Rare Beauty vs Tower 28 vs Glossier in Singapore 2026: Clean Makeup Compared

Updated: September 2026.

TL;DR

For a Singapore buyer in 2026, Rare Beauty is the easiest to buy (Sephora Singapore, Sephora.sg, in-store at ION and Marina Bay Sands) and leads the trio on liquid blush and cheek. Tower 28 leads on sensitive-skin friendly formulas (EWG Verified, National Eczema Association accepted) and won for the SunnyDays tinted mineral SPF, but Singapore distribution stayed thin as of September 2026. Glossier reversed its DTC-only strategy and joined Sephora US in 2023, and Sephora Singapore has stocked selected Glossier hero SKUs (Boy Brow, Cloud Paint, Balm Dotcom) intermittently since. Use ShopBack to check for Sephora cashback windows before you buy.

Why clean makeup is a Sephora question in Singapore

Clean makeup in Singapore hinges on one thing: whether the brand is on Sephora's shelf, because Sephora is the dominant premium beauty distributor across Southeast Asia and controls physical retail in Singapore for the category.

Sephora publishes its Clean beauty standard on its site and defines it plainly: "Products marked Clean at Sephora are formulated without a list of ingredients that include parabens, sulfates SLS and SLES, phthalates, mineral oils, formaldehydes, and more" (source: sephora.com Clean beauty page, retrieved September 2026). Rare Beauty, Tower 28, and Glossier all sit within or adjacent to that standard.

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) regulates cosmetic products sold in Singapore under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, and any product on the local Sephora shelf has completed cosmetic product notification. HSA states: "Manufacturers, importers and suppliers must notify HSA before placing a cosmetic product on the local market" (source: hsa.gov.sg cosmetic products page). That is why grey-market ordering from Tower 28's US site is legal but not identical to buying HSA-notified stock through Sephora.

The three founders framed their brands with distinct positioning that has held up in market:

• Rare Beauty (Selena Gomez, 2020): built around mental health advocacy through the Rare Impact Fund. The brand publishes: "We commit one percent of all sales to the Rare Impact Fund" on its Impact page (rarebeauty.com/pages/rare-impact).
• Tower 28 (Amy Liu, 2019): built for sensitive skin. The brand's mission statement reads: "Tower 28 was born out of Amy's own experience with eczema and sensitive skin" (tower28beauty.com/pages/about-us).
• Glossier (Emily Weiss, 2014): built around "skin first, makeup second" and pivoted from DTC-only to Sephora retail in 2023.

Brand-by-brand in Singapore

Rare Beauty

Rare Beauty's Singapore distribution is Sephora, full stop. In-store at Sephora ION Orchard, VivoCity, Marina Bay Sands, and Suntec; online at sephora.sg. The Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is the hero SKU and prices at SGD 34 to SGD 38 across the range. Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush and Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil follow at similar pricing.

Rare Beauty's Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 is the range's foundation-adjacent entry, and its shade range at Sephora Singapore mirrors the global launch (48 shades). Kind Words Matte Lipstick and Lip Souffle sit around SGD 32 to SGD 36.

The brand publishes ingredient lists on its own site and confirms compliance with Sephora Clean: "Rare Beauty is Sephora Clean, cruelty free, and vegan" (source: rarebeauty.com/pages/faq).

Tower 28

Tower 28's Singapore distribution has stayed thin. Sephora US carries the full range; Sephora Singapore historically stocks limited SKUs on rotation, primarily the SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray. The tower28beauty.com site ships internationally but at USD pricing and USD shipping, which turns a USD 32 SunnyDays into an SGD-equivalent SGD 55 to SGD 65 landed.

Tower 28's differentiator is the sensitive-skin credential. Amy Liu founded the brand after struggling to find makeup that did not aggravate her eczema. The National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance appears on multiple SKUs, and Tower 28 is EWG Verified.

For a Singapore buyer with reactive skin or histamine sensitivity, Tower 28 is worth the shipping premium on ShineOn Lip Jelly, BeachPlease Cream Blush, and SunnyDays SPF 30 mineral tinted sunscreen. For a buyer without those constraints, the availability gap is a real cost.

Glossier

Glossier joined Sephora US in 2023, ending nearly a decade of DTC-only distribution. Sephora Singapore has stocked selected Glossier hero SKUs since, with Boy Brow, Cloud Paint, Balm Dotcom, and Ultralip appearing in rotation at ION and Marina Bay Sands. The stock depth is not Rare Beauty's, but it is real distribution.

Cloud Paint prices at SGD 30 to SGD 34 at Sephora Singapore when in stock, Boy Brow at SGD 28 to SGD 32, Balm Dotcom at SGD 24 to SGD 28. Glossier's own site ships to Singapore at USD pricing plus international shipping; the Sephora Singapore path is cheaper on hero SKUs when they are in stock.

Glossier's own brand positioning has held its "skin first, makeup second" line consistently: "Glossier is committed to giving voice through beauty" (glossier.com/about).

Cross-brand comparison

The table below reflects public product-line structure at time of writing. Verify current prices at Sephora Singapore. Check ShopBack for Sephora cashback windows on 8.8, 9.9, and 11.11 platform events.

Category	Rare Beauty	Tower 28	Glossier
Liquid blush	Soft Pinch Liquid Blush	BeachPlease Cream Blush	Cloud Paint
Tinted moisturiser	Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20	SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30	Perfecting Skin Tint
Brow product	Brow Harmony Precision Pencil	Not in range	Boy Brow
Lip product	Kind Words Matte Lipstick, Lip Souffle	ShineOn Lip Jelly	Balm Dotcom, Ultralip
Setting spray	Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Setting Spray	SuperDew Highlight Balm	Not in range
Sensitive skin credential	Sephora Clean, cruelty free	EWG Verified, NEA accepted	Sephora Clean on selected SKUs
Singapore distribution	Sephora Singapore full	Sephora Singapore intermittent	Sephora Singapore selected hero SKUs
Founder	Selena Gomez	Amy Liu	Emily Weiss

Persona picks

For a beginner buying one clean makeup starter set: Rare Beauty. Widest Singapore distribution, most tutorial content on TikTok and YouTube, and the shade range on liquid blush covers most Southeast Asian complexions.

For sensitive or reactive skin: Tower 28. The National Eczema Association credential is not marketing; it means the brand submitted formulas for review against irritant thresholds. Accept the shipping premium and buy from Sephora US or tower28beauty.com direct.

For skin-first minimalist makeup: Glossier. Cloud Paint, Boy Brow, and Balm Dotcom together clear an entire makeup routine at Sephora Singapore under SGD 100.

For the traveller passing through the US: buy Tower 28 in-market at Sephora US. USD pricing minus Singapore import overhead nets 30 to 40% below shipping direct.

When this does not apply

Humid climate wear is the real test in Singapore. Cream and liquid blush formulas (Rare Beauty Soft Pinch, Glossier Cloud Paint) sit better under a setting spray in Singapore's year-round humidity than they do bare. Rare Beauty's Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Setting Spray was formulated with humidity in mind and outperforms Glossier's discontinued Priming Moisturizer Rich on wear.

Waterproof and long-wear are not the strength of any of the three. If you need a lipstick or blush that survives eight hours in Singapore weather without touch-up, look at MAC Retro Matte, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless, or NARS Powermatte.

Foundation coverage: none of the three brands specialise in full-coverage foundation. Rare Beauty Positive Light and Glossier Skin Tint are sheer to light coverage. Tower 28 does not sell a foundation.

Frequently asked questions

Is Rare Beauty available in Singapore?

Yes. Rare Beauty is distributed through Sephora Singapore both in-store (ION Orchard, VivoCity, Marina Bay Sands, Suntec) and online at sephora.sg. The full core range is stocked including Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Kind Words Matte Lipstick, and Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer. Use ShopBack to check for Sephora cashback windows before you buy.

Can I buy Tower 28 in Singapore?

Tower 28 has thin Singapore distribution. Sephora Singapore stocks limited SKUs on rotation, primarily the SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray. The full range is available from tower28beauty.com and Sephora US at USD pricing plus international shipping.

Is Glossier sold in Singapore now that it is at Sephora?

Yes, selected hero SKUs. Since Glossier joined Sephora US in 2023, Sephora Singapore has stocked Boy Brow, Cloud Paint, Balm Dotcom, and Ultralip in rotation at ION and Marina Bay Sands. Stock depth is not what Rare Beauty enjoys but it is real distribution.

Which of the three is best for sensitive skin?

Tower 28. The brand was founded specifically for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, and multiple SKUs carry the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. Tower 28 is also EWG Verified. Rare Beauty and Glossier both meet Sephora Clean but are not specifically sensitive-skin formulated.

How much does Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush cost in Singapore?

SGD 34 to SGD 38 across the shade range at Sephora Singapore. The formula sits within the Sephora Clean standard and comes in an expanding shade range that mirrors the global launch.

Is Glossier Cloud Paint humidity-proof in Singapore?

Cloud Paint is a water-based gel-cream that sets to a soft powder finish. It performs adequately in Singapore humidity but benefits from a setting spray for eight-plus-hour wear. It is not a marathon-wear blush.

What is Sephora Clean and does it matter?

Sephora Clean is Sephora's ingredient standard that excludes parabens, sulfates SLS and SLES, phthalates, formaldehydes, mineral oil, and other listed ingredients. Rare Beauty is fully Sephora Clean; Glossier meets it on selected SKUs; Tower 28 exceeds it with additional sensitive-skin credentials. It matters as a consistent shorthand across brands rather than as a regulatory standard.

Are these brands regulated in Singapore?

Yes. Any cosmetic product on Sephora Singapore's shelf has completed Health Sciences Authority cosmetic product notification. Direct import from tower28beauty.com or glossier.com bypasses this notification path; the product is legal for personal use but sits outside the HSA-notified pool.

Which is the cheapest month to buy Sephora in Singapore?

The 8.8, 9.9, 10.10, and 11.11 platform events on Sephora Singapore typically produce the deepest verified savings on Rare Beauty and Glossier stocked SKUs. Check ShopBack before you check out on sephora.sg to activate the cashback tracker on eligible beauty transactions.

Does Rare Beauty donate a percentage of sales?

Yes. Rare Beauty commits 1% of all sales to the Rare Impact Fund, which supports mental health services and education. This is publicly stated on rarebeauty.com/pages/rare-impact and has been maintained since brand launch in 2020.

What are the hero Glossier SKUs to buy at Sephora Singapore?

Boy Brow (brow gel, SGD 28 to SGD 32), Cloud Paint (gel-cream blush, SGD 30 to SGD 34), Balm Dotcom (lip balm, SGD 24 to SGD 28), and Ultralip (satin lipstick, SGD 30 to SGD 34). Stock rotates; check sephora.sg availability before you go in-store.

Is Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF worth the shipping to Singapore?

For sensitive skin buyers, yes. SunnyDays is a mineral SPF 30 tinted sunscreen that non-nano zinc-oxide formula and sits well on reactive skin. USD 32 MSRP plus shipping typically lands SGD 55 to SGD 65 in Singapore. If you are not sensitive-skin, cheaper Asian mineral SPFs (Anessa, Biore) perform similarly at lower cost.

Can I use ShopBack on Sephora Singapore?

Cashback availability depends on Sephora being on the ShopBack merchant list at time of purchase. Activate ShopBack via the browser extension or open the Sephora page in the ShopBack app before checkout. Check ShopBack for the current beauty merchant lineup, which typically expands during 8.8, 9.9, 10.10, and 11.11.

Primary sources referenced

• Rare Beauty: https://www.rarebeauty.com/
• Tower 28 Beauty: https://www.tower28beauty.com/
• Glossier: https://www.glossier.com/
• Sephora Singapore: https://www.sephora.sg/
• Sephora Clean beauty page: https://www.sephora.com/beauty/clean-beauty-products
• HSA cosmetic product regulation: https://www.hsa.gov.sg/cosmetic-products

Author: Mirabelle Chew, Beauty Editor at ShopBack. Pricing is editorial and reflects Sephora Singapore public MSRP at time of writing; verify current pricing at sephora.sg. Check ShopBack for Sephora and beauty merchant cashback availability before buying.