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Over the past five years, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez and Rhode Skin by Hailey Bieber have rapidly gained popularity, mostly among Gen Z makeup and skin care lovers. These two brands have significantly impacted the beauty industry with their viral blushes, clean skincare, and inclusive branding. Coincidentally, brand-creators Gomez and Bieber have been pitted against each other by the media throughout their careers due to their mutual histories with singer Justin Bieber. Their respective fandoms quickly challenged the other, questioning their talent and character due to the narratives surrounding Bieber. The internet is obsessed with "picking sides" in this classic pop-culture rivalry when it could be more worthwhile to celebrate these two women's success in creating brands that have the potential to work hand in hand. A Rare Beauty-Rhode collaboration might be just what the internet needs to see the true talent and influence behind these women founders.  

 

Celebrity beauty lines have become increasingly popular this decade. Stars including Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, and Ariana Grande have all dabbled in the makeup industry. This has raised questions surrounding the legitimacy of the brands’ successes due to their creators’ careers outside of makeup. However, Rare Beauty and Rhode are celebrity beauty brands that have created a name for themselves outside their A-list founders.

 

Hailey Bieber launched Rhode in 2022, and in less than three years, the brand has skyrocketed to an estimated worth of $1.44 billion. Rhode’s branding initially centered around Bieber’s viral “glazed donut” skincare trend. When she began sharing videos on her YouTube channel in 2021, Hailey explained to viewers that her most important skincare rule is to go to bed “looking like a glazed donut” to ensure ultimate skin hydration. This concept went viral and was a selling point in her creation of Rhode, a brand that emphasizes skin hydration over all other beauty tips. Since then, Bieber’s launched her “Pocket Blush” and recently announced the brand’s upcoming availability at Sephora. Rhode has solidified itself as a leader in minimalist, skin-first brands.

Meanwhile, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty has redefined the makeup industry with a brand value of $2 billion. Specifically, Gomez’s release of her “Soft Pinch Liquid Blushes” has gone viral on social media for its subtle glow that is achieved by applying just a small dot. Many beauty influencers have spoken out about their love for these blushes, which just increased Selena’s success.  Along with its viral blushes, Rare Beauty’s inclusive shade ranges and emphasis on mental health advocacy have changed the game for celebrity makeup brands. Through the Rare Impact Fund and Blog, Gomez raises money and awareness toward mental health advocacy. In 2023, this fund raised 7 million dollars toward providing mental health services and education for young people in 5 different continents. 

Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez's media-driven "rivalry" has been going on for quite some time now. It is well known that Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were the "it couple" of their generation. They dated off and on very publicly from roughly 2009 to 2018. Following their relationship, Justin dated and then married his now-wife, Hailey Bieber. Since then, the two's fandoms have continuously gone back and forth, starting rumors and analyzing the two women's every interaction, pining for any post as a calculated jab at the other. Meanwhile, Gomez and Bieber have clarified that they live separate, happy lives. Hailey Bieber even went on the podcast Call Her Daddy to address allegations surrounding "beef" with Selena and overlap in the two's relationship with Justin. Shortly after, the two women broke the internet when they were photographed hugging each other at the Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles. Despite continuous attempts to clear the air and Selena's recent engagement to Benny Blanco, the fandoms stay obsessed with their "rivalry."

 

Pitting women against each other because of a man is an outdated strategy to diminish successful women. Despite the media’s opinion, these two beauty influencers have more in common than the internet gives them credit for. The two beauty brands have somewhat opposite aesthetics but have the potential to work seamlessly together. Rhodes branding is a minimalist, clean girl aesthetic focusing on clean, hydrating skin care. On the other hand, Rare Beauty's branding aesthetic is more colorful and emphasizes authenticity, the meaning behind the name "Rare.” 

 

A Rare Beauty x Rhode collaboration could be exactly what the internet needs: a powerful statement that shifts the narrative from competition to collaboration. By joining forces, these two founders could show that two women can be equally successful, even if they have histories with the same guy. Instead of choosing sides, maybe it's time to celebrate both.