Selena Gomez Beauty Looks We'll Never Forget
Selena Gomez is a beauty icon and a force to be reckoned with in the makeup world. Her years of inspiring people with classy and glamorous (yet still achievable) looks blossomed into the launch of her Rare Beauty line in 2020, which Bloomberg valued at $2 billion in March 2024. Yes, billion. But Gomez's makeup empire is about more than just cosmetics.
"These products aren't about being someone else, it's about being who you are, whether that's rocking a full face of bold makeup or barely any makeup at all," Gomez said of the collection (via World Branding Forum). "Makeup is something to enjoy, it's not something you need. I want every person to feel beautiful exactly as they are," she added. And Gomez has promoted that mantra herself multiples times.
With a little help from her glam team, Gomez has repeatedly proven how makeup represents how she feels on the inside, from neutral shades to bold, vibrant colors. And that experimentation has resulted in some beauty looks we'll never forget, because we have a total "Fetish" for Gomez's makeup style.
Selena Gomez's 2019 AMA hair and makeup was très chic
In 2019, Selena Gomez stepped out for the American Music Awards with a chic, middle-part bob and even chicer makeup. Her voluminous locks flattered her round face shape while her skin was flaw-free thanks to her soft matte foundation. The beauty rocked cool brown eyeshadow elongated past her outer eye to make her peepers appear larger. She kept things simple with a muted coral lipstick, which was classy, elegant, and complimentary to her skin tone.
The toned-down style was perfect for her dress too. The "Only Murders In The Building" actor sported a bright lime green strapless dress that required more neutral makeup to avoid clashing or looking overdone.
Her fierce red lip had an important meaning
We love seeing Selena Gomez experiment with makeup for an important cause. In 2023, she shared a series of Instagram selfies rocking bold, red lipstick (a favorite of her bestie, Taylor Swift) alongside a dramatic cat eye and fluttery lashes. Her fluffy brows framed her face in a gorgeous way, and she slicked her hair back to let her incredibly precise makeup have its moment. Fans loved it too, with one follower writing, "Real beauty."
"A red lip is an instant confidence boost for me, and I wanted to share that empowering feeling with you," Gomez wrote in her caption. She also noted that sales of Rare Beauty's Kind Words Matte Lipstick in red would be donated to her Rare Impact Fund, "to increase access to mental health services," which made us love her even more.
She made a case for hot pink eyeshadow at the Met Gala
Hot pink eyeshadow may not be the most popular pick or the easiest to pull off, but Selena Gomez made a serious case for it at the 2017 Met Gala. Gomez's makeup artist opted for elongated shadow going out to the edge of her brows for an avant garde aesthetic. Because the shade was so dramatic, Gomez and her glam squad kept the lipstick more neutral, opting for a classic pink that's flattering on a wide range of skin tones and looked stunning next to her shiny, brunette locks.
This style was all about glow, so she wore a satin finish lipstick and a hint of pink blush for a healthy appearance that didn't compete with the eye-catching eyeshadow. Her foundation was dewy, which stopped her skin looking too flat amid a lack of shimmer.
Her monotone makeup was flattering and easy to replicate
For the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, Selena Gomez hopped on the monochromatic makeup trend. The "Love You Like A Love Song" hitmaker's mix of warm and cool brown eyeshadows brought warmth to her skin, and the concentration of shadow in the socket made her eyes stand out. She also nailed her eyebrows (the hardest part of any makeup routine) by creating fluffy, natural looking brows that weren't distracting.
She paired a warm, brown lip liner with a neutral, matte lipstick that made her lips appear full in a natural way. Gomez also ditched gloss, which gave her a more grown-up vibe (in a good way). She added a little bronzer with a light touch for extra warmth, but used a light hand to make her contour and bronzer glowy, not muddy or heavy.
Selena Gomez's bold and bright look was a sight to behold
Selena Gomez showed us how to create an unexpected beauty aesthetic in 2021 when she posted an Instagram photo in bold, neon makeup that marked a departure from her usually more neutral cosmetics. Her fluorescent coral eyeshadow was well-blended with a deeper purple shade on the outer corner of her eyes for breathtaking dimension.
Gomez paired the neon eyeshadow with neutral lipstick and a thin line of brown lip liner with a shiny (not glittery, which could have been too much) lip gloss. We couldn't stop staring at her flawless skin either, as Gomez used flattering brown blush expertly blended with her bronzer for a tan, healthy finish. "Loving the makeup," one person commented. "You are absolutely beautiful inside and out!!!!!" another wrote with a red heart emoji. She sure is.