beyoncé is just that good live that she can sound amazing and still dance well. She’s got amazing stage presence (even if you don’t like her you can admit that)

      • Artemis says:

        Yes B does lipsynch but in comparison to many other performers, you can tell why: she moves around, she dances, she ‘acts’: she entertains. Same goes for Madonna. Meanwhile, we have the Perry’s and the Rihanna’s shuffling left to right and looking disengaged. There is no excuse for them not to sing live because they’re not delivering in any other area. And if they do sing live, you realise how horrible they are.

      • maybeiamcrazy says:

        Beyonce does lip-sync some of her songs. But when she lip-syncs, she dances, runs around and gets everybody in the mood. That’s what makes her a great performer IMO. Say what you want to say about the woman but she rocks it when she is supposed to. I was at her Glastonbury concert and it was amazing. One of the best concerts I have ever been. I have not been in a Riri concert but I have seen some live clips of hers and she is a bad performer.

    • Macey says:

      Thats what anyone who has been to their show has been saying, she’s pretty much just phoning it in during this tour. Its also pretty obvious that most of the crowds are there for Em since he doesnt tour much. Even the reviews are saying Rihanna seems bored on stage and lets her b/u singers and dancers do the work. I can’t wait til the tour is over and Im hoping the whole Em & Ri things ends on a good note. Love Em since the beginning but I cant stand those poppy songs with Ri. I like her enough on her own stuff, just dont need to hear her with my Em.

    • Dani says:

      I have to agree – I saw Rihanna twice and both times her voice was terrible, nothing like what her albums sound like or what you’d think she should sound like. Recently saw the on the run tour and although Bey did have backing tracks, she could hold a note.

  6. PunkyMomma says:

    I agree with RiRi about the lipstick. I don’t leave home without it.

  7. snusnu says:

    I like her.
    I have an enormous crush on Eminem and I’d hit that.I know,I know…

    • Minefirst says:

      Don’t feel bad about having an enormous crush on Eminem, well…. Maybe feel a little bit bad… Because get in line lady, he’s mine first! -.- (gets Eminem groupie shanking tool on the ready)….. 😀

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      I’ll join you guys in the shame corner.

      I stopped fighting my attraction to him a long time ago. Dude is sexy.

    • MaiGirl says:

      Me too. So many problems he has, but he’s brilliant and sexy.

  8. Gina says:

    The more time passes away from Fist Brown, the better she becomes. Her presence demands attention wherever she goes, and that’s a good thing in her biz. I like Drake and RiRi together. She gives him the hip factor, and he gives her a little stability. Good Thursday to y’all.

    • cece says:

      Drake gives her stability? This is a guy who sleeps with strippers and so called Instragram models how is that better for her what about Rihanna finding somebody completely different. People act like Drake is her only option. Besides they are just friends. Besides this girl seems to have a lot of issues with herself.

  9. LizLemonGotMarried says:

    There was a (grain of salt) blind suggesting she and Em had an understanding when they were performing or recording, but it was off when she was with Drake. I wish they would get together, BUT, Riri would have to be committed to supporting, or at least not hurting, his sobriety, and she’s certainly not ready for that responsibility. They are my long-term dream couple, though, when she’s ready to settle down.

    • Gina says:

      I think Rihanna, his kids and Dr. Dre are the only people Mr. Em likes. I do believe, however, it is a one-sided love affair with Rheena although she obviously loves him in the other way people love you…platonically…..

    • Macey says:

      please stop spreading the Ri and Em rumor. That “blind” originated from CDAN who makes up their “blinds” whenever they are in the news. They have so many “blinds” about them that they now contradict each other. Ri and Em couldnt be more opposite and Em’s rep already said many times its just business. You can tell that even on stage. She’s spotted out with just about everyone but Em during this tour. One minute they’re making up stories about her & Em, then her and Chris, now Drake. ugghhhh.

  10. GiGi says:

    I like her and don’t like her all at once. Both for intangible reasons.

    But I agree about the makeup. Although for me, it’s mascara… I have medium olive skin and dark hair, but my eyes are light green. If I don’t do my eyes I end up looking like the creepy lady from a horror flick, lol!

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      Me, too. My eyelashes are so light, they’re invisible, so if I don’t wear mascara, people ask me if I feel ok. Tbh, I used that a couple of times at work when I wanted to get off early. Bad, I know.

      • GiGi says:

        OMG, that’s hilarious! I’m dark all around except my creepy eyes. I feel like if I don’t do them, people will call me Bradley Cooper. #serialkillereyes #i’mlookingthroughyou

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Lol, the things we say to ourselves…

  11. xenia says:

    I love her, she’s gorgeous

  12. Maria says:

    quoting Leo DiCaprio like is he is Aristotle is hilarious.

    the lipstick quote is a bit weird. come on, its not like she is fooling men, they find her beautiful without full on make up because she is beautiful without full on make up.

  13. msw says:

    That’s the reason I avoid lipstick. I always feel too made up.

  14. amanda says:

    I think her lipstick comment was pretty clever. As somebody who was not born with terribly full lips, I tend to focus on my giant-ass eyes and do a subtle lip, hope it’s working 😉

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I, too, have chicken lips and choose to play up the eyes. Nobody ever cared until Angie showed up and all of a sudden balloon lips were the thing and I felt self conscious. I admire her for many things, but sort of hate her for that. Lol

    • GiGi says:

      You guys are cracking me up today. I have big lips… but I feel like when I put on lipstick that’s all anyone sees. I’m happy with a tube of ChapStick!

    • SpookySpooks says:

      I have quite full lips but I feel cartoonish if I put bright lipstick, so I focus on the eyes too. I’ve gotten so used to wearing mascara I kinda feel naked without it.
      I’m also really pale and get red in the face easily, so if I put red lipstick it looks even more red.

      • Chris says:

        I always wear a red lipstick, though I am pretty much always dressed ‘down’. Just feel unfinished without it.
        However…..staying recently at my brother’s, and stumbling down early to make coffee still in pj’s and dressing gown, I found myself unable to leave my room until I’d touched up my eyebrows a bit, to look human…..showing me that *this* is my chief weakness now, disappearing eyebrows! Eeek.

  15. Godwina says:

    Truth there. If I want heads to turn on the street, I put on red lipstick. It’s like bird society in reverse out there. Kind of pathetic, actually, but it works!

  16. AlmondJoy says:

    So I realized yesterday that I kind of feel uncomfortable with calling a person trashy. I see it often on posts when certain women are mentioned and I have a problem with it. Let’s discuss! Not sure if I’m overly sensitive or correct in feeling that the word is offensive.

    About Rih: she’s gorgeous and she looks amazing with any color lipstick!! I dont wear lipstick much, but I’m serious about brows. As long as my eyebrows are done, my face feels done lol.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I agree, AlmondJoy. People aren’t trash to be stepped on and thrown away. “Trashy” also has the same implications as “slut” to me, another expression I don’t use. I think you can say “tasteless” or “vulgar” to get your meaning across, if you feel you must.

      It’s not quite the same, but I also hate “trailer trash” and “white trash.” For me, it comes from an era when people were ridiculed and dismissed for being poor and uneducated, and was even used to describe children. I hate it when people on here use those expressions to belittle people for something they can’t help.

      • SpookySpooks says:

        I think vulgar is a harsher word than trashy. To me, vulgar implies sluttiness, while trashy just implies lack of good taste.
        I do find Rihanna very very trashy, and can’t quite find another word to describe her.

      • AlmondJoy says:

        Goodnames: I feel the same! I think it’s hurtful. I realized it yesterday in the Amber Rose post. I would prefer “tastless.” I’ve even used “cheesy” to describe women that dress like Jwoww or Mariah Carey. Never trashy. The phrase “white trash” needs to be done away with altogether.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        I guess vulgar is very harsh, but sometimes it fits. At least it’s a “real” word, but I’ll try not to use it if it’s too mean.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        But can we still call KK “trashy”? Pretty please?

        I agree with you ladies. I have an even bigger problem with “trailer trash”. One of the nicest and kindest people I know lives in a trailer with her adorable family and there is NOTHING trashy about her. On the contrary, she’s one of the classiest people I know-smart as a whip, great mom and wife, and has a heart of gold.

      • AlmondJoy says:

        TOK: Trailer trash is a horrible phrase. I too have known many wonderful people that live in trailers.

        Even Kim K doesn’t deserve to be called trashy lol! We have to find a special word for her Kitt, lets think of something 😂😂

      • SpookySpooks says:

        But every negative word can be hurrful? Maybe I don’t fully get it because I’m not a native speaker, but to me trashy sounds very vanilla as far as insults go.

      • Josefa says:

        @Spooks

        The same happens to me, I’m not a native speaker either. “White trash” and “trailer trash” always striked me as offensive for having discriminatory tones, but not “trashy” alone. I always thought “trashy” is to “tasteless” what “rad” is to “awesome”, just a slang synonym.

      • Josefa says:

        PS: AlmondJoy, I also put more emphasis in the eye area than my lips, but I wear a little lip gloss because my lips dry pretty easily and I want my lips to look sweet and kissable for my bf, lol.

    • Tiffany27 says:

      Agree about the brows. I’ve skipped out on some nights out with friends because my brows weren’t done.

      I could be wrong, but it appears to me that “trashy” is often used to describe woc and I find that a bit odd.

      • SpookySpooks says:

        Snookie, Jwoww, Leann, Brandi have been described as trashy on this site all the tim and they’re not woc.

    • AlmondJoy says:

      Spooks: Idk… Trash is something that a person feels is beneath them. Trash is dirty and it stinks and its gross. I just can’t see describing another person as that. I see Rihanna as a beautiful woman that has made and is still making bad decisions. Thanks for sharing your point of view.

      Tiffany: Yes, brows are so important! Mine are thick (I had a unibrow as a kid lol) and I learned to arch them perfectly. When I go to the shop, they always mess them up!

      Trashy is quite often used to describe WOC, it’ll come up in almost every post. It’s used for many non-women of color as well. Honestly, I just dont like it at all.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        I think the word “trashy” is used for almost every woman who shows skin or dresses in a provocative way.
        It’s getting old.
        Let’s expand our vocabulary, ladies!

      • Chris says:

        There’s a derogatory English term I still use, ‘common’ for all the instances you are all mentioning here…..kind of cheap looking, a bit vulgar. To use UK examples, I’d call both Katie Price *and* Liz Hurley ‘common’…..so it’s not a socio-economic background thing, such as seems to be the case with the nasty term ‘trailer trash’.

      • becky says:

        Almond Joy makes a good point. Now I can’t unsee it. And I second TOK’s suggestion that we try some other terms.

  17. Lady says:

    She’s rude and trashy but I love her, plus I think she is absolutely beautiful.

    I have big cartoon eyes and thin lips so the lipstick trick doesnt work with me. Eyeliner with little wings is like lipstick to me!

  18. elle says:

    As long as i have my lipliner, lipstick, eyes done, eyebrows done, foundation on, blush/bronzer/contour/highlighter on, i feel good 😉

  19. Francis says:

    She is gorgeous and right about the lipstick. I don’t think guys are dumb though,that’s a bit rude.
    She’s a stunning woman, but her personality sometimes is off putting, she seems to try way too hard to go against the grain, it just seems contrived, attention seeking and fake sometimes.
    She also seems to love negative attention for some reason. IMO.

    • Tulip says:

      @Francis. I think it’s good that you point out that boys being called dumb isn’t necessarily true. Sexism works both ways and it’s good to call it when it happens. I do feel unbelievably frustrated when a guy will gush on and on about a famous woman and think that ALL of her image is natural or “just happens”. And I’d be tempted to call them dumb at that point, because they truly have no clue…So frustrating!

  20. pnichols says:

    Isn’t Em engaged?? I thought I read that somewhere.

  21. Jaded says:

    “Avoid obviousness”? That’s rich considering everything she does screams “look at me”.

  22. NeoCleo says:

    “Avoid obviousness.”

    This from the woman who walks around pretty much naked. I think she set sail on the SS Obvious along time ago.

  23. Mingy says:

    those legs..jeez.

  24. Mrs McCubbins says:

    I think she’s so unique looking and beautiful at the same time.

  25. Nk868 says:

    Those are workout clothes?

  26. thedarklady says:

    I’m not sure how good Rihanna would look without the weaves/extensions, treatments and make up. Also, she mainly has a very restrictive diet. It makes me worry about young girls when they see these smoke and mirrors celebrities and their ‘perfectness’.

  27. Naddie says:

    She must be doing something wrong, cause everything about her is very, very obvious.

  28. Nila says:

    Rihanna is the one person on the planet way hotter than Beyonce.

  29. idontknowyouyoudontknowme says:

    Why do people want her to end up with Eminem or Drake?
    Eminem has too many issues of his own(pills), and is also prone to domestic violence.(Remember Kim?). Drake has been playing Captain save-a…. for years now, bragging about his lean usage.. Rihanna isn’t perfect, and I get that most people think anybody except Chris Brown would be better for her, but why not set the bar higher?

  30. Adrien says:

    Eminem is with someone. He’s low key like that. I know someone who is working for him.

    • toomuchwine says:

      whats the scoop there (that you can spill)? I know he’s really private and there’s always rumors about this person or that but I never take it as anything more than rumors.