The beauty mogul is being honored for her mental health advocacy with the Rare Impact Fund, which has raised over $30 million for organizations across five continents

Selena Gomez bursts onto the set of her People cover shoot like a ray of sunshine.

Dressed in a canary-yellow LaQuan Smith trench coat and matching sky-high stilettos, she looks every bit the Hollywood quadruple-threat. But there’s no diva in sight. “It’s like wearing sweatpants!” she tells the crew about her high-fashion look, flashing an inviting smile.

Such is the dichotomy of Gomez, 34: After breaking through at 15, she’s commanded the industry as an in-demand actress and pop superstar. But through an unyielding spotlight and massive success (she’s racked up nine Top 10 singles and her Hulu comedy series, Only Murders in the Building, earned her a lead actress Emmy nomination in 2024), she’s held on to the raw vulnerability that’s long endeared her to millions of fans.

When she launched her makeup company, Rare Beauty, in 2020, she turned painful setbacks — including a lupus diagnosis at 21 and deep mental health struggles (she’s been candid about living with bipolar disorder) — into purpose. She announced that 1 percent of product sales would go directly to the Rare Impact Fund, which has raised more than $30 million to support youth mental health organizations. (Thirty nonprofit organizations across five continents, including Didi Hirsch, The Trevor Project, The Jed Foundation, Black Teacher Project and Movimento Mulheres de São Gonçalo, have all received funds.) “That’s always been my focus: how we can have a community for people that actually feel seen and loved,” says Gomez, who’s receiving People‘s inaugural Beauty Impact Award for her barrier-breaking advocacy. “We’re constantly looking to see what we can do to help in the mental health space. It’s extremely important to me.”

These days Gomez is as booked as ever, but she’s intentional about her schedule. “When I was younger, I felt like it was 90 miles an hour. It was fun, but I only felt good when I would work,” says the Texas-born star, who wed music producer Benny Blanco, 38, last September. “Now I genuinely take time to appreciate my life, so yes, I’ve been busy but I’ve balanced it really well.”

Recent “peaceful” memories include reuniting with her younger sister, Gracie, in L.A. after months away shooting Only Murders and a low-key date night of room service and “cheesy movies” with Blanco. “I love where I am now,” she says. “I feel very lucky, and I enjoy every day.”

You just celebrated six years of Rare Beauty. What’s been your favorite part of building this business and what’s been the most challenging?

First, it feels like 10 simply because this was an idea and it took about two, three years to get it started. I’m just so grateful. It actually has a cute meaning to me because I just finished [shooting] Only Murders season six, and this is the sixth birthday of Rare. [I’ve been in] makeup chairs since I was 7 years old and I was around it my whole life, but I knew if I was going to enter the world of cosmetics, it needed to also have meaning. It does take courage to be an entrepreneur, and I think I needed to work on that in the beginning. I was very petrified of everything going wrong, but now doing the hard work and knowing that I have a team that has become my family means the world to me. I want products that are easy to use and not complicated, and on top of that, the Rare Impact Fund is thriving. That makes me happiest. We definitely are always going to want more for people — they deserve more information and the love that hopefully we can provide them.

When does inspiration strike for you?

In the car. I’ll text [Rare Beauty’s Chief Brand Officer] Joyce, who is my partner in crime, and I’ll ask questions like, “Could there be a scrub that’s a body foam that turns into an oil, but also melts down to a lotion?” I think it’s okay to ask all the dumb questions when you’re trying to create something. I will also come up with ideas from experiences. I kept using the pun “rare beginnings” for my fragrance because it did feel like this year has been a really big year for me. 

You’ve secretly worn a lot of products before they’re released, including your new foundation on your wedding day, right?

I did, and I realized it was kind of good for crying because I did a lot of that and it held pretty great. I felt inspired by Hung Vanngo, who’s one of my makeup artists. The way he applies foundation makes it look airbrushed and soft, so that’s what I wanted [the new formula] to feel like. When he puts it on me and it works, it makes me very proud.

What’s your daily makeup uniform?

It’s quite simple. I use two pumps of foundation and brush it all over. I use my eyebrow gel, and then I use Bouncy Blush, my mascara and lip oil. Sometimes people don’t like the natural beauty look, but that’s kind of my whole identity now.

Is there a product you’ve made that growing up you would have loved to have?

I would’ve loved to have the Bouncy Blush and the eyebrow gel. Back when I was little, so long ago [laughs], the eyebrows were very thin. I always felt really insecure because I had very full brows and now [they’re in]. I love laminating, and I love using the gel. It kind of makes me feel a little bit alive. I wish I would’ve embraced that when I was younger.

Your 2016 “smoky” looks keep going viral.

That cracks me up. I’ve got to be honest, the 2016 throwbacks are fun but I think people want to freeze me in time to that period of my life. It was such a hectic period, and of course I had to rock a smoky eye. I was trying to be cool! It was probably more interesting because I’m now chilling, which is great.

Is there any advice you’d give your younger self about beauty?

I don’t know what I’d say to my younger self, but I have a 13-year-old sister. My sister is so much cooler than me and has more confidence than I do. She is actually so thrilled to try things, but she also knows she doesn’t need it. I would just tell her, “You’re beautiful exactly how you are, but try anything you want.” She loves coming to the office and having a field day, and that makes me happy. I think everyone’s pretty and beautiful the way they are, but I do love a little glam.

What’s your philosophy when it comes to aging and getting older?

I don’t feel like it’s a bad thing. Getting older has been so fun. I’m not scared at all. I love getting older. Things are going to change and things are going to sag, but you’re alive. I think age is just a number in many ways.

Do you have a favorite Rare Beauty product hack?

Wearing mascara is fun, but it’s just kind of heavy for a light day. With our tinted brow gel, I get a dark brown and use it on the ends of my lashes after I curl them. It’s not too much formula, but it’s just the right amount and has a little tint.

You’ve helped a lot of young kids and teens feel less alone by sharing your own story. Is there a piece of advice you’ve held onto yourself?

The honest truth is when you’re stuck in a mental health cycle, you can’t hear advice. What I would say to people is to hold on, and to know that it’s okay to not be perfect. It’s okay to feel all of the feelings, confusing or not. And I don’t want people to think that’s forever, that today is the end all, be all. It’s not. We have tomorrow.

When did you start seeing the light?

I still am discovering certain parts of my brain, and my attitude towards mental health is constantly growing. I think it’s important to grow with it and understand the logic behind it, even when you’re in an episode. I’ve been able to be grounded and rooted in my [dialectical behavior therapy] work and working with my therapists. Also, creating coping skills yourself is really important. I just try to work on it, so it’s every day. I think I see the light every day. I just get closer and closer and keep chasing it. I don’t think it’s even worth talking about what my past looked like, and that’s the best feeling. That’s when you know you’ve done some really good work and you’re taking care of yourself.

Do you have a feel-good ritual?

What relaxes me the most would be being with the people that I love, my chosen family or my sister. I love my friends. They’re very important to me. I don’t have a huge circle of them.

You’ve talked about the village you’ve built over the years and how supportive they are. What is something you would tell someone who wants to support a loved one going through mental health struggles?

I think I have had people in my life that have unconditionally loved me. Even when they were not understanding exactly what I was feeling, I felt seen and I felt really loved. They were confused, but once I found out and got my diagnosis, I [felt] free and they [understood] and it made sense. So just sticking it out with someone, being next to them in their hardest moments means more than a “thing” you could do.

One of Rare’s recent campaigns showcased the diversity in the Latine community. As you get older, do you feel even closer to your Mexican roots?

I’m half of my dad [Gomez’s paternal grandparents emigrated from Monterrey, Mexico in the ‘70s], and I’m proud. I’m proud of how our community comes together, and I love how family and food is important. Food’s a big deal!

Do you and Benny make Mexican food at home together?

I have been begging my husband to try to make my grandmother’s rice. It’s just not the same, you know? I only get it when I go home.

But he tries?

Poor man tries! I wish he was flying right now, but he doesn’t fly.

He did take a boat for you, though.

He took a boat to see me in London [this summer when I was working]. It’s very romantic, but also equally stressful if you’re the wife. You’re just hoping he’s safe. I have a handkerchief, I’m crying, I’m waving him off and [sings] “I’ll be saving you…” Yeah, it’s my life [laughs].

You’re celebrating your first wedding anniversary this month. How’s newlywed life?

We’re still in the honeymoon stage. It just feels so wonderful to have a partner that genuinely listens and meets you right where you are, whatever that mood or day looks like. I need him, and I love him. He is a very joyful human: fun, spontaneous and he loves to talk. 

Is there anything about the way he approaches life that you’ve adopted?

Yeah, stop overthinking and be a little bit more confident. That’s something he doesn’t pressure me to be. He just inspires me to be that.

What’s the last perfect day off you had?

I don’t remember my last day off because I just flew in from London… I kind of went into work mode, but last night I went to dinner with friends. That was nice after work. I’m sure I’ll have a day off soon, right?

You had some good pasta recently in Italy, right?

Oh, yeah. That was a great day off. That was my vacation. We got five days to be together, so Benny and I ate a lot of pasta. I spent my birthday with just him, and it was just so easy. He’s just so precious. I loved it.

What impact have your Only Murders costars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Meryl Streep had on you?

Tremendous impact, but by example. They don’t make me feel silly for asking them anything. They’ve shown me what it means to have dignity, to have class, to understand that the world doesn’t always have to be a serious place. It is a serious place, but they talk about ideas and things that would be advancing someone’s life. It’s not dumb, numb conversations.

I ask Meryl about acting stuff and some of the choices she’s made. I always joke, “What would Meryl do?” Not only is she the G.O.A.T., but she happens to be the nicest person you’ll ever meet. She’s always laughing, she’ll be singing and even if she has downtime, she’s always doing something like knitting.

All three of them have also built really full lives outside of work. Has that inspired you?

Of course. They all have families and they’ve lived life in a way that I never have. It makes me excited to. Maybe that’s why I’m not afraid of getting older because people have made it look really good to me by example.

What do you look for now in movie roles?

I think it’s important for me to be challenged as an actor. There are so many things I want to do. What has been crucial is that I’m a part of important projects that matter, and I do the parts that I fight for. I just look for really great material. I enjoy reading really good scripts. It can be 300 pages and I’ll have it done in two days.

Have you always been like that?

Yeah, when I was 7, I was excited to learn lines. My friends would be like, “Come outside!” I’d be like, “Guys, I’m learning lines.” And it’s just, “Thanks, Barney.” [laughs] That was my breakout role. When I’m acting in film and being a performer, it’s so intoxicating to me. I love being able to disappear into someone’s world and know that I can contribute. It’s a team effort. It’s working with incredible people and you’re having a family to start a whole new life with. [In] a lot of ways I feel like I’ve just started.

You’ve done so much in your 30s already. What do you hope to see in the rest of this decade?

I just want to be happy. I hope I’m still doing things that I love, and I hope that if I stop loving what I do, that I will stop. I actually never really place value in what I do because it can destroy you instantly. I like to be appreciative of everything that comes my way, and I just hope for great things.

CREDITS

Photographer: Leeor Wild
Cinematographer: Eric Longden
Hair: Ashley Ruiz
Makeup: Soo Park / Rare Beauty / The Wall Group
Stylist: Erin Walsh / A-Frame Agency

Manicurist: Tom Bachik / Star Touch Agency
Prop Stylist: Wanted PD

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