Rare beauty setting powder

Milabu Rating

  • Overall
    (4.4)
  • Performance
    (4.5)

Price Category: Pro-Grade

  • $25.00 Retail

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Pros

  • Multiple shades
  • Finely milled powder
  • Can be used for baking
  • Extends makeup wear time
  • Can be applied with brush, sponge, or powder puff
  • Blurs pores, lines, and imperfections
  • Natural, soft radiant finish

Cons

  • None

Overview

Soft, silky, and finely milled are just a few of the things that makes this Rare Beauty setting powder the best powder for dry skin.

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Our Rating Criteria

Soft and silky, Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Powder is the best setting powder for dry skin.

Dry skin friends, rejoice, because I may have discovered the best setting powder for dry skin. I’m a huge fan of Selena Gomez as a person, as well as her Rare Beauty makeup brand, which donates 1% of all sales to her Rare Impact Fund which helps to destigmatize and raise awareness to mental health. She has several winning products, but one of my favorites is her Always An Optimist Setting Powder. This powder has a soft, silky feel that doesn’t cling to texture/dry spots, settle into pores and lines, or give that cakey, crepey look.

Quick Rating Rundown

This Product

(4.3)
Rare beauty setting powder

:Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Setting Powder

Price: $25.00

0.33 oz

Value

(4.3)

Application

(4.5)

Finish

(4.5)

Longevity

(4.7)

Extra Benefits

(3.7)

Similar Product

(4.3)
HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring Talc-Free Loose Powder

:Haus Labs Bio-Blurring Powder

Price: $38.00

0.24 oz

Value

(2.1)

Application

(5)

Finish

(5)

Longevity

(4.8)

Extra Benefits

(4.6)

Clean Option

(4.5)
ILIA soft focus talc free setting powder

:ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder

Price: $36.00

0.32 oz

Value

(3.3)

Application

(5)

Finish

(4.6)

Longevity

(4.8)

Extra Benefits

(4.6)

MILABU PICKS

(4.5+)
Top Spray and Setting Powder

:The Best Setting Powder (And Sprays)

Price: $8 – $58

various

Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Finish

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)
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Our Rating Criteria

Promises vs. Performance: Rare Beauty Setting Powder gives a radiant finish with oil control?

Smooth, blur, and control shine with Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Setting Powder. The silky soft powder promises a natural finish with soft radiance. You can expect this powder to extend the look of makeup, blur pores, and smooth skin texture. In addition, it promises no caking and no photo flashback. Always An Optimist features user-friendly packaging with a custom-designed sifter that locks for a no-mess storage. The talc free powder keeps excess oil in check for an all day, comfortable wear.

What I love most about this Rare Beauty setting powder is the pinkish hue it has, allowing a brightened effect. The loose powder is soft and silky, finely-milled, and resists settling into pores, lines, and wrinkles. This isn’t your typical mattifying setting powder. Instead, it beautifully blurs and softens skin for a natural soft radiance (as the name states!). That being said, it does still control excess oil and keep you from looking and feeling too shiny.

My favorite way to apply this loose powder is with a fluffy brush. Selena’s Always An Optimist Powder Brush, pairs perfectly and is the perfect size for the under eye area. You can also use a powder puff or sponge to do some light baking and really lock in your look. Regardless of your method, you’ll be met with a makeup extending powder that looks gorgeous all day long.

In case you need it, we put together an article with our best tips & tricks on How To Use Setting Powder.

How It Compares: Is Rare Beauty Setting Powder the best for dry skin? I think so!

Your combination-dry skin will love the Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Setting Powder because of its soft, silky formula and slight radiant finish. It sits beautifully on the skin without exaggerating texture, clinging to dry spots, or settling into lines. Despite its more radiant finish, it controls excess oil to keep skin looking flawless all day long. This is definitely the best setting powder for dry skin.

There are several other setting powders on the market that perform great. Make Up For Ever Ultra HD is one of the best in prograde beauty. It truly extends the life of makeup for over 10 hours and keeps skin matte all day long. However, the best setting powder overall continues to be Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder. For the price and value, $40 for 1.0 oz, it just can’t be beat. This powder resists creasing and settling for a flawless, blurred finish no matter how long you’ve been wearing your makeup. Laura Mercier powder is suited for all skin types, dry to oily, and wears beautifully on all.

If you’re looking for a clean option, check out newcomer HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring Powder or ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder. Both of these are talc free powders that set makeup in place and help extend the longevity, resisting creasing, settling, and looking dry. For the ultimate blur, look to HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring. ILIA Soft Focus gives the same soft radiance that Rare Beauty’s powder does, but only comes in one translucent white shade. For a complete list of our top rated setting products, check out our MILABU PICKS article, ‘The Best Setting Powder (And Sprays) For A Flawless Finish.

Performance Rating Chart

This Product

(4.5)
Rare beauty setting powder

:Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Setting Powder

Application

(4.5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.5)

Finish – Setting

(4.7)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.5)

Clean Option

(4.8)
ILIA soft focus talc free setting powder

:ILIA Soft Focus Translucent Setting Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.7)

Finish – Setting

(4.7)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.8)

Similar Product

(4.8)
HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring Talc-Free Loose Powder

:HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring Setting Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(5)

Finish – Setting

(4.5)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.7)

Longevity

(4.7)

This Product

(4.9)
Laura Mercier Powder Translucent Setting Powder

:Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.7)

Finish – Setting

(4.9)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.9)

Longevity

(5)
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Advertised Product Highlights

Rare Beauty Setting Powder: Always An Optimist Soft Radiance

# OF SHADES: 5

FORMULATION: Loose powder

COVERAGE: Sheer/translucent

LONGEVITY: No claims

EXTRA BENEFITS: Dermatologist tested; Mineral based powder; Subtle radiance with a natural finish; Controls excess oils; Custom-designed sifter locks for mess-free storage

CLEAN BEAUTY CLAIMS: Cruelty free; Vegan; Free of parabens and talc

Edited by Maddie

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