Mel Medarda in 'Arcane'
(Riot Games/Netflix)

Is there a Fenty Beauty ‘Arcane’ collab?

Why is nobody talking about Arcane x Fenty Beauty’s recent makeup collaboration? Whoever is promoting this team-up isn’t doing Arcane or Fenty Beauty justice. 

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Wait, there are Arcane-inspired Fenty Beauty products?

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty linked up with Riot Games in 2021. The partnership began right before the debut of Arcane’s first season. Since then, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) beauty enthusiasts have searched everywhere for the elusive makeup collection. Arcane x Fenty Beauty consists of four gloss bombs and a diamond bomb highlighter. Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, and Mel grace the packaging of these items.

It’s unclear if the collection will be released internationally. The photos were taken in a Sephora in Jiangxi, China. Additionally, the viral photos of the collection came from Xiaohongshu (China’s Instagram), which explains why you can’t find this makeup set in your local Sephora. It’s also unclear if the photos showcase the complete makeup set by Arcane and Fenty Beauty, or if there are other products that haven’t been released yet.

Criticized before launch

Neither Fenty Beauty nor Riot Games officially announced the collaboration, but social media users are already split about the products. Many on X love that Arcane’s female characters are featured on the packaging. Imagine how satisfying it would be to tell people you’re wearing Vi or Jinx’s lip shade.

And yet, as is the nature of the internet, the collection has also garnered criticism. Redditors, for instance, believe the collection should have been more in tune with what the characters would use themselves, like eyeshadow and eyeliner instead of lip gloss.

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Perhaps, if given more time, Fenty Beauty could have come up with items that Mel or even Jinx would identify with. Mel is known for the gorgeous golden specks on her face. Fans would probably break the bank if Fenty Beauty came out with a golden eyeliner or highlighter inspired by Mel’s visage.

The packaging’s art is beautiful, but nothing has been done to mimic Arcane’s aesthetic with the bottles or palettes. Simply put, the packaging is disposable, and without those boxes, nobody would know that these are Arcane-inspired collaboration items.


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Vanessa Esguerra
Vanessa Esguerra (She/They) has been a Contributing Writer for The Mary Sue since 2023. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy, she (happily) rejected law school in 2021 and has been a full-time content writer since. Vanessa is currently taking her Master's degree in Japanese Studies in hopes of deepening her understanding of the country's media culture in relation to pop culture, women, and queer people like herself. She speaks three languages but still manages to get lost in the subways of Tokyo with her clunky Japanese. Fueled by iced coffee brewed from local cafés in Metro Manila, she also regularly covers anime and video games while queuing for her next match in League of Legends.