Skin Type: Dry
"My skin is on the drier side so words like 'matte' and 'poreless' usually scare me — I'm all about dewy, glowing skin finishes — but I haven't been disappointed by a Rare Beauty product yet so I was hopeful the Always an Optimist Pore Diffusing Primer wouldn't be any different. The gel texture came out of the bottle light and bouncy but as soon as I rubbed it in, it melted into a silky finish. My skin looked more soft and diffused, rather than matte, which is a good thing in my book. It took down the shininess I had in my T-zone from my sunscreen without making my complexion look dull or either of the products pill (one of my biggest pet peeves). My foundation and concealer layered on top beautifully and the combination of the three gave my entire face a smooth, even look. Compared to other mattifying primers that I've tried, this one is far more hydrating and comfortable to wear, especially with my dry skin type. If you're looking for a primer that will suck up every ounce of oil from your skin this one may not be for you but if you're looking for something to blur imperfections and give your skin a soft matte finish, you'll be just as obsessed with this one as I am." — Jessica Harrington, beauty editor