Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer
Works for
MoisturizingGlycerin, Ethylhexyl palmitate + 4 moreWorks
“This water-based gel primer cools upon contact while it smooths, hydrates, and illuminates.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: caprylic/capric triglyceride, helianthus annuus seed oil.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Gardenia florida fruit extract, Nelumbo nucifera flower extractMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Glycerin~5–7.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinEthylhexyl palmitate~4.2–6.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateIsohexadecane~3.3–5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent
More about IsohexadecaneSynthetic fluorphlogopite~2.2–3.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A mineral that is used as an optical filter (makes the skin looks nicer through light reflection) and to improve the texture of cosmetic products
More about Synthetic fluorphlogopiteAcrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer~1.8–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps water and oil mix together and create gel-like textures
More about Acrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymerCaprylic/capric triglyceride~1.6–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideHelianthus annuus seed oil~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilGardenia florida fruit extract~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating.
More about Gardenia florida fruit extractNelumbo nucifera flower extract~0.6–1.4%
Nymphaea odorata root extract~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phenoxyethanol~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about Phenoxyethanol1,2-hexanediol~0.15–0.7%
Polysorbate 80~0.15–0.7%
Sorbitan oleate~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan oleateTin oxide~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation
More about Tin oxideTitanium dioxide~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideCi 77491~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A red colorant made of iron oxide. Typically is not irritating
More about Ci 77491Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Isohexadecane, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Acrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Gardenia florida fruit extract, Nelumbo nucifera flower extract, Nymphaea odorata root extract, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-hexanediol, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan oleate, Tin oxide, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77491
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Rare BeautyAlways An Optimist Illuminating PrimerYOUR PRODUCT | e.l.f. Cosmeticse.f. Puff Puff Primer | Burberry BeautyFresh Glow - Nude Radiance 01 | Made in AustraliaBlur Perfection Primer with Blue Light Protection | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 39% | 30% | 24% |
| Price | $30.00 | — | $45.24+$15.24 | $13.79−$16.21 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Key difference | — | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | Panthenol | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | High |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Innoxa Hydrating Primer
Product summary
"Rare Beauty - Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Humectants (glycerin 5.00% - 7.50%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 25.25$ in the United States, for 22.00£ in the United Kingdom, for 45.00A$ in Australia, from 124.00HK$ up to 228.00HK$ in Hong Kong and for 49.00NZ$ in New Zealand.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 5
- 6Allergic contact dermatitis from gardenia fruitpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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