Preparation is key, especially when it comes to increasing the longevity of a makeup look. The right skin care products and primers can make all the difference. With certain products on hand, makeup application can become easier and products will stay put throughout the day. After hearing rave reviews about the Power Grip Primer from elf, it seemed like time to put this much buzzed about item to the test. There are a few versions of the Power Grip Primer available, but I decided on the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide. Ready for a review of this popular makeup primer? Keep reading for all the details.
According to the brand, the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide is “a sticky gel-based face primer enriched with 4% niacinamide to help even out skin tone and brighten while gripping makeup.” The sticky texture is supposed to help makeup grip longer and extend the wear time. It also states that it gives the skin a dewy and glowing finish and is suitable for all skin types. There are many four and five star reviews for this product…but there are also some less than stellar reviews.
My opinion? The Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide is not my favourite primer. The first few times that I tried it, my face makeup seemed to wear like it would without a primer. After reading some different tips and tricks on beauty subreddits, there were suggestions to warm the product on your hands before patting in onto the face. (On the elf website, is says to “apply makeup primer evenly to face before makeup, using your fingertips to pat into the skin. The warmth of your fingers will help the product melt into the skin for even application.”) Simply using your fingers to apply the product is not enough and it really does require that extra step of warming the product on your hands. Despite that extra step, this primer still did not make a notable difference in the longevity of my makeup look and it certainly was not better than some of the other primers that I have put to the test. I think the most off-putting thing about this primer is the stickiness. It really feels like putting a bunch of glue all over your face. It is unpleasant, to say the least. Perhaps the unpleasantness of application (both in the feel of the actual product and the application process itself) would be worth it if there was a noticeable difference in the way my makeup wears throughout the day. Sadly, it does not seem like the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide from elf is ideal for me.
Have you tried the Power Grip Primer? What makeup primer do you use on a regular basis?
