Let's be clear: when Rihanna says jump, we say how high. The woman is a goddess - have you seen her take on maternity wear? Iconic.
So when Rihanna stresses the importance of self-care to us mere mortals, what do we do? We follow her lead, taking the path illuminated by her pregnancy glow.
In a clip shared to her 128 million followers last week, the heavily pregnant 'Diamonds' hitmaker - real name Robyn Fenty - served us with a snippet of her self-care routine.
Dressed in silky blue sleepwear, gold jewellery and a white towel wrapped around her head, the 33-year-old began by applying a face mask from her eponymous line, Fenty Beauty. With an impeccably manicured hand, the star smeared the Cookies 'n Clean whipped clay mask on her skin - making sure to use her middle finger to streak the product down the centre of her nose. It's the little things.
Rihanna then used a decadent body butter to moisturise her arms and belly, enhancing her already brighter-than-my-future glow, before pouring herself a non-alcoholic nightcap using Fever-Tree's Ginger Ale.
For the final step, the songstress applied two slices of cucumber to her eyes, before presumably cosying up to rumoured fiancé and the father of her child, A$AP Rocky, to watch true crime documentaries - as hinted at by the audio she picked for the 20-second video.
"And that's on self-care bih," she captioned the clip.
While we may not wear multiple gold chains to apply our skincare or have a magnificent marble bathroom straight out of the pages of Architectural Digest, we can still recreate Rihanna's routine at home - it is possible to be boujee on a budget, after all. We suggest starting with a relaxing shower before getting into the good stuff.
If you can't get your hands on Fenty Beauty, a similar alternative to Rihanna's mask of choice is Jeuneora's SundaySlay Detoxifying Clay Mask - plus, you'd be supporting a local business. At the same price point as Fenty Beauty, the product is a little on the costly side, but promises to exfoliate, refine pores, clarify, calm and detoxify - so it packs a punch. Cheaper options include By Nature's Brightening Pink Clay Mask, the Mecca Max X-Zit Strategy Clarifying Mask or Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask.
For the ultimate indulgence, it's hard to look past local body care brand Tronque - but be warned, premium products come at a premium price. However, if you're wanting to support a local business and get bang for your buck, Tronque's Firming Butter is not only effective, but feels like smothering yourself in rich, whipped deliciousness. For a cheaper option, Weleda also offers a range of body lotions targeted at different skin types and concerns, enriched with nourishing ingredients and essential oils. Lush's Dream Cream - a cult classic containing lavender and oat - is also a good bet. So slather on that body butter à la BadGalRiRi and luxuriate in the feeling of soft, supple skin.
Now for the finishing touch. While I would never discourage you from indulging in a G&T (or two), as a gorgeous goddesses in training, a mocktail is perhaps a better bet. One, it doesn't contain any alcohol, meaning we save ourselves from the possibility of a pounding headache the next morning, and two, alcohol is known to dehydrate the skin and deprive it of the moisture it needs to retain a radiant complexion. Not on my watch.
To help, Fever-Tree has provided a recipe for the aptly titled 'Rihanna' mocktail, using - you guessed it - its ginger ale.
The Rihanna
Ingredients
- Grated cucumber
- Freshly squeezed lime
- 6 mint leaves
- Fever-Tree Ginger Ale (as an alternative to Fever-Tree, you could try East Imperial Thai Dry Ginger Ale or Alchemy & Tonic Spiced Ginger Ale for an added kick).
Method
- Muddle cucumber and lime in a glass. Clap your mint leaves together to release the scent, add it to your cucumber and lime and give a gentle press.
- Strain the mixture into a glass and add ice. Top up with Fever-Tree Ginger Ale.
- Garnish with some cucumber slices and enjoy your self-care night, 'bih'.
So cheers - I drink to that.
