The past years have seen an explosion in celebrity-founded beauty brands, as A-listers from Rihanna to Lady Gaga have launched their own lines of cosmetics, skin-care and fragrances. These types of brands tend to always generate buzz in a big way both because of the celebrity star power behind them, but my question here is, are these products actually novel or good quality products or just good at taking advantage of fame to pull money from their loyal fanbase? Let’s survey some of the most notable celebrity beauty brands and decide if they’re worth the hype.

1. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna: A Game Changer

Fenty Beauty was a revelation when Rihanna released her beauty line in 2017. And the brand’s most notable signature, a wide range of foundation shades, which, at launch, included 40 (now 50), accommodating a rare range of skin tones that for decades had been excluded from mainstream beauty houses. Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation was an instant cult hit, thanks to its ultra-lightweight texture and full yet skinlike coverage. Beyond foundations, the brand’s highlighters, lip glosses and skin-care line have received similar acclaim. Widely credited with revolutionizing the beauty space, bringing inclusivity and quality to the forefront. It’s also a prime example of a celebrity brand that delivers on its promise.

2. Haus Labs by Lady Gaga: A Rebranded Return

Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs debuted in 2019, with an emphasis on bold, avant-garde makeup. But the brand failed to make a mark in an oversaturated marketplace. Haus Labs — which re-branded in 2022 with an emphasis on clean, vegan, science-backed products. All of the products in the new line, including the Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation, have already been praised for their performance and skin-friendly ingredients. Haus Labs’ newly A-Lastered lineup showcases a new level of quality and innovation, positioning itself as a strong contender in the celebrity beauty game.

3. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez

Launched in 2020, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty offers a focus on self-expression and mental health awareness. The brand’s ultra-light, buildable products, from the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush to the Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, have all been heralded for their ease of use and natural finish. Rare Beauty also gives a percentage of its sales to mental health initiatives via the Rare Impact Fund. Rare Beauty launched with high-quality products and an empowering mission, so it never felt like a simple celebrity cash grab. They provide an added depth to its brand identity with a commitment to mental health advocacy as well.

4. Kylie Cosmetics by Kylie Jenner: Hype vs Substance

Kylie Cosmetics first arrived on the beauty scene in 2015 with the release of her Kylie Lip Kits. Riding the wave of the matte liquid lipstick craze and Jenner’s enormous social media following, the brand, Kylie Cosmetics, went on to become a sensation. We are getting this result because our input sentence is similar to some other input sentences. The brand has gradually branched out, but its initial momentum has proved hard to sustain. Kylie Cosmetics is built on hype and marketing, but its products have had mixed reviews. And while some fans swear by them, others believe the brand cares more about the bottom line than providing something new.

5. Jessica Alba’s Honest Beauty: Clean and Conscious

Another spinoff from Alba’s Honest Company, Honest Beauty is mindful of clean, non-toxic ingredients. The brand features skincare and makeup products like Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara and Clean Corrective With Vitamin C Glow Cream. Honest Beauty has garnered a faithful following with a commitment to transparency and sustainability. Honest Beauty is an early-leader of the clean beauty movement that offers products aligned with this mission of safety and sustainability.

While some celebrity beauty lines such as Fenty Beauty and Haus Labs have done the hard work, innovating and being inclusive, others lean heavily on the star wattage and marketing skills of their founders. For consumers, the trick is to see through the glitz and glamour and assess the products based on their quality, the ingredients, and the performance. It’s the celebrity beauty brands that care more about their customers’ needs than cashing in on their stardom that ultimately prove best.