Hollywood star and entrepreneur Selena Gomez has revealed that her battle with lupus and its treatment has led to arthritis in her fingers, a condition that has deeply influenced the design of her beauty brand, Rare Beauty.
Now 33, Gomez has lived with lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease, since 2013. Her health struggles included chemotherapy and a life-saving kidney transplant in 2017, donated by her close friend Francia Raisa. Despite these challenges, Gomez has continued to build her career and advocate for inclusivity and accessibility in the beauty industry.
In a recent interview, the actress and singer candidly discussed how arthritis affects her daily life, particularly her ability to perform simple tasks. She recalled a moment before proper treatment when opening a water bottle became painful. These personal experiences pushed her to ensure Rare Beauty products are designed to be user-friendly.
“I have arthritis in my fingers and that’s due to my lupus,” Gomez explained. “Before launching the brand, I remember trying to open a water bottle and it hurt really badly before I was on the right medication.” This struggle inspired her to prioritize accessibility in her product line.
Rare Beauty packaging was intentionally crafted to be easy to handle, especially for those with dexterity issues. Gomez emphasized, “We realised they kind of have to be that way, so we started making every product with the intention of being accessible to anyone with dexterity problems.”
She further highlighted the significance of this design approach, adding, “I know that might seem like a little thing, but it’s really not because it’s actually so helpful for anyone at any age to be able to use the products.”
Founded in September 2020, three years after her transplant, Rare Beauty—named after her third studio album—has since become both a commercial and cultural success, reflecting Gomez’s personal journey and commitment to inclusivity.
