Beauty

How To Use e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer For Flawless Summer Skin

Keep your makeup from melting with a formula that's actually good for skin, too.

There are a few tell-tale signs that summer has arrived: bare legs, pedicure appointments from now through September, and, of course, the requisite sweat and humidity. And it’s that latter combo of heat and moisture that can wreck your makeup by mid-morning — turning your smooth, radiant complexion into a damp mess of product. The good news? This particular problem has a solution. It’s called makeup primer, which is designed not only to create an even canvas for seamless application of complexion products, but also to help them last longer.

But not all makeup primers are created equal. Some just don’t do the trick if you’re dealing with, say, a weeklong heat wave, while others can feel heavy and greasy on skin. However, that’s not the case with e.l.f. Cosmetics’ new Power Grip Primer, feels weightless on the skin while still managing to keep makeup intact all day.

For starters, the formula actually grips your makeup, as the name implies, so it won't budge whatever the day brings, be it a high temperatures, a trip to the gym, or even a sun-filled park hang with your buds. Even better? The lightweight gel texture feels refreshing on skin and absorbs quickly, so you’re not left with any tacky residue, nor the velvety film of your average silicone-based primer.

Instead of the usual suspects, e.l.f.’s 100% clean, vegan, and cruelty-free Power Grip Primer is packed with hyaluronic acid, the humectant that everyone knows and loves for its ability to draw in and retain up to 1000 times its weight in water. This weightless hydrator keeps skin feeling replenished and looking plump — which, no surprise here, helps your makeup look that much better. And it’s such an easygoing ingredient that it works for all skin types, delivering hydration without heaviness for dry skin, oily skin, and everything in between.

Last but definitely not least, the clear primer leaves skin with a soft-focus finish that can be worn alone or beneath foundation and concealer — like, oh, e.l.f.'s lineup of incredible complexion products. The Camo line offers medium to full coverage with skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide in the Camo CC Cream, and nourishing avocado oil in the 16HR Camo Concealer.

The best results are all in the application. Once you finish your makeup routine — assuming sunscreen is last if it’s daytime — use your fingers to apply a small amount of the primer evenly to your face. (The warmth of your fingers will help the product melt into skin.) Then, wait 30 seconds for the primer to absorb and set before applying concealer, foundation, or both — and you’re all good to go.

Together, with the magic of Power Grip Primer, these smart formulas guarantee that your makeup will still be there at the end of the day, wherever that takes you — so you can spend your summer knowing that your makeup is on point, and your skin, hydrated and happy. And if that’s not a good summer in the making, we’re not sure what is.