IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+ Versus Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer - Always an Optimist Collection
Updated on May 09, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face primers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+ 30 ingredients
Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer - Always an Optimist Collection 30 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+ 30 ingredients
Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer - Always an Optimist Collection 30 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Totarol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Cetyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Silica Silylate, Boron Nitride, Caprylyl Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Totarol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Sodium Citrate, CI 14700, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantParfum
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Odorata Root Extract
RefreshingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Silica, Propanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Parfum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeSilica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.
Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.
Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.
Learn more about SilicaButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer yet.
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
This ingredient forms a hydrogel that delivers moisturizing, water-based ingredients to the skin. It is also used to thicken a product and to give it a smooth texture.
Acrylic acid itself is toxic, but the polymer form (this ingredient) is too large to penetrate skin, making it non-toxic.
Learn more about Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created stabilizer and solvent. It is a part of the glycol class in the alcohol family.
Dipropylene Glycol helps dissolve and evenly distribute ingredients. It also helps decrease viscosity and thin out texture.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+ 30 ingredients
Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer - Always an Optimist Collection 30 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+ 30 ingredients
Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer - Always an Optimist Collection 30 ingredients
Didn't do anything
Didn't do anything on my combination skin, not for pore minimizing or longevity of my makeup. I find that it actually makes my makeup slides off faster on my nose during the day.
So I don’t hate it. It just doesn’t make any noticeable difference. Maybe my pores are just too large.
