I’m a fan of this brand, so I just had to pick up a lipstick to represent it in my collection!
Naturally, I came to Rare Beauty for their blush but I stayed for the whole brand experience. (I have their blushes in Grace, a matte “bright rose mauve” and Hope, a dewy “nude mauve”, and it’s a task to stop there!)
What is it about this brand in particular? Well, I’ve been quite taken by reading up on Selena Gomez and sampling her music, but what I love is the messaging in her brand. I’m a big proponent of mental health and embracing our inner star – the unique magic that makes you you. After all, you are rare, and to be vulnerable is to bravely let that inner star shine, honouring your beautiful self and inviting those around you to do the same. I also love how the shade names serve as mini affirmations for the day. You are rare, you are worthy. And don’t you forget it!
“Rare Beauty is breaking down unrealistic standards of perfection.” This is what we need, folks. I think it’s a hard thing for a beauty brand to advocate, but it’s also necessary. A beauty brand needs to sell beauty, and naturally the eye of the consumer is drawn to full beats, filters and fillers. On the other hand, the celebration of individuality and the messaging to embrace our unique selves – I can totally get behind it.
If you’re wondering, where does the perfectionism end and the celebration begin when it comes to makeup? I wrote a post capturing my thoughts on the light and dark side of makeup, and how to tell if you have a healthy relationship with makeup (or how to cultivate one).
I absolutely picked up the lip liner as well, by the way. The lip liner is so creamy it could practically pass as the lipstick itself! I was nearly unconvinced that I actually needed it, but I do love the extra help in getting a nice neat line, so I use it every time I wear the lipstick for that purpose. I only recently got into lip liners, so I haven’t taken to reviewing them yet. On to the lipstick!
Cost
CA$30 or $7.71/g
Actually a bit less expensive than a classic MAC Matte Lipstick which comes in at CA$30 or $10/g.
Update: My cost reporting here was always intended to be figurative (for comparison purposes), but I just realized that it’s even less accurate than I thought! Some retailers wrap different costs into the list price of their products, which makes product pricing quite different. There’s also foreign exchange and inflation to think about. When I first started writing reviews (weeks ago), MAC Matte Lipsticks were $29 on Sephora, now $30.
Sephora has Kind Words Matte Lipsticks at $27 for 3.5g, but the Rare Beauty website has them on for $30.
Finish and colour payoff
She delivers one-swipe matte colour, folks! I would say the finish is a true traditional matte.
Formula description
Described as “A buttery, pigment-rich, soft matte lipstick that hugs the lips in pure comfort all day.” Okay, this is a lovely description and I think it delivers, for the most part!
Is it a buttery formula, though? I’m not sure – I think it’s hard to get “buttery” and “soft matte” into the same formula, and it certainly is a “soft matte”. Being as matte as it is, I find it’s a touch grippy on application which helps it “hug the lips”. The formula feels lightweight, keeping it pretty comfortable! However, by the end of the day, I do feel fairly dry. I always have dry lips though, so I can’t necessarily fault the lipstick. I feel like my dryness level at day’s end is similar to, or slightly dryer than after having used a Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick all day.
Pigment-wise, it’s designed to be “one-swipe”, and I definitely agree – it lays down a lovely wash of matte colour immediately.
As Selena Gomez reported, she wanted to “create a classic lipstick that’s truly comfortable, easy and wearable and perfect for every day.” Success!
Shade description
Bottom: Three Swipes
Worthy is described as a “muted mauve”. It’s no secret that I love mauves, but when I think mauve I usually think a muted purple. To me (and on me), this shade reads more of a warm beige.
Interestingly, the blush I mentioned at the top of the post (Hope, a “nude mauve”), also doesn’t read traditionally mauve to me either! It comes off as more of a peachy-nude-pink. That’s until you see it against other blush swatches (such as right beside Bliss) – then the mauve starts to show through.
That’s all to say it could be a mix of colour theory on my skin tone, context, and my untrained eye when it comes to colour. All that said, I do really enjoy the shade on me!
Fragrance
It’s a bit perfumey, maybe floral? It’s not overpowering through, I’d say lightly fragranced, and lingers only a short while. Definitely tolerable in my view.
Wear
Rare Beauty claims that this lipstick “Lasts and lasts without budging while keeping lips soft, nourished and moisturized all day. Never drying or cakey.”
I might be a tough customer here because my lips are dry on the best of days – shame on me for preferring matte lipsticks! But I do find this lipstick lasts quite a while, including through eating and drinking, and fades fairly evenly.
Now compared to most lipsticks on the market, Rare Beauty’s claims are solid, but my go-to mattes are Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolutions which feel a bit smoother on application and accentuate dryness a bit less. If I’m being fair though, the Rare Beauty lipstick has a more “matte” finish than Matte Revolutions do, so it’s no surprise that the Rare Beauty formula feels grippier.
I like to reapply a fair amount during the day. I try not to layer the product on top of itself too much (with a matte that juts spells disaster), but layering does inevitably happen, and when it does I find that this lipstick does start to build up and look a hint cakey on my dryer canvas. It starts to accentuate my lines and dryness more than my Matte Revolutions do, and possibly even a hint more than a MAC Matte Lipstick does. I think that’s the trade-off for a matte finish.
UPDATE one year later: I love this lipstick, and it’s currently my go-to for a soft, lightweight matte that I don’t have to worry about, thanks to the longevity and even fading. The key for me has been to avoid reapplying, which causes the formula to cake up in an unappealing way. One light layer in the morning, and I don’t even think about it until after lunch, and even then only a very light touch-up is needed. I’ll also add that the transfer of this lipstick compared to some of my other mattes is very minimal.
Packaging
This has pretty neat packaging! The lipsticks (as well as Rare Beauty lip glosses) have a flat side so that they aren’t rolling around on whatever surface you put it down on; I love that. I also love the minimalist vibe the packaging colour palette gives off.
This is the first time I’ve encountered such a closure. It’s not magnetic, but there’s some sort of a spring in there, so you push the bottom into the cap and it springs out enough that you can gracefully pull it out without tugging at it and push it back in, making for a lovey smooth experience. These are really wonderful for those who have trouble pulling apart a traditional, round, slippery bullet lipstick.
Similar from my collection
I don’t have an exact colour or fomula dupe. Shade-wise, she pulls a bit more tan than my other similar colours and I feel like she’s playing well with my fair olive skintone! Formula-wise she reminds me of a MAC Matte Lipstick, but thinner and more lightweight.
MAC – Matte Lipstick – Velvet Teddy: I’ve really been digging these nude-y beige-y colours lately, so I feel like I’m within the same colour family over and over! Not a dupe, but Velvet Teddy is certainly from the same colour family, so keep that in mind if you already own it.
Charlotte Tilbury – Matte Revolution – Very Victoria: of course the shade is more taupe than Worthy, but the matte formula is also more dimensional – Very Victoria is certainly a matte, but when compared to the traditional matte formula of Rare Beauty, I feel like the Matte Revolution leans closer to the satin side of matte.
KVD Beauty – Everlasting Liquid Lipstick – Ludwig: Worthy reminded me of Ludwig, but of course this is a liquid lipstick, so similar colour family but different formula. As for the shade itself, Worthy reads a bit more peachy whereas Ludwig reads more taupe.
Final thoughts
In addition to being a little affirmation, I love how the shade names are designed as though you’ve written it on a space that looks like it should be for a product number. You’re not just a number, you’re Worthy, and you know who gets to decide so? YOU do – you script your own path, and you define yourself!
Overall a great lipstick, and especially given the shade is unique in my collection, I’ll be pulling her into my usual rotation! I don’t think I’d be jumping up and down to grab another shade because there are other matte formulas I prefer, but the branding certainly makes me take a second look.
What brand do you love just because of the brand itself (or celebrity behind it)? Do you have a favourite matte formula? I’d love to know!
