Rare Beauty is Selena Gomez’s cosmetics brand, and Rare Beauty Blush is one of the brand’s most popular products. Rare Beauty claims this product “blends and builds beautifully for a soft, healthy flush.”
But does Rare Beauty Blush contain research-backed ingredients for improving skin quality? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? What was our Product Tester's experience trying it for a month? And is Rare Beauty Blush healthier or less healthy than popular blush brands like Laura Geller?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Rare Beauty Blush based to give our take on whether or not it's likely to improve skin appearance, and whether or not it's healthy.
We’ll also feature our Product Tester's honest experience with Rare Beauty Blush, and compare the brand to other popular blush brands in terms of healthiness to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Contains ingredients shown to improve skin quality
- Contains synthetic dyes which may be unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend Rare Beauty Blush
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in the Joy, Happy, Lucky and Grateful shades of Rare Beauty Blush are shown below:
This product does contain some research-backed ingredients for improving skin health and appearance.
Nelumbo nucifera (sacred lotus) flower extract was described as having an anti-aging effect in a 2015 medical review. The study authors stated the following about this botanical ingredient:
“has beneficial effect to reduce symptoms like loss of elasticity, acne, pores, wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes, and so forth…It promotes younger looking skin”
Sunflower seed oil is a naturally hydrating ingredient, as we discussed in our review of City Lips, another cosmetic product containing sunflower seed oil.
Illicium verum (anise) fruit extract was shown to have an antimicrobial effect in a 2021 clinical trial, which suggests that it may be effective against acne, though it’s too early to say so conclusively.
While this blush contains some research-backed ingredients, it also contains some additive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.
Red 28 is an artificial dye that was shown to be toxic in an animal study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
Red 7 and Yellow 6 are also artificial dyes, and a 2015 medical review found that artificial dye can absorb through the skin and may be harmful to human health.
Overall, we consider Rare Beauty Blush somewhat likely to improve skin quality and appearance, but we don’t currently recommend it due to the use of synthetic dye.
We Tested Rare Beauty Blush
One of our Product Testers named Jodie Steinberg tried the Hope shade of Rare Beauty Blush. Here's her experience:
The blush came in a beautiful fabric bag I can re-use, which was surprising and very nice. It gave the blush a luxury experience:
The packaging is beautiful and easy to open with a doe foot applicator. The blush can sit on your vanity and stand upright. It twists open and has a lovely gold top.
The scent was fine and muted. I did not notice anything offensive.
I placed two to three dots of blush on my cheeks and it blended easily with a blush brush, and it gave a very nice flushed look to my cheeks. I did not feel like I was wearing anything on my face:
I also don’t like blushes with too much pigment, and this blush is perfect because it is buildable. There was no patchiness, and it lasted longer than many other blushes I have tried. The color looked very natural and flattering.
I think this blush is beautiful and works better than many powder blushes I have tried and better than most liquid blushes.
I did not experience any side effects.
Overall, I would rate Rare Beauty Blush 10/10, and I plan to purchase it in the future.
Rare Beauty Blush vs. Popular Blushes
Here's how Rare Beauty Blush compares to other popular blush brands in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
NARS Cosmetics
Beyond synthetic dyes, this brand's blush contains two synthetic preservatives which are clinically shown to have negative synergistic effects when used in combination.
Rare Beauty Blush is free from potentially toxic, synthetic preservatives.
Winner: Rare Beauty Blush
Laura Geller
The brand's popular Baked Blush-n-Brighten contains five inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy, including synthetic dyes and BHT, as we documented in our Laura Geller makeup reviews article.
This is more than exist in Rare Beauty Blush, and a less healthy formulation overall.
Winner: Rare Beauty Blush
Charlotte Tilbury
Very similar blush formulation to Rare Beauty Blush, but contains one synthetic preservative we consider unhealthy.
Rare Beauty Blush gets the (slight) edge from a health perspective.
Winner: Rare Beauty Blush
Rare Beauty Blush Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Highly positive online customer reviews
- Contains an anti-aging ingredient
- Contains a natural skin hydrating ingredient
- Free of synthetic preservatives
- Fragrance-free
- Aesthetic packaging
Cons:
- Contains synthetic dye
- Expensive when considering serving size
- Doesn’t appear clinically tested
