Rare beauty

Launched in 2020 by popular singer and actress Selena Gomez, Rare Beauty has become a major contender in the cosmetics industry and has gained massive popularity on social media platforms, such as TikTok. “Being rare is about being comfortable with yourself,” Gomez said on their website. Their mission is to break down the unrealistic standards of beauty and perfection and help everyone celebrate their individuality. Rare Beauty also donates 1% of all sales to the Rare Impact fund, which is dedicated to supporting mental health globally, and raising money for youth mental health services and education.

Innovative and unique formulas are arguably the biggest asset of Rare Beauty. This has made several of their products–most notably the liquid blush–gain huge popularity among consumers, with rave reviews about the pigmentation, durability and blendability. Buyers have also emphasized the smooth texture that allows for seamless layering between skincare and makeup products. Furthermore, Rare Beauty is a vegan and cruelty-free brand. They are known for using clean ingredients as they follow the cosmetic standards of the European Union, which is relatively stricter than the cosmetic regulations of the United States.

A notable disadvantage of this brand is the limited product range. Consumers have pointed out that although  Rare Beauty has created more products since their launch, they can still have more variety in their products and shades. Additionally, there has been controversy over political matters with the CEO, Scott Friedman, and his alleged pro-Israel sentiments, leading to some customers choosing to boycott the brand.

Laneige 

Laneige is a Korean cosmetic brand most known for its deeply hydrating products. It was launched in 1994 and since then has gained massive popularity worldwide. Their mission is to make skincare easier and more accessible by producing multi-use products. The brand is also known for its Beauty & Life lab, which is committed to developing innovative products based on studies of global customer lifestyle, trend research and multi-ethnicity clinic tests.

Arguably, the biggest selling point for Laneige is the intensive hydrating qualities of its products. From the Water Bank moisturizer cream to the lip sleeping mask, consumers have reviewed the brand’s products to leave skin feeling smooth and refreshed. It is also known to last longer than other skincare products. Laneige is also committed to sustainability and has achieved Water Footprint Certification for all its products after saving 7,757,498 liters of water in 2021.

However, Laneige is not a clean beauty brand, meaning some products may include certain harmful ingredients such as parabens, EDTA and formaldehyde. These ingredients could harm human/animal health and the environment. The brand is also not cruelty-free; they don’t have any certifications from animal protection organizations and have stated that they test on animals if required by law to do so.

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty was founded in 2013 by British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, who is known as one of the most famous and influential makeup artists of all time. With over 28 years of experience in the cosmetics industry, she has revolutionized the world of makeup and made beauty more accessible by decoding professional tips into her products. Since then, her brand has gained an almost cult-like following and has proven itself to be a game changer in makeup with its high-quality products. “Give a woman the right makeup and she can conquer the world,” Tilbury said in an article.  This reflects the brand’s belief that everyone deserves to look and feel their best through the power of makeup.

Charlotte Tilbury gained its popularity through the impeccable quality of its products. Almost all of their  products are easy to use, contain quality formulas that apply smoothly, have good coverage and the pigmentation is long lasting. For instance, the Hollywood Flawless Filter, one of the brand’s best-selling products, has received rave reviews about the unique glow it gives and the flexibility of the product, as it can be used in many different ways based on personal preference as a highlighter, or mixed in with foundation or moisturizer. Furthermore, it is a cruelty-free brand and uses ingredients without harmful chemicals.

The biggest disadvantage of Charlotte Tilbury is the prices. With most products pricing over 775 NTD and some even exceeding 1240 NTD, it has a much higher price range and some of their skincare products reached 3000 NTD. While the quality might make the products a worthwhile purchase, it can be a financial burden for consumers and is unrealistic to buy regularly. Additionally, the brand is not 100% vegan, meaning that some of their products include animal-derived ingredients.