Selena Gomez talks honestly about her confidence journey and the inspiration behind her newest scent release

Selena Gomez is not messing about when it comes to fulfilling her mission. The musician, actor and beauty founder has had more obstacles thrown at her than most. She's tackled health struggles, including a lupus diagnosis and a kidney transplant. She's faced relentless scrutiny into her personal life from tabloids and fans. And she's waded through the depths of anxiety and depression in front of the world's glare with remarkable sincerity, sharing the messiest – as well as the most beautiful – parts of her life in her 2022 documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.

The project coincided with an exposing namesake song that explained, “my mind and me, we don't get along sometimes […] but if I pull back the curtain, then maybe someone who's hurting will be a little more certain they're not the only one lost.” It also defined her purpose moving forward: to support others struggling with mental health around the world. That's why, when she debuted her beauty brand, Rare, in 2020, it launched alongside the Rare Impact Fund, a non-profit organisation deployed to expand access to mental health services for young people globally (already its reached five continents).

Despite all the challenges she's faced, Selena has come out fighting, but also, reflecting and accepting. Mindfulness is woven through every part of her beauty brand. Words of optimism and affirmation are scattered throughout the names of her products, which include lipsticks named Worthy, blushers named Hope and bronzers named Bright Side. From the beginning, the brand's approach has been geared toward healing and acts of self-kindness. Take the latest squad member, for example. Selena is adding to her Find Comfort Body & Hair Mists with a second fragrance named Awaken Confidence, alongside a matching Bouncy Body Cream (launching from 12th December). The scent, and the formula are all about inspiriting and soothing.

Top notes feature peach nectar, sparkling lemon, orange flower and black pepper, the heart notes offer up blue cyclamen, jasmine, apricot blossom and lavender and the base notes project white sandalwood, skin musk and crisp amber. As for the spray itself, its softened with flower extracts and boosted with biotin to help strengthen hair. It's a floral and citrus blend, releasing an explosion of petals and good vibes.

We caught up with Selena to talk confidence, comfort and finding your beauty groove…

SELENA GOMEZ: I love to match a scent to my mood. That’s where I start with scent - how I want to feel. When I was creating Awaken Confidence, I really wanted that feeling of growth and renewal, and to me, the name felt like a fresh start — seeing life through a whole new lens.

I wouldn’t say it’s any one specific thing. I’ve been putting in the work and time to get to this place and can say I am the happiest I’ve ever been.

I’m grateful to be able to use my platform to share my story and what I’ve gone through, in hopes that it encourages other people to feel less alone in theirs. I don’t want anyone to ever think I am a victim, that’s not why I choose to share. Connecting with our community reminds me why I’ve been so upfront and vulnerable.

This scent is like an instant confidence booster – as soon as I smell the juicy peach and fresh flower blossom in the Hair & Body Mist, it always lifts my mood. It’s the perfect way to start your day and I love to do a spray throughout the day to give myself a boost.

The notes of peach, sparkling lemon, and jasmine are some of my favourites — they’re bright, refreshing, and evoke a joyful energy. For Awaken Confidence, I wanted to take those elements and create something that felt uplifting and vibrant but also had a comforting balance. The scent is all about feeling empowered, so it had to carry both brightness and warmth. Awaken Confidence is the kind of scent that can energise you in the morning or give you a little boost during the day.

Being cosy, there is just nothing better. I love lighting some candles, snuggling up with my dogs and watching movies. Nothing beats a fuzzy blanket and a good movie. I know it’s weird, but I love scary movies for comfort. I don’t suggest that for everyone.

I can’t pick the best, there are too many good tips! One of my favourites was combining our liquid blush and liquid luminizer to create the dewy blush hack. There are so many combinations you can play around with but I definitely learn great tips from so many creators on there.

I love taking an everything shower and layering on my Find Comfort Stop & Soothe Aromatherapy Pen with my favourite lotions and mists – Awaken Confidence when I’m going out, Find Comfort when I’m staying in. Music is like scent in being so powerful in creating a mood, so I like to play something energetic and uplifting when I need to feel some motivation.

I don’t like to think about there being any rules in beauty. I think you need to find what works for you and own it. Beauty, to me, is about embracing what makes you unique and feeling confident in your own skin. I think we should have fun with makeup and do whatever feels right.

For more from GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk

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