Power Grip Primer
SUMMARY OF REVIEWS
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is a thick, sticky, hydrating base that locks makeup in place for long wear, with several creators praising its grip and dewiness. Professional makeup artist Jaclyn Hill calls it "one of my favorite primers ever" for its $6 price and grip, but Emily Noel and Slashed Beauty note it's a pain to spread, requires extra product, and can emphasize texture or look greasy on oily skin. Best for those who want extreme stickiness and glow and don't mind a heavy feel.
FULL REVIEWS
POSITIVE
- “This is still one of my favorite primers ever”1:23–1:29
- “It's like $6. I get it on Amazon and it's just got the best grip ever”1:27–1:32
- “I suggest pressing this product into your skin and not rubbing it”1:32–1:37
- “I just think that it activates the tackiness a little bit more and you'll just be happier with it overall”1:36–1:39
- “I need you to understand the grippyiness”1:40–1:43
- Source: My current makeup routine in depth tutorial - Jul 2, 2025
- “I'm going to go in with the e.l.f. Cosmetics today just cuz it's super affordable and I'm not going to lie, it's kind of my favorite”11:11–11:18
- Source: Full makeup tutorial with product recommendations - Feb 24, 2026
- “Sticky primers are my absolute favorite”
- “These are my tried-and-true E.L.F. Powers”
- “I mean, clearly I'm almost out”
- Source: How to apply makeup for beginners: in depth step by step - May 26, 2025
- “With this primer, that does not happen”1:31–1:36
- “This is definitely not the most cosmetically elegant primer I've ever tried”1:33–1:40
- “It's thick. It's stiff. It's tacky”1:46–1:50
- “It's really similar to the original Power Grip Primer that does not have a mattifying effect”1:48–1:54
- “Not only is this something that plays really nicely with makeup I layer on top of it without causing streaking or peeling, it's also something that really helps with all day makeup wear and preventing my skin from looking oily”2:01–2:07
- “If there's a foundation that I really love the look of and love everything about except for how oily my skin looks wearing it at the end of the day, then I can just layer this underneath it before I apply that foundation and it will prevent that from happening”2:09–2:18
- “If you deal with similar issues and are looking for a drugstore solution, I highly recommend this one”2:26–2:32
- Source: 10 Best Makeup Products of 2025 (My Honest Favorites) - Dec 7, 2025
Variant: 4%
- “The Power Grip Primer is the best option if you want a good sticky primer”2:37–2:41
- “It is probably one of the thickest, stickiest bases out there, but it locks your makeup into place extremely well”2:49–2:54
- “I can use this in the middle of the summer on like a 15-hour makeup day, and my makeup looks amazing by the end of the day”2:56–3:00
- “It is incredibly hydrating”
- “My skin looks so glowy, so dewy when I use this product”3:12–3:17
- “You can always go in and set your makeup with powder and it will erase that glow, but you still get the longevity”3:17–3:20
- “Such a great option as long as you're looking for like a thick, hydrating, sticky base”3:20–3:26
- Source: Best drugstore makeup products in every category - Apr 22, 2025
- “The e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer at Ulta Beauty comes in at $11 for 0.81 oz of product coming in price per ounce $13.56”1:33–1:45
- “And when I said she is sticky, I meant that”1:45–1:50
- “I also think if you like that ultra sticky formula, this does wear really well, and I do really like it”2:34–2:42
- “e.l.f. Cosmetics comes in at $13.56 per ounce”
- “e.l.f. Cosmetics, at least in this case, is not scamming us”2:33–2:37
- Source: Drugstore vs high-end makeup price per ounce comparison - Apr 11, 2026
- “When it comes to this type of primer, this sticky one, you want to press it in instead of rubbing it in”2:44–2:52
- “You're going to need this stickiness to help your makeup stick and adhere onto your skin”2:53–3:06
- Source: Full face drugstore makeup routine for oily skin - May 19, 2026
- “I forgot how sticky this stuff is. Definitely stickier than the milk one. I can say that 100%”8:01–8:05
- “I used to love this primer”8:11–8:14
- Source: Full face of makeup dupes - which is worth it? - May 15, 2026
- “Both of these primers are like glue for your makeup”
- “These are going to hold your makeup in place for hours”
- “Both of these are very glowy”
- “I think my makeup looks better on this side. Looks a little bit oily on the E.L.F. side”
- Source: Affordable makeup dupes that perform like high-end - May 28, 2025
- “My dry skin loves a serum”
- “This doesn't make my makeup pill”
- “If you are into grippy primers and you're into giving your skin hydration, this is a great pickup”
- Source: Speed reviews of 75+ makeup products - Dec 18, 2025
MIXED / NEGATIVE
- “This is a non-comedogenic primer, which means it's not going to clog your pores”1:04–1:07
- “It does have a pretty thick consistency to it, and it can be hard to spread”1:24–1:32
- “You can feel it on the face. I have never considered this a lightweight product”1:38–1:41
- “This does give you a very slick, dewy look, and that radiance does show through your foundation”1:51–1:55
- “I think that the results are really pretty”2:29–2:33
- “Those with oily skin may want to balance it out with a bit more of a matte foundation”2:31–2:38
- “This primer helps smooth the skin. It definitely minimizes the appearance of my pores and texture”2:41–2:48
- “Some of my expression lines were more noticeable kind of right away”2:51–2:55
- Source: Testing & rating the top 4 drugstore grip primers - Oct 27, 2025
- “I happen to have a mini of the Power Grip Niacinamide. I always travel with this cuz she’s little, you know, it’s one of the few mini primers I own”6:58–7:04
- “Do I think the Power Grip really translates to good staying power? I actually kind of think it does”7:10–7:18
- “It’s not my favorite for feel and putting it on. Like I it irritates me the stickiness level in these primers to have to put them on”7:18–7:23
- “I squeeze out the amount that I would use of like any primer and then I’m always having to use about double of this product because you can only get over so much of your face. It’s so sticky”7:27–7:31
- “It just doesn’t have the spread ability, if that’s even a word, as a lot of other primers I have”7:35–7:42
- “I do think it helps staying power, but you got to be able to get past the absolute stickiness and drag and just like need to use actually quite a bit of product to spread it all over your face”8:42–8:46
- “Some people are going to be cool with it. Obviously, tons of people are cool with it cuz it’s a bestseller”
- Source: Best-selling elf makeup at Ulta - but is it really the best? - May 26, 2026
- “Every time you use it, you have to use a lot because what you think a full pump should get all over your skin, it only tracks over part of the face and then you've got to add more to get across your forehead and everywhere else”16:28–16:34
- “I think it contributes to good staying power”16:39–16:43
- “It's a pain to put on”
- “There are other drugstore gripping primers that will grip that will enhance staying power that are not so sticky and just such a pain to apply”16:58–17:04
- “I have to give credit where credit is due. They're doing their job”17:07–17:10
- “A lot of people don't mind that it's sticky like I do”
- Source: Best-selling elf makeup at Ulta - but is it really the best? - May 26, 2026
WHAT CREATORS SAY
- Consensus
- 3.8 / 5 from 10 creator reviewsGrailPeople ratings based on creator reviews.
- Features
- Non-comedogenic (1) · Long-wearing (5) · Dewy finish (2)
- Value
- Value for money (4)
- ⚠ can feel sticky (4)
- ⚠ fiddly to use (3)
- ⚠ feels heavier than expected (1)
- ⚠ can feel greasy (1)
- ⚠ may not suit oily skin (1)
- ⚠ didn't help with acne (1)
Product details
Details
- Type
- face primer
- Finish
- —
- Shade
- —
- Key ingredients
- Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Water, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Water, Sodium AscorbylPhosphate, PEG-150 Distearate, Polysorbate 80
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