The Viral e.l.f. Power Grip Primer Is The Perfect Base For My Makeup

“The secret often lies in a little thing called silicone,” says Laura Pucker, Founder and CEO of Pucker Up Beauty. “This magical ingredient creates an ultra-smooth surface on your skin, helping your makeup adhere and stay put, even when the day brings all kinds of challenges.”

A lot of primers nowadays are also formulated with additional skin-loving ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, vitamins A and C, and niacinamide to give your skin a boost in hydration and brightness – all while keeping your makeup intact. Ingredients like niacinamide in particular can help improve the skin barrier and combat uneven skin tone, too.

No matter your skincare and makeup goals, there’s a primer out there for you. These are the best primers according to our experts and editors!

Best Primers For Long-Wearing Makeup Looks

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Both Pucker and Cameron recommend this primer because it truly helps makeup stay put all day.

“When I need a primer that won't let me down, whether I'm at an important event or just want my makeup to last all day, this is my first choice," says Pucker. "It's versatile and reliable, the kind of primer I always have in my makeup bag.”

“This primer has a creamier texture, is non-oily and light," says Cameron. "It protects the makeup from starting to run due to sweat. This makes it excellent for occasions, such as weddings or photographs, where you need your makeup to be worn for long periods.”

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

This is a great primer for oily skin since it has a slight mattifying element. It primes your face for makeup and makes it stay, all while simultaneously concealing redness, minimizing the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and providing SPF 15 protection.

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

For drier skin that needs some extra love, this Too Faced primer is perfect. It's crafted with coconut water, which hydrates the skin, and probiotics that boost the skin's radiance and elasticity.

“On days when my skin needs hydration, this primer is my best friend," says Pucker. "This allows my makeup to stay fresh and vibrant, no matter how bad my day is.”

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

We love this e.l.f. primer over here at B+C. I really enjoy the fact that it has a gel texture that blends well with the water-based skincare and makeup products I use on the regular. It dries down to be tacky to the touch, which is extremely helpful in ensuring my makeup stays on.

B+C Staff Writer, Jasmine, also adores this product.

"It's really great for dry, oily, and combination skin, which explains why my skin feels immediately hydrated after I use it," she writes in her review. "It's also non-comedogenic — giving my pores room to breathe — and it doesn't leave a white cast after it's applied to my face. I'm a brown-skinned girlie, so this is highly important!"

Laniege Glowy Makeup Serum Primer

If glow is what you want, this primer from Laniege expertly primes and hydrates your skin so you have a smooth base to layer on more luminous products. It's formulated with diamond mineral powder, which helps fill in any uneven texture on your face – which is why this is one of my personal go-to's!

My Experience With The e.l.f. Halo Glow

The e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter was on my wish list for a long time before I was finally able to snag a bottle. I love the applicator wand, and how you're able to control exactly how much goes on your face, rather than trying not to pump too much out onto a beauty blender. It's easy to apply, blendable, and offers an INSTANT glow like I've never seen. And with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, thanks to almost 10K reviews, Amazon customers agree.

I wound up grabbing shade 1 Fair, and it's a little too yellow for my complexion even though it appeared on the cooler side. If you're fair skinned, I'd recommend buying a bottle that looks the slightest bit too cool (because apparently they're warmer on the skin), or buying two shades to mix.

While I love the look of this product, I do have to point out that it makes me break out if I use it too much, so I have to wear it sparingly. I've also cut back how much I use, and I keep it away from my T-Zone, since that area is already oily. If you also have acne-prone skin, consider getting a primer for underneath the e.l.f. Halo Glow, or layer the complexion booster on top of another tried-and-true foundation so it's in direct contact with your skin.

What is the point of e.l.f. Halo glow?

The e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter provides a dose of sun-kissed, dewy glow to your makeup. Consider it like an Instagram filter in a bottle.

Can you use e.l.f. Halo glow by itself?

You can use the Halo Glow Liquid Filter by itself, or you can layer it with other makeup products! It's truly a unicorn that works wonders, no matter where it goes in your routine.

What is the e.l.f. halo glow a dupe for?

Fans have compared the e.l.f.'s Halo Glow products to other makeup brands like Rare Beauty and Charlotte Tilbury. The brand is a great alternative for a fraction of the cost.

Is Mamma Mia 3 happening?

Yes, Mamma Mia 3 is in its early planning stages! Christine Baranski just told The Hollywood Reporter that she's met with producer Judy Kramer, and that Kramer has plans for the third movie. "She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen," Baranski says. "That’s all I can say! But, it’s not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Kramer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn’t put it past Judy Kramer to get everybody back together."

A third installation was first mentioned way back in 2020, during a Collider interview with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried said she was on board — and at the time, she thought the rest of the star-studded cast would be too.

"Listen, every single person in that movie would say yes in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other," Seyfried told Collider at the time. "That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia?"

When will Mamma Mia 3 come out?

We don't have an official answer about when to expect this highly anticipated sequel. The project is in the "earliest stages," according to creator and producer, Judy Craymer. Cher also revealed to Entertainment Weekly that everyone is "talking about it," but she doesn't "know when they're going to do it."

Has casting information been shared about Mamma Mia 3?

While nothing's been made official, Amanda Seyfried just said something that made my heart skip a beat. She told ABC News she loves Sabrina Carpenter's music and dropped this admission: "If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen."

But before she admitted that, the actress said something else that made me raise my eyebrows. "Everybody says it’s gonna happen, but I mean, I haven’t seen a script."

Cher is also eager to return to the beloved franchise and is rooting for Meryl to make an appearance again. "I keep saying, 'Meryl, you've got to come back,'" she said (via Entertainment Weekly). She also said she's told her, "'It'll be fun. You'll have a good time. You'll be able to sing.'"

I don't know what it'll take, but hope someone gets a script in Amanda Seyfried, Cher, and Meryl Streep's hands ASAP!

What is the first Mamma Mia about?

The first film follows Donna (Streep) and Sophie (Seyfried) as mother and daughter living on a remote Greek island. When Sophie is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sets out to learn who her real father is after discovering it could be one of three men (played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth).

Who does the second Mamma Mia follow?

Mamma Mia 2takes viewers back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) embarks on a series of adventures throughout Europe following her Oxford University graduation. On her journeys, she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with. In the present day, pregnant Sophie dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on a Greek island island.