Rare Beauty’s Unique Impact on the Disability Community
Image Courtesy: People
In September of 2020, Rare Beauty, a makeup brand owned by Selena Gomez, was launched. Nowadays, Rare Beauty boasts a multitude of products, from fragrances, lip oils, foundations, concealers, and what they are most known for, their blushes. When Rare Beauty launched, they took the beauty community by storm, gaining quick traction for their liquid blush applicator’s unique rounded tops. For some, the blush meant pigment and effortless blending. But for disability community, it meant substantially more.
Selena Gomez herself struggles with a chronic condition called Lupus. Lupus impacts all organs of the body, leading to inflammation, nerve and joint pain, fatigue, and many other concerns, such as mental health. Having struggled with Lupus myself since age 9, I grew up with tremors and inflammation in my hands, making learning how to apply makeup in my teens, with limited mobility, very difficult. So, when I learned about Rare Beauty's mission to make makeup more accessible to people like me, I was thrilled. When creating this brand, Gomez was very mindful of how her packaging and products would affect people with disabilities. Especially since she has said that her Lupus also makes her struggle with her hands. Rare Beauty accomplished a more accessible product with their soft sponge applicators that are both in highlighter, contour, and liquid blush. This, in turn, makes blending easy and does not require a lot of strength for people who might struggle with dexterity, from either tremors or weakness in the hands.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
They also made the packaging very easy to open. The small ball found on top of some of the products isn’t just a minor detail but is intended to provide a stable grip to help people with tremors. Their products are intentionally created and promoted to be easier for people with disabilities. Rare Beauty partners with Casa Colina Research Institute for its Made Accessible Initiative as well as the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. Both programs have made massive strides in developing accessible, user-friendly products for people with disabilities. Rare Beauty has also promoted time and time again inclusivity for all, no matter skin color, type, abilities, or skill levels. But one of my personal favorite impacts they have made is on mental health.
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Rare Beauty, since its inception, has donated a percentage of sales to the Rare Impact Fund. This fund supports different organizations’ global efforts to expand access to mental health services. Some of these services include creating school- and campus-based mental health programs, curriculum enhancements, and peer support groups. The brand also strives to reduce mental health stigma by providing resources on its website. They encourage conversations around mental health and its impact.
Personally, since Rare Beauty’s launch, I have been a huge fan. I have always struggled with opening products due to the limited strength and mobility in my fingers and wrists. So, when I was able to open and apply blush without help from anyone for the first time, it truly made me feel seen. I have also always admired their shade range and mental health advocacy, and hope to see more popular brands, influencers, and celebrities bring these types of conversations to light. Having struggled with Lupus myself since age 9, I grew up with tremors and inflammation in my hands, making learning how to apply makeup in my teens with limited mobility very difficult. The statistics speak for themselves, and I’m personally a proud owner and real-life example of how Rare Beauty makes those with disabilities feel seen and able.
Strike Out,
Writer: Leanne Millikan
Editor: Elizabeth Dimiaco
Tallahassee