In a candid revelation, Selena Gomez, the 31-year-old actress and founder of Rare Beauty, opened up about her feelings regarding today’s beauty standards. During the TIME100 Summit, Gomez expressed her concern over the prevalence of “very unrealistic” ideals in the cosmetic industry, particularly emphasizing the pervasive use of airbrushing and filter techniques.
Gomez remarked, “Personally, I felt that there’s a very unrealistic standard when it comes to the cosmetic world and it makes me a little sad for my generation. And for anyone to look at something that’s probably touched up and made to look nice is … I just wanted to break that down.”
Despite being the face behind a renowned beauty brand, Gomez confessed that she lacks expertise in makeup application. Instead, her focus with Rare Beauty is on ensuring that users feel good about themselves while using the products. She explained, “I don’t know how to do makeup and I have a makeup line. I wanted it to feel good when they’re using my products. And all of our products are named based on uplifting things, from our Find Comfort line to anything that comes to mind, body and soul, we try to be very conscious of even naming the products to be reminders of joy or just finding yourself.”
Reflecting on her journey, Gomez, who rose to fame during her teenage years on Disney Channel, emphasized her shift in perspective. Her primary goal with Rare Beauty is to offer products that bring joy to her fans, as she acknowledges the futility of conforming to narrow beauty standards. She stated, “So I genuinely just wanted to make makeup that was fun for people. I don’t believe in having to look a certain way. I spent years trying to do that and it’s draining. Waste of time.”