Credit: Courtesy of brands
Beauty
Find the world of celebrity beauty brands confusing? There are the ones the Stylist beauty team rates
By Charlotte Bitmead &Hanna Ibraheem
3 months ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
6 min read
These days, it seems like every celebrity has their own beauty brand. Here, the Stylist team discuss the ones we actually use in our beauty routines.
Lately, it seems like a new celebrity beauty brand has been launched daily. They’ve taken over the beauty space and revolutionised our make-up bags and bathroom shelves. While celebrities used to be ambassadors and spokespersons for huge beauty conglomerates, they’re now instead betting on themselves and taking control.
Sales of celebrity beauty brands grew by 58% in 2023 in the US, so it’s safe to say there are a lot of brands to decipher between. Some make total sense to us, whilst others seem contrived to just jump on the hype. Whether you like them or not, we predict they’re only going to keep growing.
To help you cut through the noise, we’ve decided to do a deep dive into the celeb-founded brands we actually think are worth the hype and won’t be disappearing into the abyss any time soon, like the likes of the defunct Kim Kardashian’s KKW make-up line and Kristin Bell’s CBD-infused skincare brand, Happy Dance.
From Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty empire to Halsey’s about-face that we don’t think gets nearly enough attention, these are the celebrity beauty brands the Stylist team really rates.
8 best celebrity beauty brands
Fenty Beauty
“As an avid Rihanna stan, I queued up at 7am to get my hands on Fenty Beauty when it first launched back in 2017 and I get just as excited by their new launches now as I did then.
I’ve gone through too many bottles of the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation than I can count, while the Gloss Bomb Stix have been my obsession during the colder months for delivering the pigment of lipstick, without drying my skin to smithereens. I’m also a big fan of both Fenty Skin and Fenty Hair, proving Rihanna really can do no wrong in my eyes,” Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer.
Shop Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation at Boots, £34
about-face
“No one is more surprised than me that about-face has a presence in my make-up bag. It’s not a reflection on Halsey but has more to do with the fact I don’t listen to music released after 2008. However, about-face’s buttery formulas won me over.
I love their Cherry Pick Lip Colour Butter for delivering intense pigment with a high-gloss finish for when my lips are feeling too dry for lipstick and the Cheek Freak Blush Balms are endlessly creamy and deliver an effortless flush,” Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer.
Shop about-face Cherry Pick Lip Color Butter at Beauty Bay, £14
Cécred
The formulas are super nourishing, so they’ll be too much for finer, oily-prone hair types but miracle workers for those of us struggling with dryness. The packaging is super luxe too, but I do wish the plastic was a little more malleable to aid with getting the product out. However, my shower has never looked chicher,” Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer.
Shop Cécred Reconstructing Treatment Mask at cecred.com, £43
S’able Labs
“S’able Labs was created by power couple Sabrina and Idris Elba and is designed with all skin types and tones in mind. The line is filled to the brim with botanicals and science-backed ingredients. I’ve not heard anyone say anything bad about this range - which speaks volumes.
The textures are plush, lightweight yet nourishing and pack a powerful punch when it comes to tackling hyperpigmentation, without being harsh or stripping. I love the streamlined approach to this line, where every product feels like it has a specific purpose.
The Okra Face Serum is genius; it contains retinoids, ceramides and collagen-boosting okra to tackle unevenness without upsetting the skin, whilst the Baobab Moisturiser features my favourite duo: tranexamic acid and niacinamide, for delivering hydration and fading post-acne scarring,” Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer.
Rhode
“It’s hard to believe that Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode isn’t even three years old yet. Ever since dropping onto the beauty desks, the brand has infiltrated our lives beyond our beauty regimes, from taking over social media feeds with viral hit after viral hit right down to accessorising our phones with lip balm cases.
“Most notably, the brand isn’t a case of a one-hit wonder, but instead, has an entire roster of impressive formulas. Some favourites include the brilliant Barrier Butter that soothes, hydrates and strengthens; Pocket Blush for a healthy, glowy flush and, most notably, its Peptide Lip Tints, which are a staple in any beauty editor’s handbag.” - Hanna Ibraheem, beauty director
Rare Beauty
“Not only is the ethos of Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty empowering and much-needed, her formulas have brought a much needed shake-up to the industry. Even though it first hit markets at a time where a lot of us weren’t reaching for make-up (September 2020), it was an instant hit, mainly thanks to its high pigments, extensive shade ranges and interesting textures (hello, Lip Souffle Matte Lip Cream).
“There are so many products that have immediately entered my permanent beauty rotation upon first try. A big favourite just so happens to also be the brand’s biggest success: its Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. Packed with high-pigment colour pay off, beautiful colours, buildable formula and an easy-to-use doe foot applicator, it’s foolproof and adds a healthy flush to any make-up look. You can imagine my excitement when the brand extended into body care, which smells incredible, FYI.” - Hanna Ibraheem, beauty director
The Outset
“What first struck me about Scarlett Johansson’s The Outset was how invisible she is across the brand’s marketing and packaging. Instead, the actor lets her skincare formulations do the talking, all of which are created for all skin types, including those which are more sensitive.
“This is where the idea behind the brand lies. Johansson and her co-founder Kate Foster discovered that seven out of 10 people have sensitive skin, with the two of them having it themselves. The result is a line-up of products that work to treat, hydrate and nourish skin gently and with zero irritation. If you’re not sure where to start, I strongly recommend the Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer.” - Hanna Ibraheem, beauty director
Shop The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer at Cult Beauty, £44
Victoria Beckham Beauty
“When writing this feature, I found it hard to pick just one favourite product. Victoria Beckham Beauty quickly shot up in popularity amongst beauty aficionados. In true Victoria Beckham fashion, every product is dressed in incredibly chic packaging but it’s what’s inside that has won us all over.
“From creamy pencil eyeliners and glowy-not-muddy bronzers to flattering tinted lip balms and pigmented eyeshadow pots, there’s so much that’ll seamlessly slot into your make-up bag.
“Its offering doesn’t stop there. There’s some impressive products made in collaboration with skincare expert Dr Augustinus Bader that work to tackle skin concerns, like its innovative concealer that actively treats dark circles. And that’s all before we get onto the beautiful scents, each of which are inspired by a specific moment in VB’s life.” - Hanna Ibraheem, beauty director
Shop Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner at Victoria Beckham Beauty, £32
Images: Courtesy of brand
Sign up for our edit of what to buy, see, read and do.
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.