I’ll be honest, when I first heard about the launch of Rare Beauty into the UK, I was hesitant to jump on the hype train. When celebrity beauty brands are launching at the rate of approximately 14930 a year, it can be difficult to get excited for each and every one.
In spite of this, not long after its launch, recommendations for Rare Beauty products came flooding in from friends, colleagues and across my Tiktok FYP. I tentatively started trying out a few products from the brand, starting with its viral Soft Pinch Liquid Blush and Liquid Eyeliner. If you’re already a fan of the brand, it probably won’t shock you to hear that it didn’t take long for Rare Beauty products to become my top-drawer makeup staples.
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The thing is, it can be easy for a celebrity to just attach their name to a beauty brand without putting much thought into it. This clearly isn’t the case with Rare Beauty, which feels very much like an extension of Selena Gomez’s own authentic approach to beauty. The products have been thoughtfully curated in beautiful packaging, yes, but more than that, they look to enhance and celebrate our individual beauty, rather than masking it.
In the end, I found it pretty difficult to narrow it down to my six favourite products, but after quite a bit of deliberation, these are my top Rare Beauty makeup picks that I really recommend trying from the brand.
The best Rare Beauty makeup products
I tried out products from across the range and these are the ones that came out on top…
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, £25
A Tiktok fave, I can safely say this liquid blush is like no other that I’ve tried. The amount of pigment this blusher packs is astounding; when you apply it you only need the tiniest dot, which will seamlessly blend out into a natural, healthy flush.
Currently, you can get your hands on 11 shades with two different finishes, dewy and matte, so there’s something for everyone. The doe-foot applicator is a welcome addition too, as it allows you to be precise with your placement and avoid depositing too much product.
At £25, it might be a pricier blusher buy, but it is one that’s absolutely worth the investment.
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner, £14
I’m super picky when it comes to my lip liners, but this has become one of the top three I have on rotation. It features a soft, almost gel-textured pencil which I find preferable, especially for perpetually dry lips. Although it has a matte finish, the formula glides on smoothly and doesn’t tug or skip, before drying down and staying put.
The colour payoff is intense too, with a range of 10 nude shades that deliver immediate colour. I’ll often just wear mine alone, but it also makes a reliable base for lipsticks and prevents them from bleeding beyond your lip line.
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm, £22
Lip balms are possibly one of my favourite things in the world to hoard. Add the word gloss to that and you’ve got my undivided attention. Hydrating and plumping with a glass-like shine, this lip balm is the equivalent of achieving doughnut skin for your lips. The tints are soft and muted, giving a your-lips-but-better effect with a quick swipe.
The finish is similar to my other favourite lip product, The Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, but for £12 less. If you’re looking for an everyday lip product to elevate your look and give you that ‘polished’ aesthetic, this is the one.
Rare Beauty Silky Touch Highlighter, £24
One of Rare Beauty’s newest launches, the Silky Touch Highlighter was another immediate hit on Tiktok. When it comes to highlighters I’m super picky (I was raised on Becca Champagne Pop after all), so one really had to perform to make it into my good books.
To me, this is a very unique highlighter formulation. It’s a silky powder but the finish and luminosity of the highlighter would make you think it’s a liquid. Where I’ll normally have to use my finger with a powder highlighter to get the intensity I want, a light dusting of a powder brush in this powder delivers the most insane pigment.
The finish is a mix of wet-look with some very fine shimmer, which I think is more obvious in the lighter shades than the more golden hues. It’s a highlight that will definitely get you compliments and might just momentarily blind passersby.
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, £29
When it comes to foundations, lightweight formulations are non-negotiable for me. While this used to mean that I was limited to skin tints and BB creams, more high-coverage foundations with barely-there textures are now entering the arena.
This one from Rare Beauty has become one of my go-to’s if I’ve got an event or a night out where a little more coverage is wanted; I love the serum-like feel which blends seamlessly for a second-skin finish.
The weightless formula makes it a great option for both dry and oily skin types as it won’t settle in dry lines or clog pores. It’s also ideal for that office-to-evening touch-up thanks to the no-mess doe foot applicator, so that’s one less excuse for not making it to the office after work drinks.
Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Eyeliner, £20
Whether you’re an eyeliner pro or still trying to get to grips with a wing, this liquid liner is worth a try. Rather than a felt tip which the majority of liquid liner pens feature, this applicator is made up of 8000 super fine bristles for an ultra-precise brush tip that doesn’t feather or get worn at the end.
I’ve tried probably hundreds of liquid eyeliners at this point and this one seriously impressed me. It doesn’t skip, drag or require you to press down hard to release pigment; just give it a shake and get drawing. The matte finish is just that too; it doesn’t bleed or smudge throughout the day, so whether you’re battling against watery eyes or oily eyelids, these wings will stay sharp.
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