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Product Review: e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer
"I am no exception to this and have seen this product EVERYWHERE! "
By Stephanie Hawco
If you are present on any social media platform you’ve probably heard of or seen the viral e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer. I am no exception to this and have seen this product EVERYWHERE! Not only for how well the product performs, q but also in some very eye-catching ads involving the ever-hilarious Jennifer Coolidge.
Why We Love It
This gel-based face primer claims to be hydrating, thanks to the hyaluronic acid present in the formula. It also claims to smooth the skin giving it a soft focus effect while having a clear application making it perfect for all skin types and skin tones. It’s also non-comedogenic, vegan and cruelty-free, and free from parabens.
Currently the #1 selling primer in America
First, let me tell you about my skin, I’m in my early 30s with fine lines and my skin is a little on the dry side. I want my makeup to look good and last all day but still look like skin. Just a little more polished.
Let me start off by saying this is STICKY! You can feel the stickiness as soon as you apply it to your face, and as you pull your fingers away you can feel and see them sticking. It’s quite amusing actually. With this primer being this sticky, I can definitely see how it would grip your makeup and truly last all day. Aside from stickiness, my skin did immediately look hydrated, and my skin had a soft focus glow to it. My pore size wasn’t reduced or anything like that, but my skin did have this subtle blur where everything looked a little softer. Overall my first impressions are very promising.
How does it perform?
Continuing with my assessment I applied my normal base routine. This consisted of cream contouring, concealer, foundation, bronzer, blush, loose powder and some highlight. While applying each step of my routine I looked to see how each product blended and looked (specially blended on top of one another). As promised each product gripped onto the primer, stayed in place through my rigorous blending and looked really good. I was very impressed with this primer on these first tests, but now it’s time to test the most important factor, longevity!
For my longevity test, I wore it throughout my 8-hour shift at work until around 10 pm. My total testing time was around 12 hours. I will note that I work in customer service so I do talk quite a lot, and it is quite warm in our building. I wanted to see how the primer held up in the heat as well as through my normal daily activity. At the end of the 12 hours, my makeup still looked pretty good! My blush had faded, but I could still see my bronzer and contour.
The Bottom Line
My concealer was still in place and my foundation looked pretty good for my 12 hours of wear. I had some minor wear and creasing in my smile lines, but nothing too concerning. Also, my skin still looked radiant, which isn’t normally the case. My final verdict of the e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip primer is that it lives up to the hype it’s received all over the internet. I’m will be adding it to my routine for the foreseeable future.
Stephanie Hawco is a Makeup Artist and Beauty Specialist with nearly a decade of experience in the beauty industry. She has a passion for makeup and helping others feel like their true self.


