Since its launch in 2020, Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush has cemented its place in the beauty hall of fame, winning numerous industry awards (including repeat Cosmo Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards) and earning a spot on vanities alongside other everyday cult classics. Its GOAT status is largely thanks to the way its ultra-pigmented formula forever changed the blush game, but also in part to its founder, Selena Gomez, who’s been synonymous with the brand since day one. Now, for the first time in Rare Beauty’s history, the brand has tapped a celebrity ambassador: Off Campus star Ella Bright.
While Rare Beauty has partnered with beauty creators and community members to spotlight new launches and initiatives over the years, today marks the first time a celebrity other than Selena has fronted the brand. Titled Made You Blush, the campaign celebrates the iconic blush and features a lineup of suitors competing to win Ella’s heart—a playful nod to the world of Off Campus.
Ahead of the campaign launch, I caught up exclusively with Ella to chat about all things makeup, stepping into the role of Rare Beauty’s first-ever celebrity ambassador, and the beauty lessons she’s picked up from playing Hannah.
Courtesy of Rare Beauty
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush kick-started the era of viral products. What was the first time you used it?
I tried the blush for the first time back in 2020. I had the shade Happy and also a bright coral one that my friends gave me. I loved the drama around putting one tiny dot on your cheek and blending it out to reveal so much pigment. I remember being so impressed by how such a small amount could go such a long way, and I’ve been using it ever since. So it’s really crazy to be part of the Made You Blush campaign because it’s genuinely been a longtime favorite of mine.
What was your first reaction when you found out about this campaign?
I called my sisters immediately and was just like, “Oh my god.” Plus, I always use the blush in the shade Happy on set where I’m filming currently, and it’s also a staple in my makeup look outside of work, so it was so exciting to tell my makeup artist for the show as well.
In the ’90s and early 2000s, glam was defined by bold lipstick. Today, it’s all about blush. What is your favorite way to wear it?
I love to put a dot right above the cheekbone and bring it up while I blend with my fingers. I’ve learned all the skills from my younger sisters because they taught me all the makeup tips. I also love to put it on my nose, since my go-to is to look as sunburned as possible because I’m very pale, so I love bronzer and I love blush. I put on as much as I can.
Courtesy of Rare Beauty
Selena Gomez is the face of Rare Beauty, and she’s someone so many of us grew up watching. Now, you’re the first celebrity ambassador in the brand’s history besides Selena, as Off Campus introduces a new generation of talent. What does this moment mean to you?
Oh my gosh, it’s such an honor. I’m such a big fan of Selena. Working with Rare Beauty is just so amazing and important to me, especially with its values like the Rare Impact Fund1. Everything that has happened since the show has come out has been a whirlwind of gratitude.
1. Founded by Selena Gomez in 2020, the Rare Impact Fund is driven by a core belief that every young person should have access to stigma-free, culturally responsive mental health support.
How would you describe your Off Campus character Hannah’s beauty look versus your own?
I definitely like more glam than Hannah. She likes a very reduced, very natural look. She’ll do blush, maybe a bit of concealer, and mascara. I’ll do a heightened version of that. And I’ll definitely put more blush on than she does. But we both like keeping it somewhat natural and glowy.
Are there any beauty details people might have missed in the show?
I think people start to notice Hannah’s progression as she grows from episodes 1 to 8, and her makeup evolves along with her. It becomes a little more expressive. If she goes out with Allie or heads to a party, she’ll wear a bolder lip or a bolder eye, which is something you don’t really see in the first few episodes. It was a really fun way to show her growth.
What do you think Hannah’s favorite Selena Gomez song would be?
I like to say that Hannah’s music taste is similar to mine—I make a bunch of playlists around Hannah since her whole character thing is music. I think “Call Me When You Break Up.” I love that song personally, and it’s my current favorite.
What is your first beauty memory?
Probably from my mom—I used to sneak into her vanity and take her lipsticks. When people talk about “shower makeup,” where you do the craziest look right before you wash your face, I was obsessed with that as a kid. I’d cover my face in all of her makeup, and then just not go outside and wash it all off immediately. I think my earliest beauty memory is putting on my mom’s bright-red lipstick and feeling very adult.
What are your three desert-island products? Mine would be—I’m not even just saying this—Rare Beauty’s eyebrow gel,face SPF, and my Kindle.
That’s so funny you said the brow gel because when we were doing the campaign, we used it for my brows, and then we were asked to adjust them slightly, but we actually couldn’t—it’s an insane product.
No, your brows truly aren’t moving once you brush it on.
Okay, desert island: I would say my speaker, because I go everywhere with it. Then any kind of lip gloss or lipstick and a bronzer or blush. So a lip and cheek product and my music.
Off Campus is the perfect series to watch with friends. If you have a night in with your friends, what does it entail?
Okay, we’re definitely doing face masks. That’s a big one. Mika2 and I, when we were traveling for press tours, were always doing face masks together, and I do that with my friends back home, too. I would say I watch a lot of reality television, so it’s gonna be Love Island, obviously; it was just the finale. And then I’m probably eating pad thai.
2. Mika Abdalla, her Off Campus costar.
You’re a Sagittarius; so am I! Do you feel connected to your sign at all?
I wish I knew more about astrology. I’m always looking to learn more, but I do feel very Sagittarius, and I don’t know why I feel that way. But I’m very biased over the fact that it’s the best sign. My birthday is November 27, and 27 is the lucky number that I see everywhere in my life, like every job I’ve ever gotten has something to do with 27. So I feel very connected to it.
What is something that made you blush recently?
As you can tell, I’m always talking with my hands,3 so I’m constantly spilling any kind of drink. I can’t even pinpoint one instance because it happens to me every single day, where I will just knock something over, and it will destroy things around me.
3. I can confirm—she is a visual speaker.
If you were to create your own blush, what color would it be, and what would you name it?
I love a deeper brown-pinky shade. I was super excited when the brand sent me a bunch of their blushes, and I gravitated toward the really pink ones. I’d call my shade Bright because of my last name.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.