EXCLUSIVE: RIHANNA WAS PERMANENTLY SCARRED BY THE CHRIS BROWN BEATING . . . ON HER FACE!!! (CLOSE UP PICS)

Rihanna was always a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. But thanks to ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, she has a small imperfection on her face.

got its hands on some NEW photos of Rihanna. And they show Rihanna has a permanent scar on her lip . . . right where Chris Brown PUNCHED HER.

Kinda makes it HARD for us to forget what Breezy did . . . when we SEE IT ON RIHANNA'S FACE every time we look at her.