Rare Beauty first joined the makeup scene in 2020, and I’ll be honest: with so many celebrity beauty brands constantly popping up, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Would Rare Beauty actually be good, or would it be another brand built mostly around a famous name?
Well, several years later, I think we have our answer.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez has become one of the most successful and recognizable beauty brands on the market, and more importantly, many of its products have actually earned their hype. Several Rare Beauty products have become permanent parts of my makeup routine, and some of the products I first recommended back in 2023 are still among my favorites today.
Another reason I have always appreciated the brand is its commitment to mental health. Rare Beauty supports the Rare Impact Fund, with 1% of the brand’s annual sales going toward expanding access to mental health resources and services.
When I originally put together my list of the best Rare Beauty products in 2023, I had no idea which products would still be worth recommending three years later. Since then, Rare Beauty has released plenty of new makeup, the beauty industry has gotten even more competitive, and some of the products on my original list have changed or expanded.
So, I went back through my favorites.
Some have become even more popular. Others are no longer the newest or most talked-about products in the Rare Beauty lineup, but I still think they deserve more attention.
All product recommendations are independently selected based on my personal experience, testing, and honest opinions. If I include affiliate links, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links, at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support my blog, but they never influence which products I recommend or the opinions I share.
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Of all the Rare Beauty products I originally recommended, Soft Pinch Liquid Blush has probably aged the best.
Liquid blush was becoming more popular when I first wrote about this product, but Rare Beauty helped turn it into one of the biggest makeup categories of the last several years. Even with the number of liquid blushes available today, Soft Pinch is still the product almost every new launch gets compared to.
And honestly, I understand why.
The formula is extremely pigmented, but what I love is that you still have control over how intense you want it to look. One small dot can give your cheeks a natural flush, while adding more can create a much bolder look.
The trick is to start small. Seriously, one dot is usually enough!
The formula blends easily and gives you enough time to work with it before it sets. Depending on the shade, you can choose between a dewy or matte finish, and I have always loved how long the color lasts on my skin.
My personal favorite is still Joy, a beautiful dewy peach shade that gives my cheeks the prettiest warm flush.
What is especially impressive is that the beauty industry still agrees with the hype. Years after its launch, Soft Pinch continues to appear in top blush roundups from major beauty publications, including Allure, Vogue, InStyle, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and Harper’s Bazaar.
That says a lot.
Many viral makeup products disappear as soon as the next trend arrives, but Soft Pinch has become one of those rare products that actually helped change the category.
Best For: Anyone who wants a long-lasting, highly pigmented liquid blush that can be worn naturally or built up for more color.
Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner
Liquid eyeliner and I have never been friends. I would say we’ve always been more like enemies.
Then I found the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner.
I still remember how surprised I was the first time I used it because liquid eyeliner suddenly felt less intimidating. Before this product, I never thought I could create a decent cat eye without wiping it off and starting over at least a few times.
The brush tip is what makes the biggest difference for me.
Rare Beauty designed the liner with a fine, flexible brush that makes it much easier to control the thickness of the line. The original version was known for its brush made with more than 1,000 bristles, but Rare Beauty has since updated the product. The current version features a revamped tip made with up to 800 vegan bristles.
Either way, the thing that matters most is that it is still incredibly easy to control.
You can use light pressure for a thin, precise line or add more pressure for something thicker and more dramatic. The waterproof formula gives you a deep matte-black finish, and once I get the line where I want it, I don’t have to spend the rest of the day worrying about it fading or flaking away.
I also appreciate that the current formula is ophthalmologist tested and designed to work for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
There are plenty of great liquid liners available today, but this is still the one I recommend to people who tell me they are afraid of liquid eyeliner.
Trust me. I understand the fear!
Best For: Beginners or anyone who struggles with liquid eyeliner and wants more control when creating thin lines or a wing.
Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter
It should come as no surprise that the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter is still on my list.
I first purchased this during a Sephora sale, and it quickly became one of those products I couldn’t stop using. At the time, several shades were constantly selling out, and the product has continued to build a strong following since then. In fact, It has also earned a spot on my list of the best makeup products I actually use and recommend.
What makes this highlighter stand out is the finish.
I have never been a huge fan of highlighters that make my face look overly glittery or metallic. I want glow, but I still want my skin to look like skin.
This highlighter gives me exactly that.
The powder has an incredibly smooth texture that melts into the skin and creates a beautiful glass-like sheen. It can look soft and natural when applied lightly, but it is also easy to build when you want more intensity.
Since I originally reviewed it, Rare Beauty has also expanded the shade range. The current lineup includes six shades, giving more people the opportunity to find one that works with their skin tone.
Beauty editors still seem to love this one too. The highlighter has continued to appear in Rare Beauty favorites lists and has even received recognition from Glamour’s Beauty Awards.
For me, though, the biggest compliment is much simpler: years later, I still reach for it.
And yes, I still think this would be beautiful for a bride.
Best For: Anyone who wants a smooth powder highlighter with a glass-like glow that looks luminous without being overly glittery.
Brow Harmony Precision Eyebrow Pencil
The Brow Harmony Precision Pencil quickly became one of my favorite brow products when it was first released, and it has managed to keep its spot in my makeup bag. And fun fact, It is also one of the best eyebrow products I recommend for natural-looking brows!
That is saying a lot because doing my brows is probably my least favorite part of my makeup routine.
I do not want to spend forever trying to make both brows look perfectly even. I need a brow pencil that is quick, easy to control, and natural-looking.
This one checks those boxes for me.
The fine angled tip makes it easy to fill in sparse areas with small, hair-like strokes. I also love that the formula is buildable, so I can add definition without feeling like one wrong move is going to leave me with a giant block of color across my forehead.
There is also a spoolie on the opposite end, which makes it easy to brush everything through and soften any areas that look a little too heavy.
The formula is waterproof, long-lasting, and still available in six shades.
While newer Rare Beauty brow products, especially the Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting Gel, have gotten more attention in recent years, I do not think that makes this pencil any less deserving of a spot on the list.
In fact, I think this is one of Rare Beauty’s more underrated products.
It may not have the same viral status as the liquid blush, but for someone like me who wants natural-looking brows without spending too much time on them, it is still one of the easiest pencils I have used.
Best For: Anyone who wants quick, natural-looking brow definition with small, hair-like strokes.
Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick
I have never understood why wearing a matte lip has to feel like a punishment.
You know the feeling. Your lips are dry, everything feels tight, and after a few hours, you cannot wait to take it off.
The Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Lip Cream is the complete opposite.
The formula has an airy, whipped texture that feels extremely lightweight on the lips. It gives you a velvety matte finish and a soft blurring effect without creating that hard, dry feeling that I usually associate with traditional liquid lipstick.
What I love most is how comfortable it is.
It feels soft on the lips, and because the formula does not completely dry down into a stiff layer, it is much easier for me to wear throughout the day.
The color can also be applied lightly for a softer, blurred look or built up when you want something bolder.
Since I first wrote about Lip Soufflé, the shade range has expanded to include even more options. But honestly, the biggest reason it still deserves a place on this list has nothing to do with the number of shades.
It is simply one of the more comfortable matte lip formulas I have tried.
Beauty editors have made similar observations over the years, often praising the formula for its velvety texture and softer feel compared with more traditional liquid lipsticks.
If you love the look of matte lipstick but hate the dry feeling that sometimes comes with it, this one is absolutely worth trying.
Best For: Anyone who loves a soft matte lip but does not want the dry, tight feeling of a traditional liquid lipstick.
Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight
When I originally reviewed the Positive Light Liquid Luminizer, I described it as the best liquid highlighter on the market.
Do I still love it? Absolutely.
But after using it longer and seeing how different people wear it, I think there is one thing I would explain differently today.
This highlighter is not always subtle.
It can be subtle, but it can also become very intense depending on the shade, the amount you apply, and how you use it.
For an everyday glow, I like to use one or two small dots and blend them into the high points of my face. Used that way, the formula gives me a beautiful luminous finish without looking like I covered my face in glitter.
But you can absolutely build it up.
Some shades create a much more dramatic, glassy effect, which explains why beauty editors have had slightly different opinions about this product over the years. Some describe it as a beautiful, subtle glow, while others consider it a much more intense highlighter.
Honestly, I think both are right.
The formula is incredibly versatile.
It blends easily, gives you enough time to work with it, and can be worn alone, over makeup, or even mixed with other products for more radiance. Rare Beauty has also expanded the shade range since I first wrote about it.
My advice is simple: start with less than you think you need.
You can always add more.
Best For: Anyone who wants a versatile liquid highlighter that can create anything from a soft everyday glow to a more dramatic glass-skin effect.
Always an Optimist Illuminating Primer
The Always an Optimist Illuminating Primer is one of those products I think you will either immediately understand or realize is not what your skin needs.
I am someone who loves a hydrated, healthy-looking glow, so this primer has always made sense for me.
The formula is a cooling, water-based gel that smooths, hydrates, and adds radiance before makeup. It also contains ultra-fine pearls that give the skin a luminous finish without making it look like you applied a layer of glitter.
What I have always appreciated most is how well it works under makeup.
I have yet to find a foundation or concealer in my routine that does not sit nicely over it. Instead of making my base look heavy, it helps my skin look fresher and more awake.
I especially recommend this one for normal and dry skin types or anyone who loves a radiant finish.
That does not necessarily mean someone with oily skin cannot use it, but I would be more careful. If you are already trying to control shine throughout the day, a pore-blurring or shine-controlling primer may make more sense for you.
This is another product that beauty editors continue to praise for its lightweight hydration and pearlescent glow.
And one thing I loved in 2023 is still true today: Rare Beauty offers a mini size, which makes it much easier to try before committing to the full-size bottle.
Best For: Normal to dry skin types and anyone who wants a hydrated, luminous base underneath makeup.
Which Rare Beauty Product Should You Try First?
After going back through my original list, I think the answer depends on what you are looking for.
But if you have never tried anything from Rare Beauty before, I would start with the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush.
It is the product that best represents what Rare Beauty does well: strong pigment, lightweight formulas, easy blending, and the ability to customize the final look.
It is also the one product from my original 2023 list that has become even more impressive with time.
For a beautiful glow, I would choose the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter. If liquid eyeliner scares you, start with the Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner. And for natural-looking brows without spending forever in front of the mirror, the Brow Harmony Precision Pencil is still my personal favorite.
Are Rare Beauty Products Worth It?
Overall, yes, I think many Rare Beauty products are worth the money.
That does not mean every product the brand releases will work for every person. No makeup brand is perfect, and your skin type, makeup style, and personal preferences still matter.
What impresses me most is how many products from my original 2023 list are still relevant today.
The Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is no longer just a viral product. It has become one of the products that helped define the modern liquid blush category. Both Positive Light highlighters continue to compete in a much more crowded market, and products like the Brow Harmony Precision Pencil and Lip Soufflé remain reliable favorites even if newer Rare Beauty launches get more attention.
That is what makes a makeup product worth recommending to me.
It does not have to be the newest thing on TikTok or the product everyone is talking about this month. It just needs to work.
Final Thoughts on the Best Rare Beauty Products
When I first wrote this article in 2023, Rare Beauty had already become one of my favorite makeup brands.
Three years later, I think the brand has proven that it is much more than another celebrity beauty line.
Rare Beauty has continued to release new products and expand into new categories, but what I find most impressive is how many of the products I loved years ago are still worth recommending today.
My favorite overall is still the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, but the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter, Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner, and Brow Harmony Precision Pencil are all products I continue to recommend for completely different reasons.
And I know Rare Beauty is nowhere near finished.
I cannot wait to see what Selena Gomez and the Rare Beauty team release next.
Now I want to hear from you: What is your favorite Rare Beauty product, and is there one you think deserves to be on this list?