Some products show up everywhere: subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we're testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype?

　　What's everyone talking about?

　　Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez, which launched in September of 2020, has caught everyone’s intrigue, from Elle's beauty editors to major beauty gurus like Manny MUA, as one of the hottest celebrity-owned beauty brands of the moment. Gomez’s venture into the world of beauty is gaining hype, not only from hardcore Selenators but also from influencers and beauty editors.

　　What's the buzz about?

　　Celebrity-owned beauty brands are nothing new, but Selena Gomez decided to take her new role as a cosmetics entrepreneur to the next level with her brand, Rare Beauty. Available exclusively at Sephora, Gomez's collection of lush lippies, vibrant eyeshadow palettes and more may be eye-catching, but what truly makes this celeb-backed brand stand out is Gomez's support of mental health awareness through Rare Beauty's Rare Impact Fund​.

　　Created by none other than the Selena GomezSparkling reviews on Glamour, The Zoe Report, Insider, Byrdie, and moreOver 2 million devoted followers on Instagram alone

　　So does it live up to the hype?

　　How'd we come to this conclusion?

　　Celebrity beauty brands have dethroned celebrity fragrances ever since the 2020s kicked off. There are so many celeb brands out there now (See: Rihanna, Halsey, Pharrell), which has flooded the entire beauty market with famous faces. This leaves us wondering: Are any of these celeb-backed brands worth the splurge?

　　Rare BeautyIf we could choose only one celeb beauty brand to stock up on for the rest of our lives, it would be Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez for its impressive roster of formulas that work better than their pricier luxury counterparts. At first glance, it may seem like any average cosmetics brand, stocked up with the usual neutrals and red lippies, liquid blushes, and more, but there's so much more to Rare Beauty than most celeb beauty brands bring to the table.

　　I have a high standard when it comes to cosmetics, so here are the criteria that I thought about while testing out Rare Beauty's Foundation, Concealer, Liquid Liner, and Liquid Blush:

　　Is it easy to apply?How long does each product last without smudging or fading?How does it feel on the skin?

　　Did it cause acne or breakouts?To put it simply, Rare Beauty's amazing products passed my test with flying colors. None of the products that I used ever broke me out and each one lasted for hours on end without needing any touchups. Here are a few highlights of these best-sellers from Selena Gomez's beauty brand:

　　Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

　　Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

　　$27 at WalmartWhen they say weightless, they truly mean weightless when it comes to this impressive foundation. For just under $30, this foundation outperforms any other that I've ever tried — really.

　　Just a few dabs of this liquid foundation does the job to construct a pimple-free canvas, and it creates a smooth look instead of seeping into fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it comes in a whopping 48 shades (and no, they're not all fair-to-beige), and it stays on for hours on end without smudging or fading.

　　I like a foundation that I can't feel on my face since I have sensitive skin that gets very itchy with the wrong products on it. Plus, I only like foundations with a finish that's both matte and dewy, and this pick definitely fits the bill for my needs.

　　I might get dragged for saying this, but I honestly think it’s even better than Fenty Beauty’s foundation since it’s lighter, less matte, and overall easier to wear. Quick call-out: This formula isn’t oil-free, so don’t be alarmed if the foundation starts to separate — a quick shake is all it needs to go back to normal.

　　Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

　　Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

　　This concealer has some truly rave reviews, but it was my least favorite of the bunch. I felt like it didn't stay put on my usually-greasy undereyes, and my mascara kept blending in with the concealer to create a gray cast that accentuated my dark circles. But that doesn't mean that this concealer won't work for you. I just think oilier skin types should opt for a more matte, stick-like formula instead of a liquid concealer.

　　However, when it came to other areas of my face, this concealer definitely did the job. It masked pimples easily, and it was great for brightening other areas of my face like my upper lip. Plus, just like the foundation, this buildable formula also comes in 48 shades to choose from, another major plus.

　　Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner

　　Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner

　　$19 at WalmartI've been wearing a dagger-sharp cat-eye almost every day of my life since I was 11 years old, so it's safe to say that I know everything that there is to know about liquid eyeliner. My usual go-to is the KVD Vegan Beauty Liner, but this one might just replace it for good. First off, it's super light and easy to hold, which gives you more control and precision.

　　Second, its felt tip gives the perfect amount of pigment without overflowing or skipping when you're lining, making the meticulous process of lining your eyes much simpler. And most importantly, it actually stays on without smudging, bleeding, or fading throughout the day.

　　TL;DR: Out of all the products in Rare Beauty's roster, this one is definitely worth the (teeny) investment.

　　Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

　　Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

　　$25 at WalmartIf I could write a whole essay on why everyone needs to buy this blush, I would. It's super blendable, and one to two dabs does just the trick to create the most natural-looking pop of color on your cheeks. I don't know how they did it, but Rare Beauty concocted a liquid blush that won't make you look like a rag doll, and I'm completely hooked on it.

　　Its buildable formula gives you full control over how intense the pigment will be, but that doesn't mean you need a heavy hand with this blush. Just one small dab will give you that rosy pop you're looking for, and it's so light on the skin that you may even forget you're wearing anything at all. The shade Joy is my favorite for its true-peach hue, but there are eight shades and two finishes (matte and radiant) in total for you to choose from.

　　Now, let's chat about Ms. Selena Gomez for a moment: Why would a successful singer/actress want to start dabbling in the world of beauty? Well, according to Gomez, it was much more than just creating another celebrity makeup line — it was a way for the star to start a conversation about mental health awareness, a cause very near and dear to her heart. That's why Rare Beauty launched The Rare Impact Fund​, which promises to raise $100M over the next 10 years to help give people access to mental health services, and 1% of annual Rare Beauty sales will go directly to the Rare Impact Fund.

　　As if it couldn't get any better, here's one final amazing thing about Rare Beauty: Everything is $30 or less.

　　What's the bottom line?

　　When it comes to Selena Gomez's cosmetics collection, I just can't keep my hands to myself (#sorrynotsorry for the pun). Every one of the products that I tried stood up to my personal testing criteria, and the brand's price range and philanthropic ethos just can't be beaten.

　　To put it simply, if I said I didn’t like Rare Beauty I'd be a bad liar (yet again, not sorry).

　　Shop Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez