Selena Gomez: How beauty can influence our mental health

We are constantly bombarded with images and social media posts that encourage people to strive for perfection, which is unattainable. I've been candid about my own personal mental health struggles and feelings of being "less than."

But that doesn't mean I haven't faced challenges. I decided to be open about what I was going through, and as a result, I've heard from so many people over the years who are struggling with their own mental health. It is an issue that has become very personal to me. I try to use my voice to help reduce the stigma associated with discussing mental health issues and to encourage people to embrace their individuality.

Not alone

In our society, there are many unrealistic expectations for women, as well as pressure to look and act a certain way. Social media has undoubtedly influenced our perception of "perfect," and we frequently seek validation and comfort from these platforms. But, in the end, this makes us all feel a little more alone.

I want to assure anyone who is dealing with mental health issues or simply having a difficult time that they are not alone.

I'm a big proponent of social media detoxes. I'm still connected and interested in what's going on, but I need to take a break from scrolling. I try to remember that everyone is usually only sharing a highlight reel and their best photos, and that I don't have to feel bad about not looking the same.

I also strongly support therapy. It assisted me in answering many questions about why I was feeling the way I was and in overcoming some obstacles. It was difficult for me to admit to myself that I was suffering from depression and anxiety at first. Because so many people looked up to me, I felt under pressure to be perfect. But it was such a relief when I decided to seek help and be open about how I was feeling. I believe that admitting I am a human being who is not perfect – no one is – was actually more beneficial to those who looked up to me.

Beauty for the future

I've been fortunate enough to work with some of the best makeup artists in the world. I love the art of makeup and experimenting with different looks and how they can totally change a character. Two years ago, I decided to create a brand that changed the conversation around beauty. I felt this was something that was needed in the industry and isn't discussed enough.

I used to believe that I needed to wear makeup to feel pretty, but now I realize that I don't need makeup to feel beautiful. Now, I think of makeup as an accessory to be excited about. And that's exactly what I want Rare Beauty to represent: wear as much or as little makeup as you want; this is a safe and welcoming environment where everyone should feel at ease.

There's a lot of pressure to look a certain way, and makeup is frequently used to hide or cover up perceived flaws. However, we want women – and men – to question the beauty "norm" by changing the conversation and celebrating what makes each of us unique.

My team and I have been building a community to have positive conversations about self-acceptance and mental

health since the beginning of Rare Beauty. During pandemic restrictions, this has included intimate Zoom calls dubbed "Rare Chats," as well as social media profiles of members of our community in which we encourage people to celebrate their unique beauty (we offer 48 shades of foundation and concealer to suit all skin tones). During this crazy year, I've seen firsthand how many of our followers have formed meaningful connections with one another.

It was also important to me that the company had a purpose, and I knew that mental health would be a big part of our message. With the Rare Impact Fund, we hope to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, address the epidemic of chronic loneliness, and assist people in gaining access to the resources and services they require to support their mental health. We announced our goal of raising $100 million over the next ten years to help people in underserved communities gain access to mental health services when we launched the fund in July (on my 28th birthday).

We are committed to raising funds in collaboration with other partners and our community, and 1% of Rare Beauty annual sales will go directly to the Rare Impact Fund. With the Fund, we also established the Rare Impact Mental Health Council, which is comprised of expert advisors from leading universities, organizations, and companies to assist us in ensuring that we are having the greatest possible impact.

I want everyone to discover the power in their uniqueness. We must all embrace our individuality, stop comparing ourselves to others, and love ourselves more, especially now.